The Corgi Dick Dastardly Racing Car

The Corgi Dick Dastardly car recently came up, so I thought it was time for a quick look. It was part of a series devoted to film and TV related models, some of which had Corgi Comics on the boxes.

A few were original models, such as The Beatles Yellow Submarine; while others were based on an existing Corgi toy, with a few changes, and the addition of a plastic character figure. This allowed a 'new' model to be produced very cheaply, using a retired die-cast, as the only new items needed were some plastic figures.

This is usually described as a Wacky Races model, but I am not so sure. Wacky Races originally aired in the US 1968-69, while the spin-off show Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines was on 1969-71.

Both Dick Dastardly and his sidekick Muttley the Dog are wearing WW1 style leather flying helmets and goggles, so I think they are actually from the latter show. But driving a racing car.

The Corgi Comics 809 Dick Dastardly Racing Car was released in July 1973, and was available 1973-74. According to The Great Book of Corgi, 117,000 were sold.

Now we come to something odd. The Great Book of Corgi says 'This car was originally designed for the Qualitoy's range which had long been discontinued'.

The Qualitoys line was introduced in 1969, as a range of simple, sturdy models aimed at younger children. The models were all trucks, and shared a large number of components, which kept costs down.

There were no cars in the range, and I can not find any other Corgi models that look anything like the Dick Dastardly car. So was the Racing Car intended to be part of an expanded Qualitoys range, that was never actually produced ?

I have no idea, but looking at the Dick Dastardly car, it seems to be a dragster or dirt track racer which has been modified to turn it in to a Character Car. Everything which follows is pure speculation on my part, with no evidence at all to support it.

Having the rear-mounted engine enclosed within a cage seems very unusual – was this originally intended for the driver ? The large, plastic Dick Dastardly figure then going where the engine might have originally gone ?

Muttley the Dog is clinging to the top of the vehicle, and looking very unhappy (I would be too). This figure often seems to be missing from models being offered on-line.

The underside of the model says Corgi Comics, Dick Dastardly Racer (although the box says Dick Dastardly Racing Car), and Made in Gt. Britain. 

The model came in the usual 1970s Corgi window box.

Four photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Corgi Night Squad

 A few home snaps of my new Corgi Black Beauty, along with stablemates The Thrushbuster and Batmobile.

It's quiet in the city tonight!

Corgi Tarzan Gift Set 36: The Origins

In 1976 Corgi released Gift Set 36 Tarzan, one of the most magnificent they ever produced. The Set re-used a number of existing Corgi models, but in new colour schemes.

Having already looked at the Tarzan Set on MC in February, I thought this time we would see where the various items came from. Most details are from The Great Book of Corgi, by Corgi Chief Designer Marcel R. Van Cleemput.

Corgi had first released a Long Wheel Base Land Rover in 1957 (the year after the range was launched), but this was to 1/46th scale. In 1976 a new model appeared, in 1/36th scale, which was much larger than before.

It came as part of Gift Set 31 Safari Land Rover and Animal Trailer (with lion) in April 1976. The model had an opening rear door; and a hardtop roof, with a hatch in it, and a Game Warden looking out.

It was painted white, with black zebra stripes, and red Game Warden labels on each side. The Tarzan model was metallic green with sand-yellow stripes, and a solid roof.

The two-wheeled trailer had a plastic ramp at the rear, and a white plastic cage top. It was painted to match the Land Rover.

A plastic lion, standing on a base, with one paw raised, was the load. All these items were included in the Tarzan set, except for the Game Warden figure.

The boat and trailer came from Gift Set 28, released in August 1975. This comprised a 1/36th scale Mazda B1600 pick-up truck (already available on its own), rubber dinghy in red and yellow, and a scuba-diver in full gear to pilot the boat.

The Tarzan set dropped the pick-up, changed the diver to a White Hunter, and moulded the dinghy in different colours. I am not sure if any other items were re-used, but the change-over in scales around this time would have made it difficult to use any existing Corgi models, since they would appear under-sized next to the newer 1/36th scale items.

Do you have any of these toys?

Four photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Tarzan Corgi Gift Set

Further to the recent Tarzan posts, here is a quick look at Corgi Gift Set 36, available 1976-78. One of the most magnificent in Corgi history.

It contained 22 pieces (not sure how that figure was arrived at ?), and came in a large window box. Jungle Land Rover; Animal Trailer with white plastic cage top; "Inflatable" Dinghy on Trailer; Tree House (in brown plastic); Tarzan (two figures, in different poses, both wearing a leopard-skin loincloth), Jane, Boy, and Cheetah figures; White Hunter (seated, driving the Land Rover); Elephant, Lion, Crocodile and Snake; 3 Swinging Vines (green cord); PLUS JUNGLE PANORAMA.

The Land Rover and Animal Trailer were a curious metallic green (metallics were very popular in the 1970s), with sand-yellow zebra stripes. The boat was brown and tan.

There was a large, full-colour diorama fold-out with trees, a river, road, and huge rocks – wow ! The vines could be attached to this, and the Tarzan figure with his arms above his head could slide along the vines.

This set is mentioned in The Great Book of Corgi, which states that 79,000 were sold. I bet they was expensive.

Paul Adams from NZ

Corgi's Popeye Models

Hi Woodsy,

Great job on your re-creation of the Corgi Popeye's Paddle-wagon. Corgi did four different Popeye vehicles, of which I have these two.

Regular large Corgi model [above left]

802 – Popeye's Paddle-Wagon, 1969-72. With Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Swee'Pea figures, plus the heads of Wimpy and Bluto. This 126mm toy is easy to identify as the anchors are part of the mudguards.

Corgi Juniors Extra

1008 Popeye Paddle-Wagon, 1971-72, smaller and simpler version of 802, without the mounted heads. The anchors are part of the boat hull, 70mm.

There were also two Corgi Juniors:

67 – Popeye's Tugboat, 1980 until the end of the line. A small open vessel that ran on concealed wheels. Plastic Popeye figure, 77mm.

79 – Olive Oyl's Aeroplane, 1980 until the end of the line. Open cockpit monoplane. Olive Oyl figure, 68mm.

I have the small Paddle-Wagon, and the Tugboat, and the photos are of my models. The other two are from Worthpoint.

Anyone else got any of these?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

My Home-Made Corgi Popeye Paddlewagon

 I needed a new project this week and I've always liked the Corgi Popeye Paddlewagon since having one as a young spinach gobbler.

I thought I'd make one. A Paddlewagon.

I found an old smallish car and consulted the Great Book of Corgi.

I scoured my bits drawers and began glueing stuff together. Popeye, Olive Oil, the lot.

After a while it was done. I just needed a tin of spinach and the car a lick of paint.

Finished! 

Hope Popeye's happy.

My POTA stunt rider turned up. I gave him a small rifle for his back.

Here's all three things I've finished this last two days.

Waddaya reckon readers?

Have you got a Paddlewagon?

Sunday Funday

Not bad at all at today's boot sale.

I picked up some cheap but unusual die-cast and plastic vehicles and a few other bits:

A G1 Optimus - Any idea how to whiten yellowing?, a Bandai Porsche ScaleRobo 1983 and a Popy Future Machine 1983, both grubby as they come.

A small batch of kit decals

A Four Feather Falls Jigsaw - battered box but my first ever!

Here's a closer look at the Popy Future Machine.

What do you think readers?

 

THE SHARP KNIGHT

 The other day I picked up a battered Corgi Batmobile in Wetherby for £1.

Straight from the Battle of Arkham it was missing its roof bar, three tyres, one axle, front blisters and the aerial. The rear blisters were falling apart too. It came with two spare tyres but not the correct size. All in all, quite good!

I started by re-colouring the body with a Sharpie pen.

I finagled a new roof bar and patched the rear blisters. I also tried a new technique for the front blisters; cutting out semi-circles of plastic and folding them into position. Tyres: I grabbed a few different ones from the bits box and axles are cocktail sticks. It runs - sort of - but it doesn't need to be perfect for me my cabinet. Time to move on.

Some focused bat work later it was ready for Gotham's grimy streets once more. See what you think Bat-fans.

Before

After

I painted the blisters metallic blue. No longer transparent, it'll do. The aerial is off a clothing price tag. The red light is temporary until I find a smaller better one. The body was re-Sharpied again.

Now where's Alfred and that cup of tea and a ginger nut?

Corgi Juniors Hot Rodder 1973

 I love this!

Pictures from Etsy.

Did you have one? I'm totally Shazam'd!

Santa, take note!