November 1963 was an extraordinarily bumper month for Corgi releases! There were so many that need more than just a descriptive note that I have split the posts into as many as will be needed to cover each one one at a time.
We'll start with what has to be the star of the whole series for many, the fabulous Ghia L6.4. Catalogue #241 and with the added title 'with Chrysler Engine'. This was a beautiful model with almost every feature you could imagine included. There were opening doors, opening bonnet, opening boot, chrome fittings, jewelled headlamps, folding seats, a detailed dashboard and mirror and a Corgi dog on the rear shelf!
It first appeared in a metallic blue-turquoise with red interior. I don't know which of the other colour combinations were also issued at the start but, in time, you could buy the same shade of turquoise blue with a cream interior, a metallic sage-green with cream interior and a metallic gold with either cream or red interior and a very scarce copper finish with cream interior.
Much later there would be a slightly revised model with better suspension provision in a more silver-blue shade and red interior and a lemon-gold edition with bright yellow interior and cast wheels.
Sometimes you would find that there is a combination of red and white parts for the interior with red door inserts often found with a cream interior. The spring for the boot and lifting element for the bonnet were also provided by a plastic section in either red or cream and this may not always have matched the interior, with a different colour visible inside the boot or bonnet to the seats. I expect there will b someone out there who collects these variations too! I stopped at the colours for paint and interior combinations as that provided plenty enough for a nice display.
Here are the two different bases.
There are at least two different box designs too, one of which displays the features incorrectly but is quite commonly encountered. I shall have to dig out the box and add a photo. For now, here is teh correct one.
And that's just the start of November 1963!
Next you'll read about #251 the Hillman Imp, #316 the NSU Sport Prinz, a revision of the 303S Mercedes-Benz 300SL, #1107 Euclid TC-12 Tractor, #1131 Bedford Machinery Carrier, #1132 Bedford Low Loader, #500 US Army Land Rover and Gift Sets 15, 25, 28 and 29!
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