It didn't really matter which Renault 16TS you had, the paint was almost certain to chip if it even saw a skirting board or you dropped a soft toy nearby. #260 was a very late model of the French car in the pre-Whizzwheels era and, whilst not the most desirable car in the world at that time, Corgi made a good job of the model with some excellent labelling and chrome work. Inside the front seats could be put up and down by twiddling a knob underneath. That usually works loose on these 45+ year old models and photos may often show cars that appear to have lost one or other of the front seats!
This was also available in white - so you could have the Tricoleur (I must do that when I get the third). That was a Tour De France cycle racing edition and came with a ridiculous construction on top, totally spoiling the car and some weird extending ramp with a camera and cameraman. In the box too were cyclists and goodness knows what else. I'll be happy just to find a decent version of the car. That edition, incidentally, preceded the red one here.
Then along come les Whizzwheels and this is one of the few examples where nothing else changed except the colour. the blue is lovely but, as I said, so prone to damage.
I am very lucky to have found examples that can't have been played with much. The boxes have long gone but the cars look fabulous and are virtually unmarked. They're not worth a fortune - no Whizzwheels are yet - I am convinced that as there are so few around in good condition and these were available only for quite a short period the prices will move pretty rapidly up soon.
The blue Renault got allocated #202 for some reason best known to the Corgi Number Allocation Department. The Saint got #201.
I need a rear screen for the Whizzwheels Renault before I can sell it but that is a simple task to do, just takes a while for the bits to arrive. Strangely, the other car that arrived at the same time also needs a rear screen - the MGC GT. I shall be closing my daughter's rear hatch very carefully for a while.
Update, 12 years later:
Someone asked me in the comments about the spare wheel. As far as I can tell this has been fitted by pressing down onto a vertical post and it seems to eb a very tight fit, not moving at all under some leverage. However I did not try very hard, not willing to risk damaging two very nice models that are currently in my collection. The funny thing is that the Whizzwheels edition has the same cast wheel spare!
In a later article I have also written about the different text on the base which is worth looking up. For models with such short production periods it is surprising to see three different ways of showing the 16TS part.
In a later article I have also written about the different text on the base which is worth looking up. For models with such short production periods it is surprising to see three different ways of showing the 16TS part.
Andrew. I wonder if you could confirm something for me regards the Corgi Renault 16. I understand the regular wheeled version has a completely removable spare wheel in the engine bay, however, the Whizzwheels version seems to only have a removable tyre off this spare wheel. Is this correct or am I missing something, like a brain!
ReplyDeleteI have had to get out a couple of my own models to answer this fascinating question! It had not occurred to me that the spare might be removable. I have always found it amusing that they left the cast wheel as the spare when fitting Whizzwheels but have never looked more closely. Well, despite a little tugging, neither appeared to be likely to come out. Maybe with more force I might have got one out but I am not inclined to try on either of the models which remain in delightfully nice condition. Maybe someone can have a go with one in poor condition? As for the tyre. I could see that this could be removed on either, although not easily. There is clear space around the outside of the tyre so it probably can be done but there's not a great deal of point. It looks like the spare has been pressed down onto a small vertical post fitting the centre. I will add a picture to the post.
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