Corgi Toys @ 60: Lotus Elan and a boat

 

It's July 1965 and the sun is shing. Let's fold back the roof and take a drive in a lovely Lotus Elan S2. And to remind us how scarce diesels were in those days, there's a 'I've got a tiger in my tank' sticker across the boot lid, promoting Esso petrol. I still have my tiger's tail, something you could get from Esso but I can't for the life of me remember how. I don't think I had to pay for it. The stickers were free but were somewhat smaller than the Corgi design! They were meant for bumpers when bumpers were chrome and just a few inches high.

Corgi's model was an attractive addition to the range and had side windows which slid up and down and seats that tilted forward. I never quite understood why because there was absolutely no room for anything, never mind anyone behind them! The bonnet also opened to reveal a nice silver engine (and everything else under there). It came with a blue helmeted racing driver and some numbers on black circular stickers which could be attached.

I preferred the car without the driver and without the stickers but at least we all had a choice.

The predominant colour for this model was metallic blue but there are also examples in white. The Elan in white, without the sticker or driver, would be included in The Avengers Gift Set 40 later.

There are also scarce variations of both the metallic blue and white models with cast wheels from very late in the production period of the blue model in 1967. Although the Gift Set was available through to 1969, white editions with cast wheels are just as scarce.

A common problem with these models is failure of the suspension. That is provided by a thin piece of plastic in an X shape with each end covering an axle. This plastic gets brittle and simply breaks.

There are two types of casting, one with a small hole at the front end, barely visible in the photo below.

There also seem to be shades of 'white' from very pure, almost blue-white through to a thick, creamy finish. Many of the cream may turn out to be from homes of smokers, of course! 

If the weather were fine then you could take the other July issue out on the river, lake or sea. This was one of precious few things that you could tow with a Corgi, not that there were many cars with tow hooks either.

This is #104 Dolphin 20 Cruiser on a Wincheon trailer with tiny wheels. The Skipper comes with the box. There is a stripe on the roof. The boat is all plastic and I guess it actually does float although I've never tried. At the back is a quite detailed outboard motor that can be pulled up out of the 'water'. The little propeller turns too. There's no suspension on the trailer but you will find later models have a tiny cast wheel in place of the original free-spinning smooth type.

This is, of course, the same model as first appeared in December 1964 in the Riviera Gift Set 31.

At this time there was a very limited choice as to what you could attach it to. In fact the only motor car at this time would have been the Buick again. For variety you'd need to use a Land Rover or Jeep FC-150 or one of the old lorries. Even after a few years the only additions would be a Renault 16TS, Rambler Marlin or the later issue of the Oldsmobile Toronado with Golden Jack wheels. (The first issue was only fitted with a tow hook in Gift Set 36 with the Glastron speedboat.)

As I said, there wasn't much to tow anyway, apart from some farm equipment, a Workmen's trailer, a couple of other trailers and a horsebox or two. 

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).

The Gift Sets 6 and 25 we can afford

 

Gift Set 6

I often get asked questions about Corgi Toys and they also give me something to share with the other collectors who read these articles from time to time. Writing it all down also saves me from having to remember every detail as all I have to do to find it again is use the little search bar to the right (if you're using a computer screen or laptop) or goodness only knows where if you using a smartphone.

This latest query was a fairly simple one but which nevertheless surprised me when I looked into it a bit more closely. "What's the difference between Gift Set 6 and Gift set 25?" asked Mr Horrocks. Let me state quickly that he was talking about the Breakdown Truck and Racing Car sets, not the wonderful and wonderfully expensive Rocket Age Gift Set nor the even more wonderful and hugely more expensive Garage Set! No, these more recent two we can just about afford on a good day.

The first, Gift Set 6, was issued in October 1967. It was withdrawn from dealer's lists in 1969.

The Breakdown Truck was the same VW Truck as had been issued in December 1966 but now gets a fresh coat of white paint, a lemon interior and 'Racing Club' stickers on the doors. The boxed #490 did not, at this time, have any stickers on the doors and the green-beige models all had a red interior. (Later Trucks did get cast wheels and 'Breakdown' stickers.) As far as I can tell, however, all the Gift Set 6 trucks had shaped wheels and lemon interiors.

On the red trailer was a standard Cooper-Maserati model #156 which may or may not have more than one wheel in gold. Most examples had four bare metal 8-spoke cast wheels but quite a few had a few gold-coloured wheels. One or two sets might feature one where someone had managed to find four gold wheels but they're few and far between.

The little red trailer had tiny cast wheels. I have not seen any with the older style smooth wheels in this set.

Then in April 1970, presumably once stock of the old one had been used up, Corgi come out with Gift Set 25 which is basically the same set but with a Cooper-Maserati on the trailer.

Gift Set 25

The only other difference appears to be the #490 Truck now gets cast wheels. However, most of the trucks now seem to have red interiors, with lemon being the scarcer.

Unfortunately, because it is so simple to swap models around, it may well be the case that you find all sorts of combinations of models in each set but it is my view that the original sets would have been as described. Much as I would like to list a truck with a lemon interior as scarce for Gift Set 6 and one with a lemon interior as less common for Gift Set 25, you will appreciate why I don't.

The red trailer appears to be the same in each set, and I think it must be the same as that provided with Gift Set 12, the Grand Prix Racing set in December 1968. However, in the Lotus Racing Gift Set 37, issued in August 1966, early sets appear to have a trailer with smooth wheels. It would seem entirely possible, therefore for early Gift Set 6 examples to have trailers with smooth wheels. I also recall the early trailers as having smooth tracks whereas the later ones, and all I have seen other than in Gift Set 37, have a hatched pattern.

The Farming Models Gift Set 22

 

One day I will try to gather all the items for the lovely Gift Set 22 Farming Models. The very first set was issued in September 1962, before the deep green 438 Land Rover was available individually. In those early sets was what I call a 'farm green' Series II Land Rover which would have been a 406S had it been issued in a box on its own. These are hard to find now and most that I have encountered appear to have had a pretty hard life on the farm too!

The Land Rover tows another item unique to this set - an all yellow 101 flat bed trailer. The first ones would have had fixed shaped wheels which will be about as scarce as the farm green Land Rover. Later they had free-spinning wheels fitted but I don't know whether this would have been before the deep green 438 started to be used or after. One would guess that, as the deep green 438 appears on the shelves in December 1962 it would also have been put in the Gift Sets once stock of the farm green edition had been used up.

Only 31000 of these sets were produced, according to the records, which isn't very many. By comparison the 351S RAF Land Rover is supposed to have had 25000 produced and you know how hard is to find those now!

The other components in the Gift Set 22 were initially:

• 1111 Combine Harvester
• 53 Massey Ferguson Tractor with shovel attachment
• 51 Massey Ferguson Trailer
• 55 Fordson Power Major Tractor
• 56 Four Furrow Plough
• 1487 Milk Churns
• 1490 Skip & 3 larger Churns to fit on the rear of the Massey Ferguson
• 3 Drivers, each different, for the tractors and Combine Harvester.

Despite its low sales, the set remained available until 1965 and, along the way, changes were made to what was in the box. 

• The normal 438 replaced the farm green 406S
• The 60 Fordson Power Major replaced the 55 version
• The 61 Plough replaced the 56 version
• The 57 Massey Ferguson Tractor with a Fork attachment may have replaced the 53 with a Shovel attachment but I'm not sure. I have only seen sets with the later item but it was not available when the set was first made available.
• The 62 Tipping trailer replaces the 51 Trailer but that will only be late in production as the trailer only gets issued in February 1965 and none of the sets I have seen illustrated seem to have the raves.

So most of the other components are fairly easy to find. It could be a bit of a struggle to find the different driver for the Combine Harvester but the other two gents will be with the later issues of the Massey Ferguson tractors in sets or in the box for the Fordson. You don't see many of the big milk churns or the skip but as a 1490 set they should appear from time to time and the 1487 block is common.

Now there's something that the Corgi Model Club could help us out with!! We haven't had anything agricultural from them yet.

I haven't looked to see whether anyone does a reproduction box but I am sure one will be available, if not both. That does mean you need to be careful, though, and make sure you get the right items for whatever box you find! (I will update later with more about this).

Lastly, you'll see that I have found a way to add some nice backgrounds to images! This is AI at work and most impressive it is too. One of my first efforts is below with the lovely 273 Rolls Royce with Golden Jacks. I have just packed up my silver over metallic blue edition which, interestingly went to an Andrew Windsor! So I had to use the slightly more common cream over muddy blue but it still looks good.

Things Corgis could tow

 A Rambler Marlin arrived this morning and made me think about this topic. Whilst Gift Set 10 featured the same model in blue and white plus a roof-rack and a kayak, pulling a revised version of the Pennyburn Workmen's Trailer, what is the red and black one designed to pull, I wondered.

Perhaps Corgi thought people might like to swap the two Ramblers - but then I realised that the Rambler appeared in June 1966 and it would be two years before it gets the kayak treatment. Maybe the Rambler could tow the Dolphin boat and give the Buick a rest. 

So just which Corgi cars did get a tow hook and what was available for them to be attached to?

Renault 16TS (202 and 260)

Buick Riviera (245 and in Gift Set 31)

Rambler Marlin (263 and in Gift Set 10)

Oldsmobile Toronado (264 in Gift Set 36 only and 276)

GP Beach Buggy (381 in Gift Set 26 only)

The list is a lot shorter than I had expected. All but the Renault had Gift Sets issued later with something for the models to pull, although the first Oldsmobile Toronado (264) was not issued in the box with a tow hook and the second (276) always did have a tow hook but was not used in the Gift Set. The Renault did appear in Gift Set 13 but without the hook.

In the commercial sector, almost all the Land Rovers had a variety of hooks, as did most of the Jeep F-150 models in various issues, as well as the VW Breakdown Truck and, of course, tractors, many trucks and lorries too. I don't think there were any other cars, though.

For the cars to tow there is little that Corgi had to offer.

Pony trailer (102)
Double horsebox (112)
Dolphin Boat on a trailer (104)
Pennyburn Workmen's Trailer (109)

That's it. I suppose you could add the Glastron Speedboat on a trailer which was included in Gift Set 36 but it was not sold individually. I hardly think Corgi were expecting us to hitch up a plough or farm trailer to any of these cars and the two early trailers - the platform and drop-side trailers 100 and 101 - are not likely partners either.

Late editions of the 102 Pony Trailer and all the Double Horsebox trailers would not have fitted over the button-type hook towing device that they had either. Early Buicks had a clutch type mechanism which may have worked but I doubt it was supposed to. So we're left with precious little left.

I am sure we may one day learn of plans for Caravans or small trailers one day which never got past the planning team meetings.

Maybe someone out there knows. Write to me if you have any information as none of the hooks really make much sense.

Corgi Toys @ 60: On the farm and the big International Truck

May 1959 brought a farm tractor and trailer to the toy shop shelves. The Tractor was a Massey Ferguson 65 model and first issues had metal wheels. You'll find the model with silver, cream or a scarcer red seat but all the examples I've encountered have had the same Massey Ferguson red bonnet and a slightly pinkish cream chassis. A driver was not included at this point. He comes later in gift sets or other versions.

The trailer has no manufacturer's brand but has the same Massey Ferguson red chassis and a bright yellow load section which lifts on a 'hydraulic' arm and has a hinged rear panel. Early editions had metal wheels. The trailer was around for a very many years and remained unchanged throughout that time apart from plastic wheels being fitted at some point.

These were the first of a good few models of agricultural implements which would be added to the range.

The military range was still being developed and May saw the introduction of the big International 6 wheeled truck, initially launched as an International 6 x 6 Army Truck.

A search of this blog will show you more detailed articles about this truck which still causes confusion with the different versions that exist in its chassis style, British and Dutch insignia, a US Army version and variations in where silver paint may or may not have been applied! As if that were not enough, 1133 is issued some time later as a US Army Troop Transporter!

The British and Dutch versions had the appropriate insignia on the front and rear and no stars. The US version of 1118 had a star on the bonnet and also on the flat roof of the metal canopy. (If the canopy has an indent for the star it is from a later 1133, which also had text along the bonnet and on the tailgate).

The difference in the two types of chassis can be seen when viewed from the side, one showing clear daylight above the chassis in places.

I don't know which came first or whether the US or Dutch versions were available this early and I think it is likely that the first editions would have been solely the British one.

None of these trucks had suspension - even later in life (although the Circus version with a crane did get suspension later). You could make an interesting collection just on the varieties of these trucks which confused me a great deal at the start - and even now I struggle for remember which US version is which sometimes, especially as many may have had canopies replaced or swapped over the years!

This International truck is a very heavy, solid model with massive wheels (and a loose spare behind the cabin which often goes missing). Look out for the tin hook at the back too which should be present. These didn't sell in vast numbers but many have survived as they could withstand being sat or trodden on pretty well!

Corgi Toys @ 60: Two Trailers

January 1958 brought two things you could tow behind your Land Rover or Commer lorry; 101, the Platform Trailer and 102, the Pony Trailer. The Platform Trailer can be found in many combinations of chassis and load section colours but I think there would only have been these three available initially.

These would have had the simple wire drawbar. It would not be until 1962 that that got replaced in a boxed edition, although in March 1960 the records show that a set comprising an ERF lorry with cement and plank loads had a cast drawbar. I am not so sure that is correct, though. You will also see a blue and red trailer carrying a Chipperfields Circus elephant cage and a blue and cream trailer carrying milk churns but both these will have cast drawbars. There is, of course, also the yellow trailer from the Farming Set but that also only appeared later and had a fixed cast drawbar.

The Pony Trailer I have written about on several occasions. What seemed a very straightforward issue - just the choice of three colours, I had thought, turned out to be a lot more complicated! However, here in January 1958 you would have opened the box to find just one of two possible editions: a cream horsebox on a red chassis or a red horsebox on a black chassis. Either would have a wire drawbar, exactly the same as was fitted to the trailers.

In the box would be a brown pony with a blanket on. The blanket would usually be blue. I have seen other colours but believe that the early ones were always blue. If you had one of the very early editions then you would have struggled a bit to get the pony out because there was no 'handle' or protrusion at the top of the ramp to help you in lifting it to unlatch and then drop it down. Pretty soon after the first issue, however, the casting of the ramp was changed and a 'handle' added.

Both the cream and red and red and black editions can be found with and without handles. The red and black one carried on rather longer than the cream and red and even got a fixed drawbar at some late stage. There is no documentation on this but my guess is that it would have appeared a little before the time when the brown and cream Pony Trailer appeared for the revised Gift Set 2. That would correspond with the 1962 debut of the same thing on the Platform Trailers.

Charm on the farm

If you had been looking for a green series II Land Rover then September 1962 would have provided the first opportunity when Corgi issued Gift Set 22. This was a huge set containing lots of farm models and extra bits and pieces. Two items in the early sets were unique: the all yellow flatbed trailer and a mid-green 438 Land Rover with no canopy.

Shown above between the Public Address model and a Series 1 406 it is a pretty similar shade to those two and quite distinct from the deep green that you would have found in a box at the shop later that year.

Indeed, many Gift Set 22s seem to have the deep green model so my guess is that Corgi replaced the mid-green version at some point. The Gift Set did not sell particularly well as it was expensive at 50 shillings. That's almost one and a half Transporter Sets. So, for a number of reasons, the mid-green Land Rover in 438 Series II form is a rare item. Indeed, for a long time I have not been totally convinced that it existed. I had peered at small images on various sites trying to decide whether what appeared a lighter green was, in fact, just the light or even an old 406 that had been put in the set.

This example of the Land Rover is pretty worn, missing a spare wheel and quite a lot of paint. The hook is also missing its tip. The screens are fairly clear, however, and the suspension sound. I tell myself that clean, shiny Land Rovers never look quite right anyway!

The trailer is cheerful. It looks slightly too big behind the Land Rover but it is the same as the other later-issue 101 Platform Trailers issued, having the fixed drawbar and free-spinning shaped wheels.

The search is now on for a slightly better example to be kept in a collection so these will be available to buy soon and the proceeds put towards the next ones. On past form, however, it may be a few years before another of either of these items comes along other than in a Gift Set at a thousand or two pounds (which is what this one is going for!)

This week we have seen gold-plated Corgis on the market for pretty huge sums but it is really sets like this that I prize. Despite what some may think the gold models might fetch, these farm models and similar regular issues have that certain charm and, in my view, are what Corgis are really all about.