| Collecting die-cast cars from the past | | | | released their first gift set and in the |
| is a hobby that is not just fun, its a | | | | first year they sold over 2 million |
| whole window to the not so long but in | | | | units. |
| today's new world a very distant past. | | | | Through the 1960s the company released |
| To most red-blooded die-cast collectors | | | | many of the iconic classics that we now |
| just the mention of the words dinky or | | | | compulsively collect today, and these |
| corgi makes their eyes, sort of glaze | | | | models can change hands for thousands in |
| over and a wry, almost child like smile, | | | | today's money. |
| wafts around his lower facial area. | | | | In the 60s some of the more memorable |
| These names and others were to dominate | | | | cars that were produced were the 1965 |
| the metal cast toy car market for many | | | | James bond Aston martin db5, the next |
| years and were played with by many a | | | | year, awards were given to Corgi ... |
| child since the 1930s. | | | | the "Queens Award to Industry" and the |
| The history of corgi is an interesting | | | | National Association of Toy Retailers |
| one that starts in 1934, Mettoy Limited | | | | "Highest Standards Award". . 1968 saw |
| produced the first models but these were | | | | the release of a model from the movie of |
| not die-cast yet, they were made of | | | | the same name - "Chitty Chitty Bang |
| tin-plate. During the second world war | | | | Bang". and the one toy car every one |
| mettoy were engaged in war production | | | | remembers from the hugely iconic 60s |
| and due to this increased war production | | | | american Batman TV series .. The |
| demand the company had to move to bigger | | | | Batmobile. |
| premises in Swansea. | | | | From its hay day in the 60s the |
| In 1950 the first forerunners of Corgi | | | | company's fortunes started to change, |
| cars were introduced and appeared in the | | | | starting with a fire in the Swansea |
| company's illustrated catalogue as | | | | factory that resulted in a total loss of |
| "Entirely New Miniature Numbers" Then in | | | | at least a year's stock. in 1971 the |
| 1954 the first drawings for the new | | | | Northampton factory closed with a loss |
| Corgi range were produced with the first | | | | of over 900 jobs. |
| car being that of an Austin Cambridge, | | | | Corgi lasted till 1983 With the company |
| but it took nearly two years of trial | | | | in serious financial difficulties the |
| and error to get the casting technique | | | | receivers were called in, but a |
| right and in 1956 the launch date for | | | | management buy-out meant that the the |
| the corgi range of vehicles was | | | | company was re-formed as Corgi Toys |
| announced for the 9th of July that same | | | | Limited in early 1984. |
| year. A sister company "playcraft" | | | | This new company's achievements were |
| launched the name of corgi to the | | | | recognised in January 1987 when it was |
| market, the name being taken from the | | | | voted British Toy Company of the Year by |
| breed of dog of the same name. | | | | the National Association of Toy |
| Corgi knew that producing die-cast cars | | | | Retailers. But 1989 the once great toy |
| just like dinky would not guarantee them | | | | manufacturer was taken over by the |
| market success so they planned a new | | | | American based toy giant, Mattel. then |
| marketing strategy .. their toy cars | | | | 1990 saw the first corgis to be made in |
| unlike dinky would have glazed windows | | | | china.... |
| in them. The next year (1957) corgi | | | | The age of great British made diecast |
| produced their first catalogue and also | | | | model car was gone. |
| backed this up with tv advertising and | | | | |