A chance for someone to catch up with the Corgi Model Club 2021 Reissues!

 

A colleague has decided to sell his complete collection of the 2021 Corgi Model Club issues. The four models are:

474 Thames Wall's Ice Cream Van with Musical Chimes

339 BMC Mini-Cooper S 1967 Monte Carlo rally

258 The Saint's Volvo P1800

330 Porsche Carrera 6

Each has a reproduction box and original packing and ancillary items where applicable.

The following reproduction items are also available:

1505 Garage Attendants

Corgi badge

1966 Corgi catalogue

Certificates of Authenticity

Collector's Tin for the Certificates

All the models are mint. Some boxes have very minor marks where the awkward flap has been opened.

The Ice Cream Van is the 2nd issue from earlier this year, not the January 2020 issue (although it does appear to be identical). Only the certificate and box differ.

Although the more recent items may still be available to order from the Club, restrictions mean that only one of each model per address will be supplied and the Club do not accept orders from outside the UK. The Ice Cream Van has now been discontinued and the Mini-Cooper may not now be available either so this may be an opportunity for someone who is either a little late to the party or who is based abroad to catch up with these lovely new 'old' Corgis.

Contact me for more information. Ideally we would like the set to be sold in its entirety but the individual items are also being advertised so don't delay.

More new old Corgis

You may remember the issue of a reproduction 474 Ford Thames Ice Cream Van (the one with musical chimes) way back in January 2020. My article is here if you have forgotten.

The COVID-19 virus interrupted production in China and we had been hoping that what appeared to be a well-intentioned project would get going again. Earlier this year promotions started to appear once more in magazines and the original web site offered the Ice Cream Van once more. There would appear to have been very many more of these issued than first time round - tens of thousands rather than a mere 1000 or so, according to some estimates I have read. The firm managing the project do seem to have got things moving again. They have a strict 'one model per household' rule and so I was unable to get hold of another Ice Cream Van but other people are reporting that the model itself appears identical but with a different box and different paperwork coming with it. In particular, the Certificate now specifies a number and has a different design to the first issue.

Bearing in mind that no payment was required for the first model (if one ordered the next issue) and, even if someone did pay for it the price was a mere £1.99, I think we were all surprised to see these selling for £100 or more back in early 2020 but put it down to life in an Ebay world. I have to say now that £100 may have been a bargain if the buyer also received the bits and pieces as well, as there will not be many of those around.

Finally, rather later than some of my colleagues, I have received the second model in the series, the 339 BMC Mini-Cooper S 1967 Monte Carlo Winner. There were two versions, the early one had shaped wheels but this is the later issue with cast wheels.

That's the original. Below is the Chinese reproduction.

It's very good, with a very well-matched paint. I understand that the people doing this consulted Corgi for things like the colour reference to ensure that was right. (I am intrigued that there were records to consult and do wonder what else might be in the archives that Hornby acquired, but that's another story!)

The first thing that strikes me and one or two colleagues is the 'soft', almost plastic look to the jewelled lights. Whilst getting the headlamps white and fog lamps yellow as in the issued model, the inserts used seem a little cheap.

The RN177 decal is pleasantly 'yellowed' and not bright white as all the reproduction transfers seem to be but, unlike most of them, it does have the right font. The spacing and size of the digits isn't quite right but that is a minor criticism.

The most annoying fault for me is the rear number plate which has an odd spacing for the characters and looks significantly less deep than the original. The Rally stickers are also small, as you can see from comparison with the original below.

The roof rack is a splendid copy, as are the spare wheels and pins attaching them.

It's nice to see the base reproduced nicely, with the original style of text and layout retained but, of course, featuring Made in China now.

The box is very similar on four of its six sides. The original had different illustrations on opposite sides but this has the same scene printed twice. Otherwise only minor text differences are made and the obvious difference is the side that displays all the production and legal stuff. Luckily, that can sit at the bottom when the box is displayed in a cabinet.

The card itself is the right weight but the printing process used and/or card coating create a very shiny finish which is not particularly pleasant. I also found the changed design of the flaps on the ends very annoying, making them extremely difficult to open without causing a tear. Perhaps this prevents accidental opening and damage en route but I do think they should have taken a chance and left the flaps as they were. This is a most frustrating design and I now leave one flap permanently open to avoid more trouble.

Overall, this is an excellent reproduction and I admire the effort that seems to have been put in to this project and the prinicpals involved do seem to care about getting things right. I believe they have experience from Atlas and their excellent Dinky reproductions and the whole thing has a very similar feel to it, with the planned future issues, lots of goodies issued at the start and options to stop any time. I shall be continuing with this and wish them well.

Next, I believe, is The Saint's Volvo P1800. I hope they use better jewels this time but cannot imagine there is much else to go wrong there.

282 and 308 BMC Mini Cooper S Whizzwheels

As there are just a few of each of these I have listed them both in this post.

There are just two 282 editions:

The body style is very similar to type 2 but does not have the wheel arch extensions of 2a, and has the separate radiator and chrome decoration as for the 334 Mini Manifique.

Four 308 editions:

For the red interior editions you need to look out for different base colours. For the blue interiors it is the wheel style that differs.

For an explanation of the different types, please see my article titled Minis - the different types in September 2017.

317, 321, 333 and 339 Rally Mini Coopers

'Monte Carlo' Mini Coopers were issued in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967, as well as a Sun International Rally edition in 1967.

The first three seem to be pretty straightforward, with just one version of each!

The 1964 issue was 317, with Morris Mini Cooper on an early base. That base was also associated with fixed shaped wheels but I think all the 317s would have free spinning wheels.

Some make a distinction of a pinkish roof as opposed to white. 

The 1965 and 1966 issues were both, confusingly, numbered 321. Fortunately they are easy to tell apart with different racing number transfers and different sets of jewelled fog lamps too. The 1965 edition had quite a different front end, with two fog lamps included above the grille in the casting.

1967 saw two Rally Minis. In February the 333 Sun Rally edition and the Monte Carlo 339 followed a month later. The 333 started as an Austin-badged type 1 casting and shaped wheels, surprising as cast wheels were generally available at that time. When the second cast type was used for this model it gets the Morris badge. There may be Austin-badged cars with cast wheels but I have not yet found any.

In a similar manner to the 333 model, the 339 Monte Carlo edition spanned the period when cast wheels became the norm and the change of casting to type 2. In addition, paper labels were used for the racing numbers on the doors, making it important to examine these models carefully! I am not sure whether Austins did appear with the paper variety as these had a comparatively short production life but good quality reproductions are available that tend to confuse matters!

For an explanation of the different types, please see my article titled Minis - the different types in September 2017.

Minis - the different types

It is time to make a comprehensive list of all the Minis. I have put it off for too long. Rather than write an extremely long-winded article, I decided to deal first with the main variations that apply pretty much across the whole range and then write about each model separately. With about 80 different Minis to list, this should make it a little easier for people looking for information about a specific model.

Colour

Now this may seem simple and hardly worth writing about but the difficulty I had with listing 226s has been one of the reasons for taking so long in doing this. For most models it really is quite simple, with just the one or more obviously different colours. However for the 225 Austin Seven and the 226 Morris Mini Minor it could have got complicated.

The Austin is now pretty straightforward. Whilst there are many shades of red, from an orangey shade, through tomato to whatever fruit you might identify with deep red, I've decided to call them all simply 'red'. There's also primrose, of course.

The Morris was not so simple. I've settled for pale blue and lilac blue but accept that there are umpteen shades in between, especially for the earlier editions.

Interior colour

That's easy. Barring factory mistakes, there should be few difficulties in this section.

Make

Believe it or not, for some models, you do have to look at the badge on the bonnet to determine whether it is an 'Austin' or a 'Morris', regardless of what the box or base may say it is, or, for that matter, what newspaper pictures may tell you that the real thing the model depicts actually was! 

Windows

All models will have editions with clear windows but some Whizzwheels models will also have editions where they are tinted.

Wheels

These should be pretty obvious, the choice being between:

• fixed smooth wheels
• fixed shaped wheels
• free shaped wheels
• cast wheels (with a spoke effect pattern)
• 4 spoke Whizzwheels
• 5 spoke Whizzwheels

5 spoke Whizzwheel

4 spoke Whizzwheel

Base

There are five main base types for the non-Whzzwheels models.

Type 1a holes and two flat rectangular panels

Type 1b (note: the front is to the right in this image)
 panels but no holes, full width front lower bumper

Type 1c panels and narrower lower bumper

Type 2a no panels, text in centre sections

Type 2b no panels, text in centre sections
and a round post near the front

• type 1a bases all seem to have fixed wheels
• type 1b bases can be found with fixed (early) or free (late) wheels
• type 1c bases most seem to have free wheels
• type 2a and 2b models all have free wheels.

For Whizzwheels models there are another three bases across the range, distinguished by colour:

• matt black
• gloss black
• silver

Some models can be found with each type!

Body

There are three distinct castings used:

• type 1
• type 2 look for a horizontal line along the front wing, a different grille, higher front cast line and general shape
• type 2a like type 2 but with extended wheel arches
• type 3 is obviously different, with opening doors, bonnet and boot

Type 1 left, type 2 right: grille and casting line differences

Type 1 left, type 2 right.

Type 2a wheel arches
(also illustrates the horizontal wing line of type 2)

In type 1 the main body is common to Austin and Morris versions, with a front die change for the differing grilles and their related bonnet badges. Type 2s always have a Morris grille and badge.

Other differences

There are sometimes different colour steering wheels but I have not listed these yet. In the main, they are consistent with another change.

The 334 Mini also has two types of sliding roof blind, one with narrow stripes and a very scarce wider stripe variety (now listed).

The 339 Mini Cooper can have paper labels on in place of the earlier transfers for the door numbers. These I have shown separately.

I am grateful to a number of collectors for their help in understanding some of the history of these changes.The illustrations in these and the individual model posts are from my own collection except for the two Whizzwheels 5 spoke model photos on this page provided by Minifanatics.

Mini Coopers

It was a long time ago that I first tried to list the different Mini Coopers. My first article was mainly written to help my own searches but I gather that quite a few people found it useful. It was, though, pretty basic now I look again and some of the photos that should have appeared have moved location and the links to them no longer work. Now I have my own for most of them and I have discovered lots of new variations so I think it is time to have another go at this. I should also express gratitude to Mr Lee Harris for his expert corrections and explanations of my first draft.

May 1962
227 Morris Mini Cooper

There were three main colours: blue and two shades of primrose. All had white roofs but all colours appear with and without white bonnets. 

The blue cars could have a red or lemon interior. For the primrose cars it was always red.

Wheels were always shaped but could be fixed or free-spinning.

Racing numbers 1, 3, and 7 and each can be found in thick or  a noticeably thinner typeface.

February 1964

317 BMC Mini Cooper S

1964 Monte Carlo Edition

The first red and white Cooper, easily identifiable by the spotlight on the roof. Like 227 in many respects, with just the two headlamp jewels.

Listed in the catalogues and boxed as a BMC Mini Cooper S but looking pretty much the same as a 227 to me and with Morris Mini Cooper on the base!

Mercifully simple, there are no known variations of this one. The wheels are shaped, rarely fixed or, more usually, free-spinning and it is RN 37.

February 1965

321 BMC Mini Cooper S

1965 Monte Carlo Edition

A new cast for this one, with two fog lamps built in above the radiator grille.

This does have BMC Mini Cooper S on the base. Three fog lamp jewels and this is the first with a sump guard fitted below the front bumper. No variations for this one either - they all had shaped, free-spinning wheels and RN 52.

November 1965

249 Mini Cooper Deluxe

With the same base as the 321s but reading Morris Mini-Cooper comes one of only a few black cars from Corgi.

You'll find this with a red roof and plastic panels on the sides and boot to resemble the 'Wickerwork' that was used to decorate a few real Minis (for the price of a small house at the time). It has no fog lamps, just the two jewelled headlamps.

There are two variations - one with normal, shaped wheels and one with cast, spoke effect wheels. All have yellow interiors

January 1966

321 BMC Mini Cooper S

1966 Monte Carlo Edition

Back to the earlier cast for the second 321 model which came out less than a year later. Another very easy to identify as it has ridiculously big signatures on the roof. No fog lamps in the cast.

Two fog lamp jewels and shaped, free-spinning wheels. This also has the sump guard and all models have RN 2. BMC Mini Cooper S on the base.

February 1967

333 BMC Mini Cooper S

International Sun Rally Edition

Similar to the 317 and second 321 models but this one has four fog lamp jewels in the grille. There are three main variations!

Austin badge and grille, shaped wheels

The Austin is the earlier of the two and has the comparatively small headlamp jewels. Re-tooling produced a 'chubbier' cast for the Mini which was used for later editions. That had a Morris badge and grille and slightly bigger headlamps. The Morris only has cast wheels.

Austin and Morris versions each issued with cast wheels

RN 21 on the doors, sump guard and four jewel fog lamps in the grille on all models. The Austin grille and normal shaped wheels are the most common type (although these are still pretty scarce).

The base has BMC Mini Cooper S.

March 1967

339 BMC Mini Cooper S

1967 Monte Carlo Edition

Very shortly after the 333 comes another Monte Carlo edition. This is nicely obvious with its oversized roof rack. Again, this comes in several flavours.

Austin badge and grille

Morris badge and grille

Each of the 'Austin' and 'Morris' cars can be found with cast spoke effect wheels. The 'Austin' can be found with normal shaped wheels too.

All these have RN 177, four fog lamps and sump guard as for 333. I have seen both yellow and white jewels used for the headlamps and the fog lamps although I am fairly certain that all the earliest ones were yellow. With the re-tooling mentioned above going on at the time, the Austin, with smaller headlamps will be seen as for the 333 model. However, with the availability and comparative ease of fitting replacements this is not always easy to distinguish now.

Each model can also be found with either paper Monte Carlo stickers or with these as transfers.

Summer 1967

349 Morris Mini Minor 

'Pop Art' Edition

Only available to order by post from a members' bulletin, this is not a Mini Cooper but, being vaguely red and with the two headlamp jewels you might just come across one that has lost its stickers and initially gets mixed up with the Coopers. OK, you would have to be really lucky to find one like that! But here it is anyway.

No variations or racing numbers.

December 1968

334 BMC Mini Cooper S 'Manifique'

This comes in two colours: metallic green and metallic blue. Everything opens and it has a sliding inner roof lining. No other variations.

March 1971

282 BMC Mini Cooper S

The first Whizzwheels Mini Cooper was really the preceding 334 re-issued with fewer opening bits and some different colours.

Just the one edition, I believe, with the 339 RN 177 added. they must have had some spare supplies of those.

January 1972

308 BMC Mini Cooper S

Monte Carlo Edition

The second Whizzwheels edition, just a 339 now with yellow paint.

Clearly, there were still RN 177 stickers lying around. This has the same four fog lamp jewels as 339 and also the roof rack and sump guard. This example has the Morris badge and grille. It did occur to me that there may be Austin variations out there but I am assured by Mr Harris that there will not be, this being the later, re-tooled edition which bore the Morris badge.

That's the end of line for Corgi's Mini Coopers in 1:43 scale as we know them.