Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft)
70+ years and still operating (founded 1956)
About Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft)
Mettoy launched the Corgi brand in 1956 to compete with Dinky Toys. Corgi differentiated itself with opening doors, hoods, and transparent plastic windows. Their 1965 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 — complete with ejector seat — became one of the best-selling die-cast vehicles of all time, selling in the millions. Mettoy collapsed in 1983; a management buy-out re-established Corgi in 1984, Mattel owned the brand from 1989, and it returned to independence as Corgi Classics in 1995.
History of Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft)
Corgi was launched in 1956 by Mettoy as a direct assault on Dinky, which had had the British die-cast market largely to itself for twenty years. The attack was aimed at a single feature: Corgi cars had clear plastic window glazing, and Dinky's did not. "The Ones with Windows" was the slogan, and it worked immediately, forcing Dinky into a scramble to catch up.
Corgi then kept moving. It added spring suspension, opening bonnets and boots, jewelled headlights, tipping mechanisms, detailed interiors and finally Whizzwheels, and it pursued film and television licences harder than anyone. The 1965 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger — ejector seat, pop-up bullet shield, machine guns — was the best-selling toy in Britain that year and remains among the most famous die-cast models ever made, followed by the Batmobile, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Man from U.N.C.L.E. car.
Mettoy collapsed in 1983 and Corgi was rescued by a management buyout the following year. It has since passed through Mattel and Corgi Classics to Hornby, and the name still trades — but the Swansea-built models of the 1956–1983 period are what the collector market means by Corgi.
Timeline
- 1956Mettoy launches Corgi Toys with clear plastic window glazing, advertised as "The Ones with Windows"
- 1959Spring suspension and opening features are introduced
- 1965The James Bond Aston Martin DB5 becomes Britain's best-selling toy
- 1968The Batmobile and other film and television licences dominate the range
- 1970Whizzwheels are introduced in response to Hot Wheels
- 1983Mettoy collapses
- 1984A management buyout re-establishes Corgi as an independent company
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (1965)
- Corgi Batmobile (1966)
- Corgi Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Corgi Routemaster bus
- Corgi Rockets
- Corgi Classics series
- Corgi Juniors
Identifying & Dating Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) Toys
- Bases are cast or stamped "CORGI TOYS" with "MADE IN GT BRITAIN" and a model number; later production reads "CORGI" alone, and Mettoy appears on some early bases.
- Wheel type is the fastest dating tool: smooth cast wheels for the earliest models, then spun aluminium hubs, then Whizzwheels from 1970.
- Boxes changed format repeatedly — blue box, blue-and-yellow, window box — and the box style must match the model's period for a boxed example to be right.
Collector's Notes
- The box is often worth more than the model. A mint Corgi in a crisp period box with its inner packing, leaflets and — for the Bond car — its spare bandit figures and instruction slip is a completely different proposition from a loose one.
- Check the Bond DB5 specifically: the ejector seat mechanism, the roof hatch and the bullet shield all break, and the small plastic bandit figures are almost always missing.
- Paint chipping at the sharp body edges and metal fatigue in the base casting are the two condition issues. Beware also of restored and reproduction boxes, which are widespread and should be disclosed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) founded?
Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) was founded in 1956, based in Swansea, Wales.
Is Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) still in business?
Yes. Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) is still operating today, 70+ years after it was founded.
What is Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) best known for?
Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) is best known for James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (1965), Corgi Batmobile (1966), Corgi Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, among other toys.
Where was Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) located?
Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) was based in Swansea, Wales.
What kinds of toys did Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) make?
Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) is categorized under die-cast, vehicles.
How can you identify genuine Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) toys?
Bases are cast or stamped "CORGI TOYS" with "MADE IN GT BRITAIN" and a model number; later production reads "CORGI" alone, and Mettoy appears on some early bases. Wheel type is the fastest dating tool: smooth cast wheels for the earliest models, then spun aluminium hubs, then Whizzwheels from 1970. Boxes changed format repeatedly — blue box, blue-and-yellow, window box — and the box style must match the model's period for a boxed example to be right.
Are Corgi (Mettoy Playcraft) toys valuable?
The box is often worth more than the model. A mint Corgi in a crisp period box with its inner packing, leaflets and — for the Bond car — its spare bandit figures and instruction slip is a completely different proposition from a loose one. Check the Bond DB5 specifically: the ejector seat mechanism, the roof hatch and the bullet shield all break, and the small plastic bandit figures are almost always missing. Paint chipping at the sharp body edges and metal fatigue in the base casting are the two condition issues. Beware also of restored and reproduction boxes, which are widespread and should be disclosed.