The first Corgi models appeared in 1956 and featured British saloon
cars of the period. The days of mothers repairing worn out knees
on their sons' trousers had arrived.
To celebrate the Mettoy company's 30th Anniversary
in 1964 a new range of die cast vehicles was introduced under the
name of Corgi Classics which replicated veteran and vintage models.
A year later, the company produced a movie tie-in
model which would become the most universally known and remembered
diecast model - the '007 Aston Martin DB5'.
Priced then at around 10/- (50p), by 1968 more than
3.9 million had been sold and a mint condition early gold model,
still in its original box, will today set you back between £250
and £350.
