Corgi Page 1

Corgi has a long history of making Diecast vehicles, including some top notch military vehicles
Follow the links below to your area of interest:

Background

Corgi has originated in the 1933s as a product line of Mettoy (Metal toy). It has gone through several ownership and control changes over the years, including Mattel in 1989, private ownership in 1995, and was acquired by Zindart (a Hong Kong firm) in 1999. The company also acquired the Lledo brand name. Below is a brief history. Military releases are indicated in bold type.

1933- Company founded in Wales by Phillip Ullman and Arthur Katz
1934 - First models made of  tinplate
1956 - Corgi range of toys launched. Billed as "The first with windows" to distinguish the line from Dinky toys
1958-1959 Introduced several military vehicles (#350 thru #353) - no tanks or AFVs
1964 - Corgi Classics line launched - Several more military vehicles made (#354 thru #359, #1133 thru #1135) - no tanks or AFVs
1969 - Ullman retires as director of company
1970 Corgi Juniors created
1973 - The first of the 900 series military vehicles is produced, manufactured through 1980
1983/1984 - Corgi almost goes bankrupt. New company formed from the assets of Mettoy: Corgi Toys Limited.
1989 - Corgi taken over by Mattel
1994 - Corgi releases 50th anniversary D-Day set, featuring: Royal Navy Staff Car, RAF recruiting Van, Open Top Tram, and a Army Stores Vehicle
1995 - Corgi undergoes management buyout. Forms Corgi Classics Limited
Late 90's - Corgi Fighting Vehicles: several of the Corgi 900 series tanks re-released as with new paint and packaging
1998 - Corgi Collection Heritage series created. Aimed at the French market, it featured civilian and 5 military vehicles.
1999 - Corgi purchased by Zindart
2001 - Corgi undergoes a renaissance! New toolings of MANY military vehicles, including armour from Korea and Viet Nam.
2001/2002 - Corgi Showcase makes an appearance. New releases of Korean and Viet Nam era armour.
2003 - 1:50 WWII series introduced. Showcase Collection offerings increase dramatically
2004 - History Channel line-up introduced. Corgi Tactical Strike, 1:64 Modern Military lineup introduced
2005 - WWII, Unsung Heroes, History Channel, Showcase,  and Tactical Strike lines extended.

A complete history can be found at the Corgi website.

Corgi currently offers four 'level's of diecast at four different 'pricing points'

Showcase Collection/Corgi Collection/Corgi Wheelz

Corgi's entry-level price point range. Scale is ROUGHLY 1/87 or 1/72.   Three series are currently made: Emergency, Fighting Machines and 100 Years of Flight collections.  Models come in themed 4 packs, 2 packs (with figures) and single vehicles. Prices range from $4.00 - $6.00. A great value!

Tactical Strike

      New for 2004, this collection of models will become a second entry-level price point range and should also prove to popular for collectors both young and old. Each Tactical Strike model is produced in 1:64 scale and is a reproduction of today's American military power.  Each diecast model has a battle-hardened look - weathered and war weary, with mud, armaments and equipment on each vehicle.  Also available are U.S. infantry sets for both the Army and Marines made of highly detailed, fully-painted plastic. Pricing: $9.95 to $14.95

The History Channel

      Corgi and The History Channel gotten together to create a new mid-price point range.  Production runs are not limited (re: mass produced). Detailing will not be as elaborate as on previous models or as extensive as the detailing in the new Premiere Collections.  The look to be quite nice, however! Pricing: $25

Premier Collections

    In 2004, Corgi redefined its top-level price range. Models will be produced in very limited production runs offered in special packaging in order to enhance the value. Additional features and accessories will be released for various models. Many of the WWII series releases will be in the Premiere Collection. Pricing: $39.95 and up.

Late 50's-Early 60's

Some of Corgi's earliest offerings, the first of which appeared in 1958.
The pictures above are from the 1965 catalog.

 

The '900' series : 1970's-1980

Tiger #900	Tiger #900	Centurion #901	Centurion - Mint #901
M60A1 #902	Corgi Chieftain #903	King Tiger #904	King Tiger #904
Su 100 #905	Su 100 #905	Saladin #906	Saladin  #906
Corgi Rocket Launcher with trailer, #907	Corgi Rocket Launcher with trailer, #907
Corgi Recovery #908 - Mint	Corgi Recovery #908 - Mint	Corgi Recovery #908 - Mint	Corgi Recovery #908 - Mint
Corgi AMX Recovery #908	Corgi AMX Recovery #908	Corgi AMX Recovery #908	Corgi AMX Recovery #908
Corgi Artillery Tractor #909	Corgi Artillery Tractor #909	Corgi Artillery Tractor #909

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900 series

1974

The Corgi of old (1970s - 1980) made some very nice collectible armour vehicles. Many characterized by the black barrel tip, designed to hurl red plastic shells 3-4 feet. They sold for about $6.00. Many of the 1970's vintage toys came in small boxes. Some of the late 1970's and 1980 vintage came in larger boxes with plastic windows.

Old Corgi models are easy to find on eBay. Fair to good quality will run $10-$20. Good in a box will cost $30-$40. A truly MINT model, in the box, may run $60-$70.

Listing

Type	Model Number		Date Introduced
Tiger	900		1973
Centurion Mark III	901		1973
M60A1	902		1974
Chieftain	903		1974
King Tiger	904		1974
SU 100	905		1974
Saladin	906		1974
German Rocket Launcher	907		1975
AMX recovery tank	908		1976
Quadtractor, Ammo trailer, field gun	909		1976

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Corgi Juniors

Centurion - Corgi Jr Carded	Corgi Jr Centurion #158-A1	Corgi Jr Commando V100 #159-A1
Corgi Jr Jeep  #157-A1

First introduced as the Husky line (in 1964) and later named Corgi Juniors (1970), these are small scale Corgi models. The military models were introduced in 1983.

D-Day Collection
1994

In 1994 Corgi put together a 4 model set to commemorate D-Day. Strangely, they simply cobbled together the set from existing civilian models, and then "militarized" them. The set included:
Royal Navy Staff Car, RAF recruiting Van, Open Top Tram, and a Army Stores Vehicle

Corgi Fighting Vehicles, 1:50 : Late 1990's

Tiger, 1:60 Russian Front, 1943 #66501	Tiger - boxed #66501	Transporter with M60A1 1:50 and 1:60 scale 32 Armor, US Army #55101	Transporter with M60A1 #55101	King Tiger 1:60 Thurigen, 1944 #66601
Saladin Armoured Car boxed with Centurion 1:57 #69901	Centurion boxed with Saladin 1:60 #69901	Bedford MK High Canvas Back and 25lb gun 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets #69902 #3295 of 5900	Corgi Land Rover #07501 1:43	Corgi Land Rover #07501

In the late 90's (1998-1999) Corgi released a series of models in the "Fighting Vehicles" series. These models are mostly re-castings of the older Corgi line-up (70's-80;s) but have updated paint jobs (more muted "pastel" shades). These can still be found in new, boxed condition. Prices run from $30-$60

1999 Catalog Cover

Corgi 1999 catalog pg 30

Corgi 1999 catalog pg 31

1998/1999 "Fighting Vehicles" series

Type	Description	Model Number
Diamond T Transporter & M60A1, 1:50 and 1:60	32nd Armour, US Armed Forces	55101
Diamond T Wrecker, 1:50	Red Ball Express	55601
British Land Rover and trailer, 1:43	1st Battalion, Royal Green Jacket	07501
Tiger Tank, 1:60	9th Kompanie, Gorssdeutschland Division, Russian Front, 1943	66501
King Tiger, 1:60	S. Pz. Abt.505, Thurigen 1944	66601
Centurion and Saladin, 1:60 and 1:57	3rd Royal Tank Regiment	69901
Bedford Mk High Canvas Back and 25 lb gun, 1:50	British Army on the Rhine	69902

Corgi Collection Heritage

Corgi Heritage AMX Recovery tank #2034 of 5000 66701	Corgi Heritage AMX Recovery tank #2034 of 5000 66701	Corgi Heritage AMX Recovery tank #2034 of 5000 66701	Corgi Heritage AMX Recovery tank insert
Corgi Heritage Box	Other vehicles in lineup

Released in 1998 and aimed at the French market, the Corgi Heritage series featured 5 military vehicles, most all "retreads" from the Fighting Vehicles series.

Other Corgi Pages at Mike's Diecast Tanks and Armour

Corgi - Recent: 1:50

Corgi Showcase: small scale sets

Corgi - WWII Collection

Corgi Tactical Strike: 1/64 Modern Armor

Corgi/History Channel WWII series

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