Corgi Classics
British die-cast model maker known for classic vehicles and TV tie-ins.
Corgi Classics Limited was a British company that made die-cast scale models, founded as an independent business in 1995. Its roots go back to the Corgi Toys brand, which Mettoy first launched in 1956. The company is best known for producing models of British and North American vehicles, including cars, airplanes, buses, and military vehicles. In 2008, Hornby Railways bought the company and has owned the Corgi brand ever since.
The Corgi Toys line debuted in 1956 from Mettoy Playcraft Ltd, a toy car company that had been around since 1936. These cars became an instant hit because they were the only toy cars at the time with transparent plastic windows, earning them the nickname "the ones with the windows." In their first year, Corgi sold 2.75 million cars, making it the clear leader in the British toy car industry. In 1966, the company won both The Queen's Award to Industry and the National Association of Toy Retailers' Highest Standards Award. A major setback came in March 1969, when a fire at the Fforestfach factory in Swansea destroyed a year's supply of stock and severely cut profits. Despite this, Corgi remained a top collectable for many years.
Sales climbed in the late 1960s and early 1970s after the release of models like the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 and the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car. However, sales dropped sharply after the 1969 fire, allowing main rival Dinky to gain ground. By 1971, the Swansea factory was back to full production after repairs costing over £1.3 million. The Queen's silver jubilee model in 1977 was an instant best-seller, along with a nostalgia model of Edward VII's 1901 coronation state coach. After a rapid sales decline, economic analysts in 1983 said the drop was inevitable because children and adults had moved on to more sophisticated toys, though some disagreed and blamed the fire.
In 1984, Corgi reformed as "Corgi Toys Ltd." and worked to regain confidence. Three years later, it turned to export markets, distributing in Australia, Continental Europe, and the United States. Soon after, the Corgi Collectors Club launched and gained worldwide membership. In 1989, Mattel took over the company and moved production to Leicester, Mattel's headquarters.
Quick Facts
- Fate
- Acquired by Zindart International in 1999, then became a brand
- Defunct
- 2008
- Hq Location
- Leicester, England, United Kingdom
- Industry
- Scale model
- Parent
- Hornby (2008–present)
- Products
- Die-cast scale model cars, airplanes, buses, military
- Brands
- Corgi Toys
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Corgi Toys was launched in 1956 by Mettoy Playcraft LTD, a toy car company founded in 1936. The new toy cars were a huge hit because they were the only toy cars on the market that included transparent plastic windows, soon becoming known as 'the ones with the windows'. In its first year, Corgi sold 2.75 million cars, making it a clear leader of the British toy car industry. In 1966 Corgi won both The Queen's Award to Industry and the National Association of Toy Retailers' Highest Standards Award. A major fire in March 1969 at the factory in Fforestfach, Swansea, destroyed a year's supply and cut profits tremendously, leading to substantial ground being lost to main rival Dinky. By 1971, the Swansea factory was back to full production after repairs costing over £1.3 million.
After a rapid decline in sales in the early 1980s, Corgi reformed as 'Corgi Toys Ltd.' in 1984 and turned to the export market, distributing in Australia, Continental Europe and the United States. In 1989 the company was taken over by Mattel, and production moved to Leicester. Corgi then introduced a new range: Corgi Classics, selling nostalgia cars, vans and trucks from the 1930s through 1960s. In 1995, Corgi regained its independence as Corgi Classics Limited and moved to new premises in Leicester. The company turned to British television for model ideas, releasing models such as Mr. Bean's Mini, Inspector Morse's Jaguar, and later models based on Enid Blyton's Noddy tales. In 1995 Corgi introduced a new range of 1/76 scale UK and Hong Kong bus models under the 'Original Omnibus Company' banner; by 2007, the total number of individual model releases in this sub-range had exceeded eight hundred.
In 1999 Corgi Classics Limited was taken over by Zindart, an American collectors specialists. That same year, Corgi debuted the Aviation Archive line of diecast military aeroplanes, beginning in 1/144 scale, later expanding to include 1/32 scale. Corgi also introduced a line of 1/50 scale armoured vehicles and, in 2006, the Forward March series of hand-painted metal figures. In 2000, Corgi bought the rights to the Lledo name and many of its moulds, taking over the Days Gone and Vanguards series. In May 2008, Hornby announced the acquisition of Corgi Classics Limited for £8.3 million. Under Hornby ownership, the brand underwent a rebrand in 2012 with a new logo and packaging, and the relaunch of Corgi Toys. In 2019 a new series called Corgi Chunkies was launched, designed by Hanan Shpetrick.
Reader's Guide
Corgi Classics Limited occupies a significant place in the history of die-cast model manufacturing, emerging from the iconic Corgi Toys brand that revolutionized the toy car market in 1956 by introducing transparent plastic windows. The company's resilience is notable: after a devastating factory fire in 1969 that destroyed a year's supply and cost over £1.3 million to repair, Corgi recovered and continued to produce highly collectable models. Its legacy includes a wide range of licensed television and film vehicles, such as the James Bond Aston Martin DB5, Mr. Bean's Mini, and the Dukes of Hazzard's Dodge Charger, which helped maintain its popularity among collectors. The introduction of the Aviation Archive line in 1999 and the Original Omnibus Company bus range further diversified its offerings. Under Hornby ownership since 2008, the brand has continued with new lines like Corgi Chunkies in 2019, ensuring its ongoing relevance in the collectables market.
Did You Know?
- Corgi Toys were the first toy cars to include transparent plastic windows, earning them the nickname 'the ones with the windows'.
- In its first year of trading, Corgi sold 2.75 million cars.
- The Original Omnibus Company sub-range of 1/76 scale buses had exceeded 800 individual model releases by 2007.
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