JAMES BOND
FACT FILES

The Citroën 2CV sold very well, and CORGI introduced a special promotion to tie in with the most successful retailers in 1981. 12 Gold-Plated versions of the Citroën 2CV were produced for presentation purposes. The special models were electro-plated in September 1981 by Strada Jewellery Ltd. of Birmingham, and came with a certificate stating that the model had a deposit of one half micron of 23-carat gold plating. The gold-plated model was released in the cellophane-fronted detachable header card style window box similar to the second 1982 box used for the retail version of the C272 production model.

Collector's Note: The CORGI 2CV was issued in two versions, a pale lemon and deeper orange-yellow finish. In order to sell surplus stock CORGI issued the two models as a twin-pack in 1982. The difference in colour is more noticeable when the two sets are seen side-by-side. Both versions appear to have been issued simultaneously, and were even in circulation when the smaller model was repackaged in the Roger Moore art blister-pack (pictured above).

CORGI's final original James Bond toys were issued in the summer of 1983 to tie-in with the release of Octopussy. The toys were only ever available in the Gift Set E3019 and no larger scale versions were originally produced. The Acrostar mini-jet has folding wings to fit inside the horsebox, but the workmanship on this model is particularly crude when compared with CORGI's other smaller scale toys.

Collector's Note: The Range Rover convertible and horsebox models as issued differ in colour and design from the prototype versions pictured in the 1983 CORGI Catalogue. The Range Rover model was also produced with a chocolate-brown or orange-brown finish, and with beige or white seats.

By 1983 Mettoy (and their competitors) were finding it hard to stay afloat as video games took a hold on the market. In an attempt to keep its products contemporary, Mettoy even began production of their own Dragon computer, which was aimed at younger users. The expense of this project eventually proved a drain on the company's resources, and profits were seriously diminished. In October 1983, CORGI Toys were forced to call in the Official Receiver, just three years after the demise of competitors Dinky Toys, and one year after Lesney (who owned the Matchbox brand). Although the CORGI brand lived on, there were no new James Bond related toys issued until the late 1990s, when CORGI Classics Limited started to release legacy editions of their James Bond models.

One of the rarest CORGI models was a 1:64 scale AEC Routemaster bus handed out to special guests at the World Premiere of Octopussy, held at London's ODEON Leicester Square on June 6, 1983. The bus had originally been available in 1980 as part of CORGI's London Transport gift set #11 containing a traditional black London Austin taxi [CORGI 425], and a plastic horse with policeman figure. The set was later re-issued with just the two vehicles. The original bus had stickers on both side panels featuring the ‘BTA Welcome to Britain’ (British Tourist Authority) logo. For the Octopussy promotion new stickers were applied with the original sometimes still visible beneath. The Octopussy AEC Routemaster bus was presented in a blue window box with a ‘Premiere’ sticker applied to one of the opening flaps, with a ‘007 logo’ sticker on the front. A later retail version had a different sticker applied to both side panels of the bus, and came in a generic CORGI window box without any additional branding on the packaging. Both versions of the Octopussy AEC Routemaster bus were issued in very small numbers.

Other versions of the AEC Routemaster bus were reissued many times with different branding for other non-Bond promotions. CORGI also issued a silver edition of the vehicle to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, which was advertised alongside the Lotus Esprit.

The Aston Martin DB5 model C271 was still available throughout the 1980s with the final version manufactured in England released in 1989. Although not associated with any particular James Bond film at the time, the model was clearly issued to tie-in with the release of Licence To Kill and included a badge with the red silhouette of 007 used on other promotional material for that film. The model was reissued again in 1991 by which time CORGI brand was now owned by Mattel. Both logos appear on the new packaging which now included an alpine background on which to display the car. A still of the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964) could be seen on the rear of the packaging.

CORGI JAMES BOND GIFT SETS

FACT FILES INDEX

UK CORGI Toys

FACT FILES The James Bond Films