Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
Hastened by being sent out by Amazon the latest release from the Corgi Model Club has started to be delivered after a delay to arrival here in the UK. This replica of Corgi Toys #334 has been eagerly awaited by many collectors as the original was only on sale for two years and so originals are quite scarce in good condition today.
#334 was released in December 1968 just in time for the Christmas spending season. it stayed in the range for only two years and sold 237,000 plus the 1969 sales which we will never know because a factory fire destroyed the sales records for that year. It is said to be to 1:41 scale*** whereas its predecessor had been to 1:42***. The new tooling incorporated many play features missing from the earlier Corgi Mini like opening bonnet and plated engine, opening doors, tip up seat backs, opening boot, and it’s party piece: a sliding sun roof. The chrome trim round the wheels and sills was created by trapping extensions to the plastic bumpers at each end between the upper and lower mouldings. It also had nice metallic paint finishes in either green or blue. Corgi Model Club has chosen blue for their replica. Surprisingly, the original model did not sell as well as Corgi hoped so only stayed in the range a short time. One wonders if the small size of the model gave it less shelf appeal or if by the end of the 1960s children had other things to spend 7 shillings and sixpence on.
The model came in an attractive window box with header card to catch the eye which the Model Club have had Corgi replicate well including the ‘Ladybird Books‘ like image of the Mini at a family picnic on the header and on the rear of the box.
So how well is the original model replicated? The packaging is a really good facsimile of the original adjusted for Hornby and China manufacturing. The red Mini shown on the box was never produced; the same box was used for both blue and green models. Boxes are often damaged by the header having been bent over at some point creating a crease or the internal folded card header in the box above the car is damaged by being squashed up but the new model obviously doesn’t suffer from that. Opening and closing the new box needs care as the tabs holding the flaps are not immediately apparent and need to be moved out first whilst the internal card structure is folded in a complicated manner to ensure that the model does not move around. It is small wonder that so many original boxes quickly broke in their owners hands.
The main difference I can see is that the original models seem to have casting lines across the front wings which are not there on the new model. As these are simply an artefact from the original moulds and not a feature of the real car their being missing is no hardship. Bonnet, doors and plastic sill insert all seem to be a closer fit than those on some original cars to be seen on the Internet.
The photographs below are of the car that I have just received.
A lot of effort has obviously gone into the nicely replicated packaging
The packaging has been modified to reflect the Hornby Hobbies creation and Chinese origin of the model
A nice stance and lovely replication of the original tyres
All the opening components open cleanly and easily
A great replica of the front of the model even if the original Corgi was not perhaps a very accurate replcia of the real car
The side profile matches originals very well
The boot has large gaps round it which are not so obvious from a distance but the original did too! Note the way the number plate light acts as a way of starting the opening of the boot
The car opened up shows some detail in the dash moulding, the Cooper by 1968 had a dashboard and not just a small console in the centre
The same rear shot but with parts shut and the sun roof slid back.
Again an excellent facsimile of the original Corgi Toys model and one I am sure many collectors will want. For those of you who are not subscribers to the series the model can be ordered individually from the Corgi Model Club website.
The next release planned is the Chevrolet Fire Chief – another use of the Impala casting and a very popular toy in my childhood as it captured the visual excitement of the popular American TV programmes.
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The next model due to arrive with up to date subscribers is a replica of Corgi 334 Mini Cooper Magnifique. Sadly, as I write this this model is yet to arrive in the Corgi Model Club warehouse having been delayed on its journey from China. The Model Club has sent out an email saying that it will be sending the model out by a speedy delivery service to help make up for the delay. The club struggle to make the software used for their website and business processes adapt to late deliveries so you may see messages suggesting the model is arriving sooner than it will do.
The publicity shots passed to me by the Club, and shown below, suggest that this Mini is well worth waiting for. The original model was an entirely new Mini model in the Corgi range on its release with much more modern construction and more detail than their original Mini models had. Curiously it was only in the range for a short time and did not sell particularly well which has made it difficult for Mini and Corgi collectors to track down in good condition at an affordable price.
Nicely reproduced box sets off the model nicely.
Looking a little closer the metallic paint shows off the car well with the ‘chrome’ insert and bumper unit adding to the impression of a much uprated model
Opening bonnet reveals simple ‘chromed’ engine and ‘stable doors’ style opening doors highlights that this was always intended as a toy
The sliding roof cover can be posed open or closed just like on the original model. And the seats tilt as well.
The boot lid has 1275 cast in which indicates that this is a Mini-Cooper. The badge is hugely overscale as the original badging was very small. The car also has the twin fuel fillers fitted to Coopers, though these are left in body colour.
It looks like a nice model from the photographs and I look forward to seeing it ‘in the metal’.
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AutoCult is a German firm founded in 2015. Their ‘mission’ was to create models of long forgotten cars which stand out because of their engineering, styling or just their place in history. The scope has broadened slightly to include some interesting smaller commercial vehicles too.
In their annual book AutoCult show their models and document their place in history. The models are moulded in resin in China in limited production runs and are made by traditional creation of a master rather than using CAD and automated mould creation. The range has a number of themes like ‘streamliners’, ‘delivery vehicles etc. Models are sold by dealers and museum shops.
AutoCult also wholesale two further lines Avenue 43 and Tractorism. These do not feature in the annual book but offer some interesting models, again made in resin in China in limited batches.
AutoCult
#0544 Bizzarrini AMX/3 Spyder (Italy, 1971)
This model forms part of the category ‘engineers/small series’.
AMC stood for American Motors Corporation. America’s fourth big car maker was famous in the 1970s for the Hornet and Gremlin as well as the Matador and the Ambassador. In addition they also owned Jeep which was a productive sub-division.
One design exercise it set itself was to design a bestseller sports car featuring a mid-engine concept. This was supposed to be a DeTomaso Pantera beater. The Pantera was sold by Ford Dealer networks in the US.
From the start the car was designated AMX/3. This was code for the third version of the American Motors Experimental vehicle.
The number of cars produced is not known. There was no doubt that there were three ready-to-drive cars and two vehicles in the factory, which were almost finished completely. Among experts, however, the opinion circulates that there were not five, but six AMX/3. In addition, there was probably another series of five to ten cars built later. Although there is a question mark about the exact number built experts agree that there was no AMX/3 Spyder. Yet one appeared in Brussels in 2002.
Exactly which chassis the Spyder was based on is unclear with some experts suggesting that it may be based on chassis #9. Some curious facts about this car are that it is fitted with a Chevrolet engine and not one made by AMC, and that its track and wheelbase appears to differ to the known prototypes.
Whilst the car is clearly based on the same design as the prototype sports cars it is unknown whether it was adapted form one of the original closed cars or whether it was built from scratch roughly based on the same design with modifications to create a Spyder. In any event all owe something to the styling of the 1966 Bizzarrini P 538 racing car but whether the design of that fed into the creation of the AMX/3 is unknown.
#06056 MG Mini Coupé ADO35 (Great Britain, 1960)
This is from the series: prototypes.
When the first Mini left the assembly line on August 18, 1959 few would have guessed that this was going to be one of Britain’s most popular cars.
Once the MIni’s success was established the design team at BMC looked to see how they could re-use the cars basics to create other variants. After all this is the firm that created Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG versions all based on the Austin A60. One design exercise (ADO35) was a coupé version of the Mini created by Pininfarina with only styling changes to the basic Mini mechanical package.
As a slightly upmarket model, and to give it a sporty image, it was given MG styling to the front very close to that later used on the MG 1100.
Pininfarina created a pretty design which with hindsight may well have sold well at a premium price, the BMC board did not decide to put it into production. Like many other design exercises it remained an unfulfilled designers dream. One prototype apparently still existed in the hands of an enthusiast in 2011 who was said to be restoring it.
#11017 Chevrolet Turbo Titan III (United States, 1966)
This model is in the Trucks series.
GMC had invested a lot of design time developing gas turbine engines and showing them in show cars. In 1966 instead of a show car Chevrolet produced a truck and semitrailer and presented it with the slogan ‘Truck of the Future’. Officially, the truck was called the Turbo Titan III.
The styling of the truck was ‘futuristic’ owning much to the sci-fi illustrations in comic strips. Gone was the classic US long bonnet and high cab to be replaced by a streamline look forward control cab. The design team also added details in the cab not seen in production trucks. The design team under Bill Mitchell had only just penned the lovely Buick Riviera, one of the most restrained and elegant GM designs ever so obviously enjoyed taking another approach with this show truck.
The gas turbine produced 280hp and lots of torque which would be very useful for a commercial vehicle. The truck was speed limited to 65mph and driven by an automatic box which reduced the 35,000rpm produced by the turbine to 4,000 rpm.
Sadly the high fuel usage meant that the 15 years of investment GM had made in gas turbines was not to be used in a production road vehicle though the technology and experience found its way into industrial engines. As is so often the case of experimental vehicles the one-off truck was simply scrapped when the project came to an end.
Avenue 43
#60108 Land Rover 109 Series III (United Kingdom, 1971)
The Series III had the same body and engine options as the preceding IIa, including station wagons, as modelled here. Little changed cosmetically from the IIA to the series III though the traditional metal grille, featured on the series I, II and IIA, was replaced with a plastic one for the series-III model. Inside the simple metal dashboard of earlier models was redesigned to accept a new moulded plastic dash. The instrument cluster, which was previously centrally located, was moved to the driver’s side.
The series III is the most common version of the series vehicles with 440,000 of the type built from 1971 to 1985.
The 2.25 litre engine had its compression raised from 7:1 to 8:1 increasing the power slightly (the high compression engine had been an optional fit on the IIa model for several years). During the series-III production run the 1,000,000th Land Rover rolled off the production line in 1976.
The Station Wagon was one of the first Land Rovers to get an all synchromesh gearbox and came in two lengths 88 inch and the longer and more useful 109 inch which is modelled here.
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KK Scale is a German based company whose models are produced in various scales and are diecast for them in China. Although much of their output is to 1:18 and 1:43 scales they also make a number of 1:12 scale models. They have produced the 1959 BMW Isetta 250 and the classic 1968 Fiat 500 in the recent past and this month (December 2022) sees the introduction of the classic Mini Cooper in this large scale. The model is available in both LHD and RHD formats, though the supplied photographs are of only the LHD version.
The Mini version modelled is a later car with extended wheel arches. Looking at pictures this model may replicate a Mark VI which is the final version of the Mini Cooper, though KK Scale do not state a date or Mark for the model. I am sure that a reader will be able to confirm or reject this. The pre-production images supplied by KK Scale are shown below.
DC120051R Mini Cooper Dark Green/White (RHD) DC120051L Mini Cooper Dark Green/White (LHD)
DC120052R Mini Cooper Black/White w/Union Jack (RHD) DC120052L Mini Cooper Black/White w/Union Jack (LHD)
DC120053R Mini Cooper Blue Metallic/White (RHD) DC120053L Mini Cooper Blue Metallic/White (LHD)
DC120054R Mini Cooper Red/White (RHD) DC120054L Mini Cooper Red/White (LHD)
These models appear to capture the shape of the Mini well, something not every manufacturer manages. A good thing as at 1:12 scale every shortcoming will be clearly seen. Prices of these models are roughly similar to Norev 1:12 scale models so are much more affordable than large resin models. This means that they are likely to be extremely popular with Mini fans, even those who are not normally model collectors.
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Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
The iconic and much-loved Mini was a mainstay of the Corgi range, along with the Land Rover and Chevrolet’s Impala, through the 1960s with the company’s first and longest-running Mini, #226 Morris Mini-Minor making its debut in February of 1960, a mere four of months after BMC’s launch of the full-size car in August of 1959. Corgi itself was only four years old at the time so both the company and the Mini, one of only nine entirely new models for that year (the remainder being updates of existing models or accessories such as loads for trucks) entered the 1960s as relative young ‘uns. And both had a good decade with the Mini becoming a style icon forever associated with that decade and Corgi going from strength to strength as the company’s innovative approach was reflected in booming sales of toy vehicles. #226 contributed in no small way to these sales racking up well over a million and a half (1,667,000) before it was finally withdrawn towards the end of the Sixties.
Modelled at a scale of 1:42 and initially available in two shades of blue, it was a simple but attractive diecast model which had all of the current Corgi features – seats, steering wheel and Glidamatic spring suspension as well as the trademark glazing, of course. There was also a diecast base which as Marcel Van Cleemput modestly informs us in his New Great Book of Corgi (New Cavendish Books 2010) was ‘a fairly accurate reproduction of the underside of the actual car.’ The model retailed for three shillings and five pence (3/5) or approximately 17½p in today’s money, which made it one of the cheaper Corgis and relatively affordable for those who saved up their pocket money to buy model cars.
Price guides indicate that #226 was available in a variety of colours over more than a decade in the Corgi range including three shades of blue, metallic maroon and yellow (as a Coleman’s Mustard promotional). Interiors can be red or yellow.
Marcel Van Cleemput states that the model was withdrawn in 1968 but, as I mentioned in last month’s piece, it was still listed (at a price of 3/11) in the 1970 catalogue. And that wasn’t the end of the #226 story either. As one of the longest-running Corgis, it can be found with all three of the wheel hub variations used by the company in the Sixties, starting with the earlier flat hubs before progressing to the shaped hubs introduced in 1960 and the later cast hubs. It can even be found, as #204 Morris Mini-Minor, with Whizwheels after the great 1970 conversion of existing models to the new plastic wheels to compete with the challenge of Hot Wheels. #204 was released in February 1972 and remained in the range for a further year selling another 119,000 units. It can be found in orange and dark or metallic blue with some orange versions having a black roof and, as a relatively scarce model, is quite highly valued.
The real Mini was launched as Morris (Mini-Minor) and Austin (Seven or Se7en) siblings and Corgi quickly followed suit with #225 Austin Seven in January of 1961. Initially available in red and primrose yellow, #225 was, as Marcel Van Cleemput says, a relatively simple reworking of the Mini-Minor casting which required only different badging and radiator grill (with the typically wavy Austin bars) and a new plug for the chassis to change the name of the car. The Austin Seven remained in the Corgi range for four years selling 757,000 units and, although the real car was renamed the Austin Mini in January 1962, Corgi’s model continued to be an Austin Seven until its deletion in 1965. #225 can also be found in mid-blue and light yellow. Interiors are red or yellow to contrast with the body colour. The blue cars have red interiors. The model is most commonly seen in red with yellow and blue versions being rarer and correspondingly more expensive.
A casting of a popular car such as the Mini was too good to waste and Corgi got considerable mileage out of theirs, especially in its Morris variant, and #227 Mini-Cooper Competition issued in May of 1962 followed the example of the previous month’s #309 Aston Martin Competition Model by being, as Mr Van Cleemput says, ‘jazzed up’ with a two-tone paint scheme, crossed flags on the bonnet and racing numbers ( 1, 3 or 7) on the doors and a further change to the chassis plug to indicate that the Mini had now been ‘Cooperised.’ This was an attractive little model which came in two colourways – blue and white and primrose yellow and white. Most cars can be found with a white roof and bonnet but some yellow cars are known with a white roof and yellow bonnet although this doesn’t seem to significantly affect values which tend to be high anyway as this is a sought-after Corgi. Marcel Van Cleemput mentions a green and white version but none of my price guides mention such a variant and I have never seen one although Andrew Wood, on his chezbois.com website, states that he has owned one and that it comes in very pale green. #227 remained in the range until 1965 and racked up sales of 536,000. Corgi’s Mini casting was certainly paying its way.
Another ‘jazzed-up’ Mini appeared in November 1965 as #249 Mini-Cooper DeLuxe, more commonly known as the ‘Wicker Mini,’ and modelled, as Andrew Wood explains, on a Radford Mini owned by Peter Sellers which appeared in the first Pink Panther film – A Shot In The Dark. Marcel Van Cleemput says that this was a revamp of #321, Monte Carlo Mini-Cooper ‘S’ issued earlier in the year and with a new paint job – black body and red roof with a wickerwork label design on the sides and boot lid and jewelled headlights. The model came with a lemon interior and can be found with shaped or cast hubs. It was a very attractive artefact in its own right and sold 282,000 plus 1969 sales before being withdrawn in 1969. As another sought-after Corgi Mini, prices tend to be on the high side and my own example came without its wicker labels.
Some mystery surrounds another variant of the basic Mini casting, #349 Mini Psychedelic as Marcel Van Cleemput calls it or the ‘Mini Mostest’ as it is more commonly known which was slated for release in late 1967. Marcel Van Cleemput states that only a few were made up and that the model never appeared in the shops. Nor does it appear in any of the Corgi catalogues of the time but both my price guides list it and at eye-watering prices. The orangey-red colour scheme illustrated in The New Great Book of Corgi with lemon interior, cast hubs, jewelled headlights and pop-art transfers made for a very eye-catching little model which was clearly intended, like the #348 Ford Mustang Stock Car, as a nod to the flower power culture of the day. I have seen it suggested that the finished models were lost in the factory fire of 1969 although Marcel Van Cleemput doesn’t mention this and it has also been suggested that the few examples which occasionally turn up may have been part of a shipment to Scandinavia dispatched before the fire. This scenario seems unlikely given the time lapse which would have been involved and another suggestion is that the ’Mini Mostest’ was only available by mail-order to members of the Corgi Model Club but, as a member, in good standing, at the time, I have no recollection of this although, given the state of my memory these days, this cannot be taken as conclusive evidence. Whatever the truth of the situation, the undeniable fact is that, if you happen across a Mini Mostest, you will have to dig very deep to add it to the display cabinet with price guides quoting figures approaching £3,000 for mint and boxed examples and one example fetching exactly that figure at auction some time ago. To further complicate matters, it appears that some Mini Mostests were issued in lilac blue as one such, from Marcel Van Cleemput’s personal collection which at one time comprised an example of every model ever made by Corgi, was sold by Sotheby’s in 1999 and I have seen mention of another, reportedly acquired from a Corgi employee which sold for £1,650 in 2013. It is possible that the lilac versions may have been factory colour trials.
And, if mystery surrounds the Mini Mostest, it is nothing to the questions and controversy raised by another Corgi Mini special, the Jensen’s Mini. This variant which is believed to have been produced for a Danish company between 1960 and 1968 and in both Mini-Minor (blue) and Austin Seven (red) versions sells for extravagant prices at auction although my price guide is a little more restrained quoting figures in the region of £1,500. But is the Jensen’s Mini a genuine Corgi? I’m afraid I don’t know enough about it to say but there is a dissenting school of thought and it does seem odd that both the Austin and Morris versions would have been used and in a couple of colours at that and over such a protracted period that Jensen’s Minis can be found with all three wheel variants – smooth, shaped and cast hubs. What is known is that Corgi produced a blue #251 Hillman Imp with Jensen’s transfers and I have seen it suggested that some of the transfers for this model may have found their way onto Minis whether inside the Corgi factory or outside of it and that no official Jensen’s Minis were ever produced in Swansea. As I said, I am unable to pronounce definitively on this subject but Martin Uden writing on the Corgi Toys blog of Andrew Hill International in August 2021, argues very strongly that the Jensen’s Mini is a fake and, following representations to a major UK auction house, one such model was reportedly withdrawn from sale. So, if you are after one of these, I would advise some extensive research before purchasing.
Another variant of Corgi’s Mini, which seems to be less controversial is a yellow Colman’s Mustard promo which is also scarce and expensive and Ramsay’s lists a Link House Magazine promotional of the Morris Mini-Minor but I have been unable to find any information on this version online.
All versions of Corgi’s Minis are popular with collectors, though, and prices vary from affordable for the base models to significantly more expensive for the specials and Monte Carlo rally versions. As a rough guide, a recenteBay search suggests that playworn examples of most versions can be had for under 50 UK Pounds and, occasionally, for much less depending on condition.
#225 Austin Seven was included in Gift Set #25 Shell and BP Garage Layout in December 1963 together with a number of Corgi kits including Kit #608 Shell/BP Service Station, AA and RAC telephone boxes, a Bentley Continental, Chevrolet Corvair, Ford Consul Classic and Ford Zephyr Motorway patrol car as well as Shell/BP transfers, paints, brush and coloured cardboard base. The Minis came into their own with the introduction of #1138 Carrimore Car Transporter with Ford Tilt Cab Unit in 1965 as the transporter could accommodate six Corgi cars provided that three of them were Minis. As a result, various Minis appeared in Gift Sets #41 and #48 which featured the new transporter trailer including #249 Mini Cooper De Luxe, #321 Monte Carlo Mini Cooper and #225 Austin Seven, #339 Monte Carlo Mini Cooper, #334 Mini-Cooper Magnifique and #226 Morris Mini Minor with #333 Sun Rally Mini-Cooper being substituted for #321 in late 1967 in order to dispose of surplus stock of the Sun car.
Which brings me to an interesting subset of the Corgi Mini saloon car range – the ‘Monte Minis.’ The innovative design of Sir Alec Issigonis’ little car with its wheel at each corner and front-wheel drive from a transversely-mounted engine was intended to increase passenger space in a car designed as a cheap runabout but these features also had the effect of giving the Mini limpet-like roadholding and its light weight meant that, fitted with a gutsier engine than the stock 850cc mill, it became the original ‘pocket rocket.’
John Cooper, who designed and built racing cars quickly saw the Mini’s potential and an approach to BMC management led to a collaboration with an initially sceptical Issigonis and the Mini Cooper made its debut in September 1961 in both Austin and Morris versions with a refined and more powerful Cooper ‘S’, with a 1071 (later 1275) cc engine appearing in 1963. With their go-kart like road-holding, peppy performance and nimble handling, Mini Coopers were successful in circuit racing but it was in rallying that they really shone and nowhere more than in the glamorous (and gruelling) Monte Carlo Rally over mountainous and frequently snowbound roads. The fact that two Irish drivers, Paddy Hopkirk and Rosemary Smith (both of whose cars were modelled by Corgi) were front-runners in this event guaranteed it wide media coverage in these islands in the early 1960s with Hopkirk’s win in the 1964 event being a particularly significant moment and making him a household name.
Hopkirk was from Belfast and his co-driver, Henry Liddon was from Chelsea so the public interest was considerable. A model of the Monte-winning Mini would undoubtedly do well…and Corgi had a Mini casting. It was, according to Marcel Van Cleemput, a last-minute decision to release a model of Hopkirik’s Mini but, once the decision was made, no time was lost and #317 Monte Carlo BMC Mini-Cooper ‘S’ was launched in February, a little more than a month after Hopkirk and Liddon popped champagne bottles in Monte Carlo. The model, as Van Cleemput tells us, was ‘the basic Mini (as #227) with the addition of a spotlight on the roof, Monte Carlo plates and Paddy’s #37 on the doors’ and it sold 308,000 examples before being withdrawn the following year to make way for the 1965 winner and Corgi had a new and profitable annual theme. The dominance of the Mini in rallying was, as Van Cleemput notes, fortuitous for Corgi and Monte Carlo winners became a staple of the range for the following three years with #321Monte Carlo Mini-Cooper ‘S,’ as driven to victory by Sweden’s Timo Makinen following in February 1965 with sales of 151,000. This model had #52 on the doors and lost the roof-mounted spotlight but gained a sump guard and three jewelled fog lights in the grille.
Also in 1965, Corgi issued what I consider one of their most desirable gift sets and which I once owned but foolishly didn’t keep. This is Gift Set #38 Monte Carlo Rally Set, issued in March and comprising, as well as Makinen’s Mini, #322 Rover 2000 and #323 Citroen DS19 both of which, like the Mini were also sold separately. This set which came in a diorama box featuring an action packed mountain stage scene was available for just one year and sold 72,000 examples making it scarce and expensive so that I don’t expect to replace mine anytime soon.
Minis came home first in the ‘Monte’ again in 1966 but all three along with the fourth-placed Cortina of Roger Clark were disqualified on a technicality related to the headlamp-dimming circuits on the cars, giving victory to Finnish driver, Pauli Toivonen, in a Citroen DS. The decision was controversial and Toivonen is reputed to have believed that he hadn’t really ‘won’ the rally. Nonetheless, Corgi issued a model of Timo Makinen’s first past the post Mini. #321 (the 1965 number seems to have been retained) had one less spotlight in the grille (two as opposed to three on the ’65 car), a sump guard and the autographs of Makinen and co-driver, Paul Easter, silkscreened onto the white roof and the racing number #2 on the doors. This version sold 172,000 models in its year in the range. It was an impressive achievement and a source of some pride to Corgi to produce a model of the year’s winning car within a couple of weeks of the end of the rally.
Minis were still dominant in 1967 with Finnish driver, Rauno Aaltonen’s Cooper victorious and, once again, Corgi produced a model, #339 1967 Monte Carlo Mini-Cooper ‘S,’ released in March. The model, in the standard red with white roof livery of the Monte Minis, featured a sump guard and extended Monte Carlo Rally plate which incorporated front mud flaps, four jewelled fog lights, plated roof rack with two spare wheels and carried #177 on the doors and has cast hubs. Oddly, my rather playworn example has the number 50 on the doors but this is probably the work of a previous owner as it also boasts Ferodo and Champion transfers not, as far as I can find out, applied to the original model. This 1967 issue was to be the last of the Corgi Monte Minis and remained in the range until 1971 selling an impressive 659,000 plus 1969 sales. But this wasn’t to be quite the last hurrah as the casting made a reappearance in 1972 as #308 Monte Carlo Mini having gained Whizzwheels and lightly flared wheel arches to accommodate them and a somewhat puzzling, given that it is a Monte Carlo Mini, all over yellow paint job. It is, nevertheless, an attractive little model which survived the transition to Whizzwheels better than most and remained in the Corgi range until 1976 selling a further 283,000 units. The original, non-Whizzwheels version was recently reissued in the correct red and white livery by the Corgi Model Club.
It strikes me that Corgi’s Monte Minis and their other Monte Carlo models constitute a very attractive, if somewhat expensive, collecting theme transcending as they do the old toy collecting category as a part of motor sport history and, on the plus side, there aren’t many of them to hunt down. Perhaps I shall have to have recourse to eBay.
#339 wasn’t Corgi’s only rally Mini of 1967 with #333 RAC/SUN Rally Mini-Cooper ‘S’ having been issued in February. This was a replica of the car driven by Tony Fall and Mike Wood in the rally held at the end of the previous year in which the fifth-placed Mini was the highest-placed UK entry. Withdrawn the same year after sales of 73,000, #333 is a relatively rare Corgi and, as such commands fairly high prices. The Mini, with its red body/white roof livery, resembles its Monte Carlo siblings and features sump guard, rally plate, jewelled headlights and four jewelled spotlights, #21 racing number and RAC/Sun Rally transfers. It had shaped hubs and came in a standard #225 (Austin Seven) box with temporary label. It didn’t appear as a stand-alone model in the Corgi catalogue, its only appearance being as part of Gift Set #48 (Carrimore Car Transporter with Six Cars) in the 1967-68 catalogue and was available to order from Corgi, as an individual model, only from February to September.
Corgi’s Monte Minis are sought after and likely to be expensive. A quick browse on eBay turned up recent auction prices of 225 UK Pounds for #317 (Paddy Hopkirk’s 1964 car), 421 UK Pounds for #321 and 180 UK Pounds for #339 all for nice, boxed examples. I could find no original examples of the gift set among recent auction results but restored examples in reproduction boxes seem to sell for round 120 UK Pounds.
Andrew Wood, on chezbois.com points out that Corgi’s Mini saloon castings are not all identical. Leaving aside the grille variation on the Morris and Austin versions, the body casting seems to have been quietly rejigged around 1965 after the deletion of the Austin Seven so that the later Monte Minis and the basic #226 Morris Mini-Minor (cast hubs version) differ noticeably from their earlier counterparts when placed side by side. The most noticeable differences, to me anyway, are horizontal ridges on the front wings, the shape of the boot lid and the fact that the later versions seem chunkier and closer to the Mini Magnifique casting than to that of the earlier models. In fact, when examined closely, early and late Mini castings are completely different. And they never told us!
The popularity of the full-size Mini saloon naturally prompted BMC’s design department to introduce further variants and, in the case of the Mini, there were a few of these including booted and up-specced versions of the car in the form of the Wolseley Hornet and the Riley Elf and the later Clubman version of the base car. An estate version was an obvious choice and Morris (Mini Traveller) and Austin (Mini Countryman) versions were launched in 1960 as two-door estates with side-hinged double rear doors with the vehicle chassis being extended by just under four inches.
Both versions had decorative, non-structural wood trim on the rear body so that the cars had a family resemblance to the Morris Minor Traveller, whose wood frame was actually structural. All steel versions of both the Traveller and the Countryman without the wood trim were introduced in 1961 (export) and 1962 (UK) at a lower cost than the versions with the wood trim. I have been unable to find out how many of these all-steel versions were sold but they must have been relatively rare as I can’t recall ever seeing one. In all, over 200,000 Countryman/Travellers were sold over nine years of production.
An all-steel, panel van version of the Mini was introduced in 1960, with a ¼ -ton load capacity and continued in production until 1983 with over 520,000 being built. The grille for the van version differed from that of the saloons and estates in being a slotted pressed steel moulding with no specific Austin or Morris variation. A pick-up version, introduced in 1961 was very similar in appearance to the van and remained in production until 1983 selling over 58,000 units.
A further Mini variant, The Mini Moke, intended as a utility vehicle for the British Army, was launched in 1964. Initially, a twin-engined, 4-wheel drive vehicle, the Moke proved unsuitable for military use but a front-wheel drive version was reasonably popular in civilian use, especially in sunnier climes, with in the region of 50,000 being sold between 1964 and 1989. The Moke was basically an open buggy with a canvas hood and a revised front end. A somewhat similar vehicle, also targetted at holiday destinations in the style of the Fiat Jolly and named the Mini Beach was built for a short period in 1961-62 with around fifteen examples being produced and surviving examples sell for very big money indeed.
Corgi’s first Mini variant, #448 Mini Police Van with Dog Handlerand Dog appeared in Oct 1964. Modelled, like the cars at a scale of 1:42, it remained in the range until 1969 and was a popular model selling 908,000 units. It is, as Andrew Wood remarks, a well-designed, well-modelled and well-made little van and I remember being very fond of mine. My father was a policeman so, the van, in spite of having ‘Police’ as opposed to ‘Garda’ (as would have been the case in Ireland) transfers became a firm favourite. I don’t think our Garda Síochána actually used Mini vans but this didn’t bother me at the time. #448 had opening rear doors, a radio aerial on the front wing, half-open side windows and jewelled headlights. It has a red interior and a diecast base with detailing similar to the Mini saloons and can be found with spun or cast hubs. It is a popular model with collectors so a good, boxed example won’t come cheap.
A civilian version in metallic olive green, #450 Austin Mini Van was added to the Corgi range in December 1964. Intriguingly, Marcel Van Cleemput describes #450 as ‘simply the Police Mini Van with added embellishments’ but I have been unable to figure out what these ‘embellishments’ might be. In civilian guise, the van lost its aerial (the example in the accompanying photos is my own restoration of an original police version which is why it does have an aerial) and the horizontal bars from the back door windows which were presumably intended to keep miscreants inside the police version. But, otherwise, as far as I can see anyway, #450 is pretty much identical to its police sibling with opening rear doors, red interior, half-open side windows and jewelled headlights. #450 was withdrawn in 1966 so didn’t graduate to cast hubs. It sold 232,000 units in its two years in the range so it is a relatively scarce Corgi and commands good prices. There are some intriguing variations to look out for, though, and these concern the grille. Corgi’s Mini vans generally replicated the correct slotted steel item in vehicle body colour from the real vans but, rather strangely, some variants have the wavy Austin grille from the later Mini Countryman model. Some other examples can be found with the correct van grille painted silver instead of being left in body colour. The latter variation could be accounted for by human error on the production line but the Austin grille is a bit of a puzzler as the van and the Countryman (from which the grille was ‘borrowed’) are very different castings so it is difficult to image how such a mix up could occur. But occur it did. I haven’t encountered any mention of similar errors with the police version. I wonder if any exist?
Corgi’s final Mini variant, #485 Mini Countryman with Surfer was added to the range in March 1965. ‘Similar to No 488 in size and build up with its opening doors’ Marcel Van Cleemput tells us, ‘it was all-new tooling including the detailed interior.’ Unlike the van versions, Corgi’s Countryman has its front side windows modelled in the fully closed position and is a most attractive little model with jewelled headlights, nicely detailed ‘woody’ rear bodywork, and a radio aerial. Finished in light green with a plated plastic roof rack and two surf boards, the Countryman came with ‘a surfing Adonis’ figure ready to turn heads on the beach. #485 was in the Corgi range for four years and was a popular model selling 484,000 plus 1969 sales before being withdrawn in 1969. Similar grille confusion to that experienced with #450 seems to have bedevilled Countryman production too and No 485 can be found with the more common (and correct) Austin grille painted silver or the van grille in body colour.
A proposed Mini Countryman under the model number #498 without the roof rack and surfboards or Adonis, illustrated in the 1967/68 catalogue as ‘Available Later’ never made it into production.
Corgi updated its Minis in 1976 when the last of the 1960s castings, #308 Monte Carlo Mini, bowed out and an all-new casting in the new scale of 1:36 was introduced as #200 Mini 1000 in February 1976. Given the lasting popularity of all things Mini, this casting was to have a long run and appear in many variations. Andrew Wood mentions at least 200 versions but he doesn’t believe that to be the complete tally. Fortunately for what remains of my sanity, this later Corgi Mini falls outside the scope of this piece.
A note on the accompanying photos: working on this piece drew my attention to the fact that my own stable of Corgi Minis is unlikely to make my successors filthy rich. The red Austin Seven, both Competition versions, the ‘Wicker Mini’ and the 1967 Monte car have obviously done their stints in toy boxes. The blue (later casting) #226 is my own repaint in a stab at the Competition colour scheme, both vans are also my own repaints and the Countryman is a professional restoration bought on eBay which leaves #334 Mini Magnifique (featured in last month’s piece) an original, lightly playworn and unmolested example as the pick of the bunch. I wouldn’t part with any of them, though.
And I couldn’t resist including a playworn Dinky #106 Mini Moke (‘Prisoner’ version) in one shot to represent the almost complete range of 1960s Mini body types. Now, if only someone had made a contemporary model of the Mini Beach.
Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
This is the Corgi which has been with me longest. It wasn’t the last Corgi car I bought as a young ‘un. That would have been the #302 London to Sydney Rally Hillman Hunter of 1969 but I have written about it already and anyway my original didn’t survive my own offspring. The rest of my reasonably extensive collection of diecasts are the result of over a decade’s restocking of the toybox after I finally admitted to myself that, in spite of what I might have thought when I was fourteen and on the cusp of discovering girls, I wasn’t actually going to outgrow my fondness for toy cars…ever. So the Mini, as the sole survivor from those distant days, has a special place in the display cabinet and, having been with me for something over fifty years (longer even than ‘Er Indoors), it has a strong claim to be considered part of the furnishings if not of the family.
Both the Hunter and the Mini Magnifique were bought out of my pocket money after a house move had downsized my previous collection to just the #236 Austin A60 Driving School Car with which I practised my parallel parking while learning to drive for real but that model also succumbed to the attentions of the juvenile vandals. I bought the Mini and the Hunter because I couldn’t resist them, which is as good a reason for buying anything as I can think of. And both were splendid models from a company at the peak of its creative ingenuity.
I wouldn’t purchase another Corgi until 1981 when I bought (as an ornament or so I told myself) the #346 Citroen 2CV Charleston because I so admired the burgundy and black paintwork of the real car. But that’s another story.
As I recall, the Mini Magnifique had been well flagged in advance as an ‘Available Later’ in the 1967/68 catalogue with the advice to ‘Watch out for this feature-packed model – its secrets cannot yet be revealed.’ As a seasoned Corgi collector, I was, of course, familiar with the company’s practise of re-using popular castings and their Mini had already come in for several makeovers but this teaser seemed to promise more than the usual re-colour or updated rally treatment and my curiosity was piqued by the promise of ‘features’ for how on earth could anyone, even Corgi, shoehorn working features into the tiny Mini casting which was a mere 2⅞ inches long? So when I finally saw one in the Mazak in my local newsagents, there was no question about whether to buy! My pocket money in those days was ten shillings aka ‘ten bob’ or 50p in today’s rapidly devaluing money and the Mini cost 7/6 (37½p). I thought it very good value. And it obviously was as I still have it.
It is no surprise that both Corgi and arch-rivals Dinky modelled the Mini. You really did have to be there to appreciate the effect of BMC’s baby car on the world of the 1960s and, as the most popular British car ever with over 5 million sold, the Mini was impossible to ignore anyway. The real car, designed by Alec Issigonis, was launched to the public as the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven in 1959 just in time for the Swinging Sixties of which the car is as much a style icon as the miniskirt, knee-high boots, the beehive hairdo and the Lambretta scooter. An economy car which was at much at home in Carnaby Street as in my small Irish town, after a somewhat slow start sales-wise the Mini became popular with the rich and famous, celebrities and hip young things and the dedicated followers of fashion. And little wonder as the car, which quickly became known simply as ‘The Mini’ was not only cheap to buy and run, it handled like a sports car and had room for four adults provided that they liked one another. It was, quite simply, genius on ten-inch wheels.
It would require a book as well as trying the editor’s patience to attempt a comprehensive overview of a car which was so many things to so many different people from ‘one careful lady owner’ runabouts to fashion statement to police panda car, rally superstar and modestly-sized load-lugger in van and pick-up configuration and that is before one starts on the variations like the road-burning Cooper S, the later Clubman and the booted Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf siblings. And the number of people d’un certain age who learned to drive in Minis must surely be in the hundreds of thousands if not the millions. Those interested in further information on the real car will find an extensive and informative entry on Wikipedia. I will content myself with remarking that my wife owned an elderly secondhand Mini named Humphrey for a while in the 1980s and we both loved it, she because it was easy to drive on the school run and I because it went around corners like it was on rails.
Corgi were first out of the traps with a model launching #226 Morris Mini Minor in February of 1960 and its sibling #225 Austin Seven in January of the following year. The Mini, in various guises, was to make further appearances in the range over the succeeding seven years – a quick trawl through Marcel Van Cleemput’sNew Great Book of Corgi (New Cavendish Books 2010) suggests no fewer than seven further iterations of the saloon, four of which were Monte-Carlo Rally winning cars starting with Paddy Hopkirk’s1964 Cooper S, two vans and a Countryman estate. And, although Marcel Van Cleemput states that the model was withdrawn in 1968, the original No 226 is still listed in my 1970 catalogue priced at three shillings and eleven pence (3/11) or a smidgin under 40p.
Also in that catalogue, having been launched in December of 1968, is the subject of this piece #334 Mini-Cooper Magnifique which must, I imagine, have been the result of a conversation at coffee break in the Corgi design department along the lines of ‘Okay, we’ve done the Bond Aston and lots of other clever things. What do we do next?’
Regular readers, and I hope there are some, may recall my mentioning chief designer Marcel Van Cleemput’s justified pride in the company’s #241 Ghia L6.4 of November 1963 which was the first diecast model car to have ‘the works’ in the shape of opening doors, bonnet and boot and with tipping seat backs thrown in. Coming less than four years after 1960’s #218 Aston Martin DB4 introduced the opening bonnet feature to the world of diecast models, the Ghia was a further statement of Corgi’s seriousness and ambition. Now they were ready for an even bigger challenge by providing the same features in a Mini. But the Ghia, at 4½ inches was half as long again as the Mini and the engineering challenge presumably less daunting.
There are, as far as I have been able to ascertain from another browse through Mr Van Cleemput’s book and sundry catalogues no more than half a dozen Corgi cars from the decade beginning with the introduction of the Ghia in 1963 to have ‘the works,’ a testament no doubt to the technical difficulties so many openings in a small casting posed for the engineering department. Apart from the Ghia, the other ‘works’ cars were #246 Chrysler Imperial (1965), #262 Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine (1967), #335 Jaguar 4.2 Litre E Type 2 + 2 (I968), The Mini Magnifique (also 1968) and #273 (later 280)Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and its Bentley T Series sibling (#274) (both 1970). The Mini was, of course, by far the smallest of these.
Marcel Van Cleemput says surprisingly little about the Mini Magnifique in his book although he does give the scale as 1:41 (Corgi’s original Austin and Morris Mini castings were to 1:42) although at 2⅞ inches it is exactly the same length as the original Minis. Side by side with #227 Mini Cooper Competition from 1962 the Magnifique is noticeably chunkier, though.
As well as the opening doors (with cast in door trims), bonnet and boot, #334 came with an injection-moulded interior with some nice upmarket Mini dashboard detail and tipping seat backs, chrome exterior trim and jewelled headlights and a well-detailed engine under the bonnet. And, in keeping with the tradition of throwing in something extra (a Corgi dog in the Ghia, a golf trolley and clubs with the Chrysler Imperial and a working TV set in the Lincoln Continental) the Mini got a colourful, sliding sun roof and, in a nice touch of continuity, the cast base features similar detail to that of the original Mini casting. And all this for less than eight shillings. The car always has cast hubs and was available in metallic blue and metallic green. Astonishingly, to me at least, #334 didn’t sell particularly well (just 237,000 plus 1969 sales while the original #226 Morris Mini Minor alone racked up sales of 1,677,000 in ten years in the range.) The Mini Magnifique was withdrawn after something less than two years in 1970 so it isn’t the most plentiful of Corgis nor, and this also surprises me, is it one of the more sought after models. Recent auction results suggest that a very nice example in either colour can be had for in the region of £35 while mint and boxed examples change hands for £70 to £100 but, given its senior citizen status in the collection, I consider my own unboxed, lightly playworn example to be approaching priceless.
There is just one variation of the #334 casting to look out for and it is a fraternal rather than an identical twin. #282 Mini-Cooper Rally Car released in March of 1971 came in white with black-painted doors bonnet and boot and an orange racing stripe on the roof but, without the sump guard and diamond spotlights of the 1960s rally Minis, it looks somewhat less than convincing although it does sport a racing number ‘177’ on the doors. The model lost the sunroof from the Magnifique version but gained Whizzwheels which may seem a less than fair exchange. The rally version remained in the Corgi range until 1974 and sold 417,000 so there are more of them around than there are of its civilian forerunner. Values for the rally version are similar to or very slightly less than those of the Mini Magnifique.
Comparing #334 with an ‘original’ Corgi Mini, in this case #277, there are some obvious differences even if the overall profile is very similar. But there would be. All of Corgi’s previous Minis were based on the original 1960 Morris Mini-Minor casting and, in the intervening years, the real car had undergone some slight changes. Marcel Van Cleemput describes #334 as having ‘completely new tooling’ and it does. It is, in fact a different car – a Mini Mark II which resulted from a 1967 facelift of the real car which included a redesigned grille (as modelled on #334) and some other cosmetic changes. And the Magnifique is no ordinary Mini; it is a 1275cc Cooper S as indicated on the Corgi’s bootlid. And, while on the subject of the bootlid, that is, I think, the aspect of this model which impressed me most in 1969 when I bought mine and still does. The bootlid of a Mini isn’t big and it is hinged to open downwards to increase luggage capacity. This makes for a tricky piece of miniature engineering and, in my view at least, Corgi nailed it. The tiny bootlid fits perfectly and still opens smoothly fifty-four years later. These guys were good. In fact, the panel fit and operation of all the opening features is pretty much flawless. Do I like it? Of course, I do. I like it a lot. That’s how it happened to survive over all these years.
Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
A little later than expected the latest replica from the Corgi Model Club is now being delivered to subscribers. Initial pictures and the design cel have already been shared on this site here. Now its time to look at the finished model.
Yet again the small size of the Corgi replica packaging is a strong contrast with modern models as it is scarcely any larger than an Oxford Diecast 1:76 scale model box. Yet the Mini with its full roof rack and the surfer all fit snuggly into the box with a little careful packing material to prevent the roof rack and surf boards rubbing against the box.
Box supplied with Corgi Model Club Replica
Replica shown on top of box with Surfer figure supplied.
The model was launched in 1965 and was pictured in the 1966 Corgi brochure as shown above. A retail price of six shillings and threepence made it an affordable toy for special occasions and significantly cheaper than the Bentley Continental shown with it. It was only ever produced in one colour, aqua green, and was withdrawn in 1969. Around 484,000 models were made excluding 1969 sales and it was made to 1:42 scale***.
Although labelled as a BMC MiniCountryman the grille is clearly that of an Austin Mini as shown in the brochure cover below. The use of BMC on the box is an accurate reflection of Corgi’s own original description of the model. Perhaps Corgi thought calling it BMC would widen the potential sales?
The Corgi model, and its replica, have an unpainted raised area where the Austin badge sits on the bonnet and the Austin crinkly grille is reproduced. So it is clearly an Austin Mini Countryman and not a Morris Mini Traveller. That had a different badge and grille – these may be seen on a Morris Mini Traveller brochure below.
Austin brochure images by eBay trader Motoring Magpie
Morris Brochure image from brochurerequestuk eBay seller
Photograph by Andy Markey – original Corgi #485 on left and replica on the right.
The designer of this model has captured the original very well. The front view examined carefully shows that the new model has slightly finer bonnet shut lines and grille surrounds which I will not complain about. The ‘diamonds’ used for the lights are ‘whiter’ than on the Corgi and the central spot on the ‘diamond’ is not as central as it could be on my model.
The aerial is upright when most original models aerials curve to the rear, whether they were originally straight and the curvature is the impact of time and gravity, or not, I do not know.
From the side I again note that the shut and panel lines are all finer on the replica and the paint covers panel lines better too. I note that the characteristic weld line on the Mini front wing which is modelled, albeit slightly inaccurately, on the original does not appear on the replica. This is incorrect but will have the advantage of making it easy to identify a replica from the original.
I had not noticed before that the model has the sliding long rear windows modelled with the rear panels open on both sides. This is the case on the original model so Corgi Model Club have replicated that feature here.
The roof rack is a good replica and hopefully the modern plastic will mean that it stays straight as some original racks are curving with age. The surf boards are nicely replicated , but are perhaps slightly more brown in colour than the originals. The Author spent many wasted minutes finding out that the rack design is clever and that you need to slide boards forwards and then lift up as you pull them out. Putting boards back involves feeding the front in and then pulling them back so rear locks under retaining mouldings. If put back in correctly there is little chance of losing the boards from the rack. Hats off to the original Corgi designers who worked at their drawing boards less than ten miles from where I am seated to write this article now.
The shiny wheels continue to look a little different even though a careful examination of an original model shows that the wheels are accurately shaped replicas. The combination of the shinier hubs and shiny silver axle ends, when the originals had a dull finish, are probably the reason they appear to differ.
The rear of the replica is excellent as is the printed/oversprayed ‘wooden’ frame which seems to catch the originals shade of brown very well. The rear doors are nicely moulded though their small size means that they are now a challenge to Adult fingers to open when as children we would have had no problems at all! The rear lights on the replica are printed uniformly over the raised section of the mould whilst the original’s rear lights, which were I believe hand painted, are much less consistent in size and shape.
The interior is in yellow plastic like the original model and is a good match in colour and shape. Even the rather oversize steering wheel of the original is reproduced accurately.
Finally a quick look at the Surfer. Here there are differences when compared to the original. The original model has obvious arm muscles, square shoulders and strong thighs. The replica is altogether a weedier figure with less muscly arms, thinner legs and hips and a thinner torso. The bathing trunks are also rather too small to cover his dignity on my model! One detail that seems to vary between original models is the stand the surfer is on. Many original bases seem to have had a small slot moulded in for the surfboard to sit in when being held by the Surfer, this replica does not have this slot and it may be the case that some originals did not either.
This is all nit picking as all in all it is an excellent replica which captures the original toy well and provides a nostalgic connection to the mid-1960s.
The next replica from this range is #237 Oldsmobile Sherriff’s car, sadly like the Mini this has been delayed in shipping/landing so will also arrive late for early subscribers. Pictures of what to expect can be seen in our recent update which may be found here.
*** Details from The Great Book of Corgi by Marcel Van Cleemput published by New Cavendish Books.
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Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
Editor’s Comment: We have had lots of responses on this topic and it is a shame not to capture them all for our wider readership. Clearly one of two campers have crept into many collections!
Brendan Leach
Good to see Fraser Martin’spiece about the Mini Wildgoose camper.
I have a “sister” model of this type of vehicle with the roof closed. I suspect these models are based on real cars, because the camper body on mine differs slightly from Fraser’s example. The side windows are longer and shallower, and the styling lines are different. Plus, the model shows a different registration number (though it may be a re-registration, because the X suffix is too late for the grille style and interior modelled?).
I know I bought my model from Modelzone.
It has a Spark logo printed on the base, and my home catalogue tells me it is Spark reference S1517. I expect that reference is from the box, but I am not going to look for that box in the loft, thanks.
Apart from the Spark logo and an accurate exhaust, there is minimal detail on the base of the model.
As Fraser suggests, it is an excellent model of an obscure subject, well worthy of a place in a collection of camper vans, or Minis, or BL related vehicles. Even the Austin logo on the bonnet is captured correctly.
Fraser Martin
That red and white Ford in Graeme’s article is really nice! I was not brave enough to make the cut, but a new interior and a revision of the colour scheme and wheel spec gave a satisfying result to my Code3 Corgi Thames.
Chris Gray
I too used old Corgi Toys Campers for three of my Ford Thames conversions shown below.
I also used scrap box top to create a Commer camper.
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Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
From Atlas (according to my records, but maybe Hachette) and also made in Bangladesh, is this Mini Wildgoose based on a standard Mini Van of the early 1960s, and produced as a ‘kit’ in various forms. It was two-berth, had four seats and options included a hammock.
The upper roof section was on struts whilst stationary and dropped into the lower section when the vehicle was on the move. The front was all standard Mini whilst the rear seems to have been (from what I can find) either as described, or as a tilting unit on some kind of folding side-skirt.
The model shown is the former body style and is modelled accurately in the correct colours and design of an actual car, with a marginally detailed interior in tan and black. Impossible to photograph, at 1:43, is the dining table which seems to be the only feature inside!
The external dimensions look about right – the Wildgoose was a good bit wider at the back – and the ‘luggage carrier’ mounted on the roof has a cover in place. The extended wing mirrors, rear compartment roof vent and grille details are very good, and the typical full-size wheel “embellishers” are also accurate, as is the “sidestep”, the rear door recess and the little bits of chrome and silver paint on the model. The tiny chrome wipers are quite delicate too, for a model of its age, and the neat number plate is correct.
I have photographed the Wildgoose along with a Lledo “Promotional “ original Mini to reference scale and detail accuracy.
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As we all know Snow White is a classic fairy tale written by the Brothers Grimm in 1812. Did you know it is one of the over 200 tales they wrote? The story was adapted by Walt Disney in 1937, who made it into an animated film. He decided to change the names of the dwarfs and give them their personality. The film was a huge success, and more adaptions followed.
In the theatrical trailer Walt Disney introduces each of the dwarfs. Doc is forgetful and the self appointed leader of the group, Bashful is shy and he is secretly in love with Snow White, Sneezy has hay fever, Sleepy is very relaxed and has a fly bothering him, Happy always smiles, Grumpy has a short fuse but a warm heart, and Dopey does not speak, and has a silly behaviour.
I decided to do a Snow White set. Don’t know about other parts of the world, but here in Holland supermarkets give you a small pack with football cards, or small figurines with your shopping. As I have the tendency to keep sets of those figurines I found out they can be very handy to compose new car model sets with figurines included. Over ten years ago they had the Snow White set. Besides Snow White and the seven dwarfs, there were several other figurines included like the prince, the stepmother, some animals and others.
I used Snow White and the dwarfs only, otherwise I would have needed a far bigger lay-out. I took a few throw away Corgi Mini Estates, cut parts off, sprayed them and added Mini Mostest decals. All figurines were glued on a transparent base, and Snow White fits exactly in the rear of the Mini. The inner diorama has the dwarfs house in the rear, and it comes in a lift-off lid box. Only three sets were made, and this could have been a partnership between Corgi and Disney!
Here is a photographic record of my build.
Take two playworn Corgi Minis
Remove sections of the rear
Clean up castings and spray paint, ready to apply decals.
Figures and finished vehicle united with the crafted box
Another view of the finished scene with crafted box
The artwork and scene together.
Editors Note: Please be aware that this is not a commercial product and is not authorised by Corgi or Disney. Kees has made it as an imagination of what ‘might have been’.
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