Corgi Toys were introduced in 1956 to compete with Dinky, which had become complacent on the British Market. Corgi were advertised as the “the ones with the windows” having a small plastic window insert making them look more like their full size counterparts than their Dinky counterparts (Dinky introduced windows in 1958). Corgi were named after the Queen’s favourite dog breed, the parent company Mettoy also had a factory in Wales (Corgi dogs being Welsh). Corgi like Matchbox, remind me of my childhood and the hours of fun I had driving these cars around the carpet.
I found this Austin Healey Sprite today in a secondhand toy shop in Miskewiecz Street in Tbilisi, (it cost 3 lari about $1.10) it looks in a rough condition with the paint flaking off but it gave me that nostalgia buzz that drives my collecting. This is one of the first Corgi Juniors vehicles. Corgi Juniors were introduced in 1970 when Husky was rebranded as Corgi Juniors. Whilst I am primarily focused on collecting Lesney Matchbox, Corgi Juniors also have that nostalgia buzz from my childhood. They would come in blister packs with a collector’s card on the pack.
I am particularly interested in the sports cars that were in the 1970 catalogue.
In the catalogue above you see the Austin Healey Sprite next to a Reliant Scimitar, I am happy to have found both models here in Tbilisi.
You can also see the DeTomaso Mangusta on that page, I would like to find one at a reasonable price. I did come across one guy selling the DeTomaso Mangusta at Dry Bridge Market in Tbilisi (and the Jaguar E Type another model I want) but the price of 30 lari ($11) a model seemed excessive.
I don’t want every model in the catlogue, I have even offered many of my models for sale, I am not interested in trucks, I sold a few locally for 5 lari a piece.
As I wrote, I am not interested in the trucks but I would like to find a model of the Jaguar E Type at a reasonable price. I would be quite happy to find the Mini and the XJ6, too from these pages.
From these pages I would be really happy to find the Mercedes 280SL and the Jensen Interceptor.
Diecast Car Collector 