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