Competition models Corgi Toys

151a lotus xi

throughout company s history, corgi toys have been closely associated modelling grand prix , formula 1 racing cars. first issued vanwall grand prix car (150) issued in july 1957. finished in green , carrying racing number 3, scale model of actual car driven stirling moss. followed in december 1958 brm grand prix car (106) green paintwork, , both cars featured in racing car set (gs5) 1958, along lotus xi le mans racing car (151) july 1958. vanwall, however, had been re-coloured red. in 1963 ferrari f1 (154) scale model of famous ferrari tipo 156 sharknose released finished in italian racing red, , featured in land rover , ferrari f1 car set (gs17) same year. followed in december 1964 lotus-climax f1 car (155). finished in authentic british racing green , carrying racing number 1, represented jim clark s 1963 world championship winning lotus 25, , in 1967 joined cooper-maserati f1 car (156) painted blue. lotus-climax , cooper-maserati re-engineered in 1969 include steerable front wheels operated moving driver side side, , high level rear wing in style of real formula 1 cars of time. re-coloured orange in case of lotus-climax (158) , yellow in case of cooper-maserati (159). lotus racing car set (gs37) issued in august 1966 containing lotus-climax f1 car, 2 lotus elans , volkswagen breakdown tow truck. ferrari issued in february 1965, ferrari berlinetta (314) (ferrari 250 lm) had competed @ 1964 le mans 24 hour race, , in may 1967 successful sports racer, porsche carrera 6 (330) (porsche 906), released.

in 1972 corgi worked newly formed grand prix association produce series of 1/36 scale formula 1 racing cars. first yardley mclaren m19a (151) driven new zealander denny hulme followed brooke bond oxo surtees ts9 driven john surtees (150), later followed surtees ts9b in livery of italian sponsors pagnossin , driven andrea de adamich (153). these first models produced in larger 1/36 scale instead of familiar o scale preferred dinky , corgi date (varying between 1/43 1/50 larger vehicles). within following 5 years virtually complete corgi range replaced vehicles in 1/36 scale, dismay of adult collectors. 1973 saw release of jacky ickx s ferrari 312 b2 (152) , john player special lotus 72 (154) of world champion emerson fittipaldi, , in 1974 shadow f1 car issued in both uop livery (155) driven jackie oliver, , graham hill s embassy shadow (156). scottish multiple world champion jackie stewart s elf tyrrell f1 car (158) released along stp patrick eagle (159) driven victory in 1973 indianapolis 500 gordon johncock. final 2 models in series hesketh 308 f1 car (190) driven english world champion james hunt issued in 1976, , 6 wheeled tyrrell project 34 driven frenchman patrick depailler issued in elf livery (161) in 1977 , first national city travellers checks livery (162) released in 1978. 2 formula 1 cars issued in 1/18 scale, john player special lotus 72 (190) in 1974 , marlboro mclaren (191) in 1975.

the proteus-campbell bluebird record car (153) issued in september 1960 , modelled on vehicle donald campbell set new land speed record on 17 july 1964. corgi design team given extensive access real car in order produce scale model, receiving paint samples enable them create exact colour match. however, lighter blue chosen model eventually. example of model presented donald campbell young members of corgi club.

475 citroen ds safari 1964 winter olympics & 499 citroen ds safari 1968 grenoble olympics

models following themes released on years. in january 1964, corgi updated existing citroën ds safari become promotional vehicle 1964 winter olympics (475), complete skier figure, 4 model skis , 2 model ski poles. painted white , decal of olympic rings logo on bonnet, model reverted corgi ski club version following year. revamped again in november 1967 1968 winter olympics (499), time painted white blue roof, , model toboggan on roof rack along figure of tobogganist , pair of skis , poles, , stylish grenoble olympiade 1968 decal on bonnet. final version introduced in 1970 alpine rescue vehicle (510), painted white red roof , came complete figures of st bernard dog , rescuer, , today rarest of versions.

340 sunbeam imp 1967 monte carlo rally, 322 rover 2000 1965 monte carlo rally, 339 mini cooper s 1967 monte carlo rally

the monte carlo rally, held annually in january, provided rich source of model cars between 1964 , 1967. following event closely, corgi toys able issue model of winning car shortly after end of rally there not enough time produce unique box new model, had make hastily produced sticker applied standard issue box similar model. 1964 winner paddy hopkirk s mini cooper s (317) released in february 1964 featured jewelled headlights , rally lamp on roof, , finished in bmc team colours of red white roof authentic monte carlo rally transfers. 3 monte carlo rally cars issued in 1965, winning mini cooper s of timo mäkinen (321) in february, finished in same red white roof, , 3 jewelled rally lamps, , in april rover 2000 (322) in maroon white roof 2 jewelled rally lamps in grill , citroën ds21 (323) 4 small jewelled rally lamps , finished in pale blue white roof complete roof aerial. 3 of these models available in monte carlo gift set (gs38) issued in april 1965; highly prized set today s collector. mini cooper s in monte carlo rally finish issued january of following year complete 2 jewelled rally lamps in grille , signatures of driver timo mäkinen , co-driver paul easter printed on roof. model number 321 carried on 1965 car. hillman imp issued monte carlo rally car (328), finished in blue white flash along sides , 2 jewelled rally lamps, , driven all-female team of rosemary smith , valerie domleo in 1966 event.

1967 final year corgi issued monte carlo rally cars, , famous mini cooper s (339) appeared yet again in march, time 4 jewelled rally lamps in grill, sump guard , 2 spare wheels on roof rack borrowed surfing mini traveller (485) 1965. 1967 monte carlo rally mini cooper s stayed in corgi range until 1972, spanning 2 different castings. mini cooper s (333) released in february 1967 carrying same red , white paintwork, campaigned in 1967 rac/sun rally tony fall , mike wood, along rover 2000 (322) same event finished in white matt black bonnet. final monte carlo rally car sunbeam imp (340) issued in march 1967, featured 4 jewelled rally lamps , finished in blue white flash , front panel. in december 1965 volkswagen 1200 beetle issued in east african safari finish (256). model featured opening boot , engine cover , steerable front wheels operated spare tyre on roof of car. colourful packaging completed inclusion of model of charging rhinoceros. 3 years later in july 1969 corgi issued winning hillman hunter 1968 london sydney marathon (302), complete take-off wheels, roof mounted tool box , plastic kangaroo guard across front of car. time packaging included model kangaroo , details of event, , in february 1970 model of unique 4wd ford capri 3-litre rally car (303) driven roger clark released. model of successful datsun 240z rally car in east african safari finish (394) issued in october 1972 , in may 1973 datsun 240z issued in rally finish (396). this, in fact, authentic model of john morton s 300 bhp bre-datsun 240z won 1970 , 1971 scca class c/p championships. ferrari 365gtb/4 daytona raced @ 1973 le mans 24 hours race, jcb , corgi sponsorship (324), released in june 1973 along in white/red/blue livery inspired 1972 le mans entry (323). in july 1973 porsche-audi 917/10 (397) can-am race series issued l&m cigarette sponsorship.

in 1970s corgi toys issued range of dragsters in response not increased interest in form of motorsport in uk, focussed on santa pod raceway in northamptonshire, attention brought these vehicles mattel s hot wheels. first released quartermaster dragster (162) in april 1971, closely followed commuter dragster (161) in june. both models of real vehicles, , of rail dragster variety. first funny car dragster santa pod gloworm dragster (163) issued in july 1971, , based on existing ford capri 3-litre casting. modifications allowed body hinged rear, , pressing button secreted in front bumper entire body rose, means of spring, reveal roll cage , driver within , detailed v8 engine. next release, however, figment of corgi design team s imagination. organ grinder mustang funny car (166), issued in october 1971, purely update of ford mustang (320) first seen in 1965, complete huge rear wheels , headers resembling organ pipes fitted v8 engine. in december 1971 ison brothers wild honey dragster (164) released customised gasser based on 1930s austin 7 saloon. adams brothers drag-star (165) released in february 1972 4 engined machine produced in conjunction designers adams brothers, , earlier quartermaster dragster updated in october 1972 john woolfe radio luxembourg 208 dragster (170) being driven british drag racer dennis priddle @ time. swedish drag racer arnold sundquist had built car powered jet engine starfighter plane brought both corgi offices in northampton , swansea allow company s design team access car. resulting model silver streak swedish jet dragster (169) released in february 1973.