Corgi Toys @ 60: A Ferrari, A Mini-Cooper and a Trailer with Raves

 

February 1965 is when the Ferrari 250 Berlinetta Le Mans arrived on the shelves at your local toy shop. Only the third model to get nice wire wheels from the start and always finished in red with RN4 decals.

This can be found in two editions, the difference being on the base, later models having angled ends to the raised lines. A pretty inexplicable change! This was a long-running model, staying on the production list until 1972.

I was lucky to acquire this gold-plated edition from Percy Wilford's grandson several years ago.

I have read that Ferrari were not particularly happy with the representation of their car by Corgi. The front end does look quite different but often Corgi worked from very early design releases by manufacturers so who knows what they were provided with.

Another appearance in February 1965 was the wonderful Mini-Cooper, this time the 1965 Monte Carlo winner.

This photo of the real car comes from Mini.com and I hope they don't mind my reproducing it here as it shows how well Corgi interpreted the model this time, even creating a revised casting to include two lamps above the grille and some other differences, quite different to the 1964 Monte Carlo issue and, indeed, all the subsequent rally issues. Replaced in 1966 by another Monte Carlo Mini-Cooper, this one is now quite sought after.

This would also be the first of three 1965 Monte Carlo entries which would be combined in Gift Set 38 as you'll read about here next month!

The last release for February 1965 is a new trailer for the farming collection. #62 is a Tipping Trailer with Raves (the pieces that can be added at the front and back to help retain a higher load). This will also be available in Gift Set 32 and later editions of the Agricultural Gift Sets 22 and GS5 (1967 issue).

Ferrari changes

 

Two Ferrari F1 models arrived this weekend. I hadn't really wanted two. I saw one at a reasonable price and bought it but, before paying, I had a look at what else the seller had available, something I usually do where the cost of postage of a single item is a hefty proportion of the value of the item and buying two or three items can spread that cost a little. On this occasion the chap had a second one which I had been following, better but at a higher price. Unknown to me at the time, he'd sent me an offer of quite a bit off which, coupled with what would now be effectively free postage, I couldn't resist. So I finished up with two 154 Ferrari F1s.

There's something nice about having several similar models side by side and I  often spend a while seeing if I can spot any differences. Usually I find nothing of particular note but today I had quite a surprise.

Firstly, the 36 decals caught my eye. I am quite fussy when it comes to font styles and get quite annoyed at whoever makes most of the repro decals for the Monte Carlo Gift Set 38 cars as they're quite wrong.  Here they're both 'right' but they're different. There is a larger gap between the sections of the numbers, most noticeable at the top right of the number 6. At first I thought it might be due to the transfer breaking up but that is not the case. It is a different product.

Secondly, the Ferrari badge is larger on the model with the broken transfer.

The model on the left is a late production, evidenced by the type of tyres that are fitted. This model did, in fact, have a remarkably long run, lasting from January 1963 all the way through to 1972. It is understandable, therefore, that there would have been changes along the way to things like transfers.

What I did not expect was a difference in the body itself. It took a while but eventually I had to conclude there is, thirdly, quite a big change in the shape of the nose of the car. The newer model is slimmer and there is a more obvious casting line.

Finally I thought I'd better have a look underneath and, at first, thought they were pretty much identical. Then I saw the two rectangular shapes on the rear axle of the newer edition. That's difference number 4.

I am aware that tyres can simply be switched so they may not be totally firm evidence of one model being later than the other but I would be prepared to bet that they are original and will amend my catalogue entry and it was only last month that I celebrated the Ferrari's 60th birthday with a brief summary, believing it to have remained the same throughout its life.

Corgi Toys @ 60: Chevrolet Fire Chief and a Ferrari

 January 1963 was when the fourth variation of the Chevrolet Impala, 439 Fire Chief's car, was available at your local toy shop. This seems to be something of an afterthought as it had been three years since the saloon and State Patrol models had appeared - or just a way to make some more money from this very successful casting. And we know that there will still be many more to come! (It will not be until this time in 2030 for my last article in this series to feature it!)

This model had a comparatively short life but still sold well and is still pretty easy to find now. There are three main variations to look for, each with a different treatment of the doors. You'll find models with just the badge on the doors, the front doors painted white and a third, slightly less common model, with all four doors painted white.

I have also seen some different badges but they're extremely unusual and I am not sure of their provenance as things like that are very easy to produce.

All the models appear to have free spinning wheels, whereas the preceding two Impalas can be found with fixed smooth, fixed shaped as well as free spinning wheels.

The other new model this month 60 years ago was a Ferrari F1 Grand Prix Racing Car, catalogue number 154. This would prove to be a very long-lasting model, surviving unchanged apart from wheels and packaging through to a remarkable 1972.

Update a month or so later: see my February 2023 article - I have discovered that there are several changes to the decals, nose shape and base to look out for!

It comes with a driver and will always be red with RN36. At some point it gets cast, spoke effect, wheels. All have the standard size rear wheels but smaller size front wheels. 

Amusingly with the driver still in place, you'll this model appear again on a trailer behind a red Land Rover in Gift Set 17. I'll be writing about that in March.

It will also appear in a revised release of the Ecurie Ecosse Racing Transporter Gift Set 16 in late 1964.

Red Land Rovers

"Are the Chipperfields Land Rovers a different colour to the Ferrari Set ones?"

My good friend and collector in Germany asked me the question. I knew that I had seen two distinct shades but whether they could be specifically allocated to one or other I couldn't say. So I've been thinking about it and would welcome any actual knowledge about this either to support or counter my conclusions.

He sent me the photos above which do show quite clear differences. Whilst there are shades in between, there remain two that stand out for us - the dark shade and the brighter red shade. My inclination was first to see the the darker shade as Chipperfields and the brighter one as Ferrari. I am not entirely sure why, especially as I am not a big fan of the Circus models and tend to have avoided them over the last few years, but some impressions of colour seem to have remained in such brain as I have left and the darker one really did say 'Chipperfields'.

Then I looked at a pile of other models, mostly pretty new and in boxes for GS19 or GS17. Now I know that just because a model is in a box now does not mean that it was in the same box at the start of its life at the factory but bear with me on this for now.

These are two 'Chipperfields' models. 

Here are two Ferrari Gift set models.

Another two Chipperfields models.

Two unallocated models I had lying around.

Yes, there were both bright and dark in each case! So that didn't help at all.

Thinking about it some more it occurred to me that it is unlikely that Corgi would have been spraying the same Land Rover casts in slightly different shades at the same time for the various Gift Sets. While they were packing both the Chipperfields and Ferrari Gift set boxes I would have expected the production people to be providing just the one batch of painted Land Rovers.

The first appearance of a red Land Rover was in April 1962 for the Gift Set 19 with a trailer and Elephant Cage. So I can imagine that a colour was decided and all Land Rovers for this set and the following Gift Set 23 in September 1962 would have been in that colour. Generally, Corgi were good at being consistent with colours over a short period and let's say that the dark shade was thus utilised for all the Chipperfields items through to early 1963.

Then the Ferrari Gift Set is devised and, again, the same darker shade is included in this Gift Set 17 too for a while. Then, some time later, and I have no idea when, there is a change of supplier of paint or even a deliberate decision to have something brighter and along come batches of new, brighter red Land Rovers and these are available for use in whichever Gift Set, Chipperfields or Ferrari, as the ladies in the factory need them for.

That then is how, in my view, the different colours have been distributed at the start. Early Chipperfields models have the first shade (to which I have allocated the darker one) and all later models are brighter red, whether Ferrari or not.

We did, of course, wonder whether Ferrari had had a hand in determining the shade but decided this was unlikely or, even if they had, it was not exactly followed!

It would be a fair criticism of this brief research to say that the images provided here could all be of the same red shade but varying light and processing have resulted in their now appearing quite different. I don't think that will be the case but I'm happy to read any alternative suggestions, or knowledge even, that someone may be able to contribute.

New arrivals for June 2021.

Some nice new arrivals on my desk and shortly to appear in the store. 

This lovely 276 Oldsmobile Toronado has an original box too. 

The scarcer edition of the Fiat 1800 in mustard with a bright yellow interior.

A pretty reasonable example of the black edition of the 230 Mercedes-Benz 220SE with its emblem on the bonnet still present!

I was surprised at how long it has taken me to find a really good example of the plum red 307 Jaguar E Type. This one is excellent and had an original hard top. After taking so long to find I shall not be letting this go for a song! the last one I had (and sold) was my own from my childhood. Since then I have had several dark metallic grey editions which I do prefer and which also seem very much in demand but more plentiful.

Two nice Jaguar 2.4 models in 208S form. One has the later shaped fixed wheels ad is in super condition with lovely bright paintwork showing only very tiny marks on one or two raised body lines.

The earlier edition is not quite as smart but still a nice example for someone one day.

I took the opportunity to sort out all my other Jaguars - the 208M models, all now listed, including the rare grey base edition.

I always love the less common varieties of models and here is an excellent example of the Oldsmobile Toronado with plain shaped wheels, not the usual cast type. Only a few early editions had these fitted. It comes with a good box too. Splendid.

Maybe not particularly rare but the lovely old Rolls Royce didn't last long before Whizzwheels were fitted. This is the more common colour scheme but in very nice condition and undamaged emblem and chrome.

I found a yellow trailer and so have been able to put together a nice Gift Set 17. This is the better of two sets I now have available, the Ferrari being very fine and the nose not missing paint as most do! I have always thought it silly that there should be a driver in this set but as that's how it was sold I have to follow suit!

The farming vehicles have always had a fascination for me - as I was brought up on a farm and learnd to drive on a Fergie 20. I am really pleased with the old Massey Ferguson Tractor and have paired it with one of my better trailers and put Farmer George in place for a Gift Set 29. If you take out Farmer George then it's also a Gift Set 7!

Few Ferrari differences; 314 revisited

While I was waiting for someone to reply from Ferrari regarding one of the other known copies of the gold-plated 314, and to answer a question a collector had asked, I took a closer look at the good old Ferrari Berlinetta 250 Le Mans.

This appeared in the local toy shop in early 1965 and you'll still see it in the 1972 catalogue where it shares the honour or being one of only two models with wire wheels, the other being the James Bond Aston Martin. It is also the only model from the 1965 release to survive that long other than some farm equipment. During all those years not a great deal changed. I had thought at first that nothing had changed but when I looked a little closer I noticed a couple of things.

First the decals appear to come in two flavours. One is the familiar aged, cream background type with a well-defined and fairly thin numeral. The other has a very white background of the sort that makes you think it is a reproduction but it isn't, and the numeral is slightly thicker. The yellow stripe is also a touch wider, I think. I haven't measured them so it may just be an illusion, one of my models not being that well blessed in that respect. 

The second difference is on the base where there are extensions at an angle at the rear of the two raised lines running front to back. One might think they were a sort of suggestion of exhaust pipes but the model had chrome pipes already sticking out the back and, of course, it is a rear engine anyway. The chrome pipes have mostly disappeared on my red models, by the way, and that's a common fault to look out for as they are quite vulnerable to snapping.

The gold-plated edition would appear to be the first type with no extensions to the lines on the base.

I cannot say for certain which edition came first but I would guess that the straight lines were on the first type and the extensions added at some point to make a second type. Whether the decal change occurred at the same time, I can't tell, but it is pretty unlikely.

What does surprise me is why this car didn't get cast, spoke effect wheels like just about everything else did, including buses and Land Rovers! These would have been regularly fitted to models from about 1967 and the Mustang, for example, gets them in place of the wire wheels. By 1972 I really would have expected a change. At least it didn't get Whizzwheels so I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies.

Illustrations from extravaganzi.com and allcarcentral.com

The model itself was not a brilliant miniature version of the real thing and rumour has it that Ferrari were not that impressed. Whether that is really the case or not I still can't be sure. Perhaps the gold edition I have is the one that Ferrari's boss got at the time but he sent it back (as suggested by another collector)!

The obvious difference would be the headlamps. Corgi's attempt to give the impression of the glass cover area simply didn't work and seems to lack a third dimension. (It would, incidentally, be three years before they got anywhere near getting that type of headlamp right with the Mini Marcos.)

Many real models also had a different exhaust arrangement at the back. The one I could find that was very similar to the model also had a quite different (and very smooth) treatment to the rear window area which would have been nice to see on the Corgi 314.

I am not sure where the blue windows and chrome interior come from but I suppose it did add a touch of the exotic to the toy for us children at the time. I just remember thinking how hot it must have been in there.

Anyway, check your 314s and you should find plenty of whichever edition you need easy to find. None are expensive, so many having been produced. Just watch out for those broken exhausts.