July sees the Ford Consul Classic arrive in our local toy shops. Number 234 in the catalogue and featuring an opening bonnet. Indeed, an automatic opening bonnet! I wouldn't have wanted this in real life, slam on the brakes and the bonnet flies up! I had enough trouble with a loose catch on the Wolseley 1500 I had in 1971 which would occasional fly open when I least expected it!
This is quite an easy model to collect. They're all the same colour - a strange shade of cream with a strange shade of red roof. This edition also has a lemon yellow interior. the only variation will be the wheels. This was first issued with fixed shaped wheels. In fact, I think it was the first model not to be issued with smooth fixed wheels. Later in its production it gets the free spinning variety. These seem to be a lot less easy to find than the fixed type but not uncommon.
Unlike the Standard Vanguard III, the change of wheel types did not come with a change of roof paint pattern. Withe the Ford, the red shade is always just on the roof, never stretching down the pillars.
Another interesting feature is the base, which, in all models I have encountered, is a cream colour similar to the body. Like the Plymouth Sports Suburban which can occasionally be found with a cream base but, unlike the Plymouth, this does not appear to have ever had a grey base which is a little surprising.
Later in the year this will be the third model to be included in the Golden Guinea Gift Set 20. For that it will get a gold (or silver) finish and a red interior but, unlike the Chevrolet Corvair, you won't find a Ford Consul Classic in its normal colours with a red interior very easily. I am pretty sure there are some out there - a seriously scarce Corgi variation, but not one I have yet seen myself.
The other item issued in July was Chipperfields Circus Gift Set 12. Nothing new here, just the earlier issue Circus Crane Truck and a Trailer Cage unit selling at £1 3s 4d. Those of us still vaguely familiar with our old British currency will see that this is a 1/- discount on the combined prices of 12/10d for the Truck and 11/6 for the Cage. Others will think I have had a glass or two to much wine when writing this article.
Both maybe right.
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