Corgi Toys @ 60 : Aston Martin DB4 Competition and a Land Rover with suspension

 

April 1962 sees the arrival of the lovely Aston Martin DB4 Competition model at the local toy shop. Jewelled headlamps are added to the 218 model as well as a tone-tone paint finish, flags on the bonnet and RN 1, 3 or 7 on the doors.

Although the illustrator must have had a production sample with a red interior on the desk to work with, the issued model has only the standard lemon flimsy plastic interior.

The first editions had an open vent on the bonnet. The model shown looks like the second, less deeply cut back, type of vent which would have been produced slightly later. Further on in production the vent is closed and less defined. These changes usually tie in with a variation in the hinge for the bonnet and whether the underside is left green or painted silver.

This is one of my favourite models and I am always trying to find the elusive model featured in the 1965 Corgi Catalogue.

This month, 60 years ago, also saw the first appearance of the Land Rover in Series II form and with suspension.

There is no documented release date for the 406S Land Rover that I have been able to trace. It must have been around this time, however, because this is the month when Gift Set 19 is released and that contains a red Land Rover Series II with suspension.

The 406S was issued individually in a box numbered as such but whether it came with a canopy is doubtful. I have seen them sold with a grey canopy but I am not yet convinced, especially as the 438 box specifically refers to a detachable canopy but the 406S box does not.

Interestingly the 1963 catalogue, printed in early 1962 makes no mention of this model, nor of the 438, but it does illustrate the Chipperfields model in GS23 and it appears to be available to buy, as well as GS19. The RAF 351S, RAC 416S and GS2 edition in fawn are all shown as 'Available Later'.

It is my understanding that the red and farm green editions (the latter appearing in the Farm Gift Set 22 in September) are 406S models but, as they only ever appeared in gift sets it has never been necessary to give them their own catalogue number.

So the first 'official' Land Rover Series II with suspension has to be the Chipperfields Circus edition, appearing now in Gift Set 19 with a trailer carrying a plastic 'wood-effect' cage with metal bars and a loading hook on top. Inside is a grey elephant.

The first editions of this set would have had the Land Rover with a tin canopy like the Gift Set 2 model had but this one is painted light blue and has a Chipperfields Circus sticker attached to each side. Later a blue plastic canopy would replace the tin.