Film and television models Corgi Toys

270 james bond aston martin db5, second issue 1968 produced corgi toys tie-in film goldfinger

the famous , best selling (to date) toy car of all, james bond s aston martin db5 (261) film goldfinger, issued in october 1965. despite fact casting of new james bond car based heavily on earlier aston martin db4 model 1960, special features marked out model. there machine guns in front wings popped out @ touch of button, bulletproof shield popped protect rear screen when exhaust pipes pressed, , ejector seat fired through roof panel opened touch of button. model released in time 1965 christmas market , corgi factory found unable keep demand, leading coverage in british press of stories of toy shop shelves being cleared of new must-have toy in minutes. model remains in production day in updated form , has gone on sell more 7 million examples in various versions.

267 later issue of batmobile featuring whizzwheels

more big-selling film , television tie-in models released on next few years, each special features entertain children, , in 1966 mettoy awarded 2 of prestigious awards; queen s award industry , national association of toy retailers’ highest standards award . 1966 saw release of british television tie-in, two-car set avengers (gs40) featured figures of stars of show john steed , emma peel , respective cars; 1927 bentley corgi classics range , white lotus elan. later in august 1966 man u.n.c.l.e. thrush-buster car (497), issued. update of existing oldsmobile super 88 casting dating 1961, models of stars of television series napoleon solo , illya kuryakin firing guns out of windows. 2 figures popped in , out of car windows pressing down on model periscope protruding through roof. christmas market again dominated corgi toy car; time batmobile (267) released in october 1966. george barris customised 1955 lincoln futura concept car bought barris wreck ford motor company (reputedly 1 dollar) , featured heavily in american television series batman. corgi model featured rocket launchers, pulsating red plastic flames engine exhaust, operational die-cast metal chain cutting blade in nose of car , models of batman , boy-wonder robin sitting in seats. batmobile went on sell on 5 million examples staying in range until march 1979, , huge success company.

in june 1967 gs3 issued consisting of batmobile towing batboat on trailer, , james bond car followed – toyota 2000gt (336) issued in october 1967 film live twice, fired rockets boot. issued in november daktari gift set (gs7) featured land rover painted in camouflage style of wameru nature reserve model tiger lying across bonnet, along figures of dr marsh tracy , daughter paula , clarence cross-eyed lion , judy chimp; human , animal stars of american television series daktari. gs7 accompanied later giant daktari gift set (gs14) included versions of dodge kew fargo livestock truck (484) elephants , bedford giraffe transporter (503) in addition contents of gs7. issued 1927 bentley updated second time tie in bbc television series world of wooster (9004) starred ian carmichael, , featured figures of bertie wooster , valet jeeves @ wheel. film , television related model issued part of corgi classics range. final film , television related model 1967 issued in november. crime fighting car black beauty (268) - george barris customised 1965 imperial crown sedan, included operational satellite launcher inside boot , rocket fired behind grill, , featured in american television series green hornet. although series not screened in uk until years later, model proved popular , went on sell on 2 million examples.

a new casting of james bond aston martin db5 (270) released in february 1968, time featuring correct db5 taillights (instead of db4 taillight clusters on 261) , authentic silver paintwork. original had been painted gold after corgi design team decided silver painted pre-production models looked if metal bodies unpainted. new model featured tyre slashers , revolving number plates whilst retaining features of original, , examples packaged in short lived bubble-pack more valuable today earlier 1965 release. november 1968 saw release of flying car chitty chitty bang bang (266) successful film of same name had been in cinemas throughout summer, , featured plastic wings popped out car s side skirts when hand brake pushed , detailed miniatures of car s inventor caracticus potts , scrumptious , children jeremy , jemima . monkeemobile (277) issued in december model of dean jeffries customised 1966 pontiac gto featured in american television series monkees. included miniatures of band members davy jones, mickey dolenz, peter tork , mike nesmith sitting in car.

277 monkeemobile

film , television related models continued issued in february 1969 yellow submarine (803) animated beatles film of same name. model featured 2 hatches lifted @ touch of buttons on side of craft allow models of fab 4 john lennon, paul mccartney, george harrison , ringo starr pop view. examples featured white hatch front , yellow hatch rear in keeping colour scheme of original, before both hatches coloured red on later models. yellow submarine commands high prices today amongst both die-cast collectors , beatles related collectors too.

corgi toys not produced models of automotive stars of film , television, models of production vehicles. newly tooled commer 2500 mini bus body used samuelson mobile camera van (479) issued in december 1967 included detailed cast metal model of panavision film camera , plastic cameraman on metal plinth either attached vehicle s roofrack or front or rear of van tracking shots. lens of camera represented tiny jewel. in september 1968 renault 16 tour de france paramount film unit (gs13) released. gift set featured renault 16 car tailgate removed , platform extension fixed @ rear accommodate panavision film camera model , cameraman. included miniature racing cycle , cyclist.

1970s

the releases of film , television related models continued seventies, , included more james bond models. in june 1970 1912 rolls-royce silver ghost corgi classics range reissued, updated psychedelic paintwork , featuring figures of group animated series hardy boys, american television show unknown in britain. time model failed sell, making extremely rare today. ford mustang mach 1 (391) , moon buggy (802) film diamonds forever issued in 1972, , lotus esprit (269) in underwater mode spy loved me in 1977. rocket-firing stromberg bell jetranger helicopter (926) same film added in 1978. space shuttle (649) bond movie moonraker appeared in 1979 along drax jetranger helicopter (930) same film. citroën 2cv james bond drove in film eyes issued in 1981.

as decade progressed of film , television related models became less authentic , more product of imagination of corgi design team. in 1973 dick dastardly s car (809) issued featuring models of characters dick dastardly , sidekick muttley children s television programme wacky races. however, corgi offering toylike racecar qualitoys range, , far cry famous 00-zero car dick dastardly drove in cartoon series. in 1978 u.s. racing buggy (167) reissued penguinmobile , themed around batman s arch-enemy penguin, complete umbrella. (259). batbike released in 1978 featuring figure of batman sitting astride modified motorbike fired 2 rockets, along series of vehicles issued result of obtaining marvel comics license. themed around spider-man, captain america, captain marvel , incredible hulk. these included spidervan (436); suitably decorated chevrolet van, had been issued previous year tie-in american television series charlie s angels (434), daily planet jetranger helicopter (929) seen in superman: movie, spiderbuggy (261); jeep cj-5 model of spider-man s arch enemy green goblin trapped in web styled plastic bag dangling crane fitted @ of vehicle, spidercopter (928) , spiderbike (266). similar treatment given other marvel characters including captain america jetmobile (263), captain marvel porsche 917/10 can-am racer (262) , incredible hulk mazda pick-up (264) featured caged model of hulk on flatbed of truck. superman gift set (gs21) released featuring supermobile , daily planet helicopter , buick regal police car, spider-man gift set (gs23) consisting of spiderbuggy , spidercopter , spidervan . many of these later film , television related releases not models of authentic vehicles earlier issues 1960s, merely existing models updated take advantage of acquired licensing deals.

in may 1978 new version of james bond aston martin db5 (271) issued in 1/36 scale featured operational gimmicks of 1965 original. model appears in corgi range present day. in october 1978 saint s jaguar xjs (320) issued. model of latest jaguar coupe driven ian ogilvy in atv television series return of saint and, again, painted white , featured saint logo on bonnet. later in 1980 buck rogers starfighter (647) series buck rogers in 25th century released, including figures of colonel wilma deering , robot twiki . planned dan dare spacecar never released. series of models featuring characters jim henson s muppet show issued in 1980. these included kermit s car (2030), fozzie bear s truck (2031), miss piggy s sports coupe (2032) , animal s percussionmobile (2033).

by mid-1970s of popular series shown on british television american police dramas, , corgi decided model several of vehicles featured in these shows. in 1976 buick regal (296) series kojak issued, complete figures of lieutenant kojak , detective crocker shooting rear seat, , year later ford gran torino starsky & hutch (292) released figures of david starsky , ken hutchinson , suspect . in 1980 silver ford capri 3.0 s (342) issued tie-in popular british television crime drama professionals featuring models of bodie , doyle , cowley , 1957 ford thunderbird (348) american show vega$ dan tanna @ wheel. 1982 saw release of magnum, p.i. ferrari 308 gts (298). cost-cutting @ time dictated no figure included.

to complement corgi toys film , tv related models issued in colourful packaging period artwork, making examples original packaging , complete accessories such rockets, satellites, , umbrellas in case of avengers set, both highly desirable , valuable. corgi classics ltd have reissued many of these film , television related models in recent years, allowing collectors own examples without having pay high prices originals attract, although of reissued models beginning gain in value.