Fast Ford arrival a Nitrous Blue and Tangerine dream
Welcome to the latest edition of Corgi Die-cast Diaries, your regular blog review of all the news, updates and topical stories from the captivating world of Corgi die-cast model collecting.
For those blog readers who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first releases from our newly tooled 1/43rd scale Ford Focus Mk.3 model in the Vanguards range, this week's title will have certainly grabbed your attention and we are pleased to report that we have news to bring you. In this edition, we will be bringing readers a final update from both the first and second releases from this highly anticipated new model tooling project, as both are just about to be unleashed on the collecting world. As we are fully aware of just how popular both models have been since their announcement, we thought this would make for a most appropriate headline feature for this latest update. Bringing you not only an exclusive selection of advanced production sample model images, but also news of an appealing change to their packaging presentation design, its time to start clearing a little space in all those display cabinets for a pair of scale hot hatch heavyweights.
We will also be bringing you release details regarding a further two Ford model releases, both iconic cars in their own right, but both from a different era of car design - perhaps we might even dare to use the word 'Classic' when describing this particular motoring pairing. In order that this latest edition doesn't become a complete Vanguardsfest, we will also be taking something of a retrospective look at the initial release from a recent Aviation Archive new tooling project and the tale of a popular sell out release which miraculously re-appeared on the Corgi website some time later, unheralded and quite possibly unnoticed. There is nothing like a little collecting intrigue to get us in the mood for the weekend, so please join us as we bring you all the latest model developments from the world of Corgi.
Hot Hatch Heaven, Corgi style
Don't they make an attractive pair! The first two releases from our new 1/43rd scale Ford Focus Mk.3 tooling are scheduled to arrive together and are now just a few weeks away - both have either sold out or are very close to doing so.
In the world of popular motoring, even though we all become incredibly attached to the family cars which help us to go about our daily lives, there has always been one particular genre of vehicle which can be relied upon to get all our pulses racing, the enigmatic Hot Hatch. A colloquial reference which was introduced in the early 1980s to describe the emerging popularity of attractively styled, high performance hatch-back cars from a great many manufacturers, vehicles which held particular appealed for the younger, sportier and more image conscious driver. These cars were so popular that vast amounts of money were spent by almost every manufacturer to ensure they had exposure in this lucrative arena and if their stylist and marketeers managed to get it right, their hot hatches sold in huge numbers and had plenty of admirers.
The term came to stand for one of the most exciting sectors of the motoring world and even though the hot hatch description wasn't really used before 1983 or there abouts, it was often still used in relation to earlier cars which fitted this description, in a similar way to how Hoover came to be used as a catch-all name for vacuum cleaners. With its dominant position in the world of popular motoring, it will come as no surprize to learn that the Ford Motor Company can boast more than its fair share of classic hot hatch models within its motoring back catalogue and we are delighted to announce that one of the very best is about to be inducted into our Vanguards model hall of fame.
These exclusive images show production sample models of the first two releases from our new Ford Focus Mk.3 tooling and despite their very different colours, surely these two should come as a pair.
Our new Ford Focus Mk.3 tooling project was first announced in the May - August range launch last year and whilst we were continuing with our tradition of letting collectors know about the new projects we have on the go at any one time, this particular model wasn't actually available for pre-order at that time. Once we did make that first model available for pre-order with the launch of the subsequent range announcement in 2022, this little beauty started to move faster than the real thing (with nitrous boost) and we immediately knew that in VA15301 - Ford Focus Mk.3 RS in Nitrous Blue, we had a real winner on our hands.
As we continued to update Vanguards collectors on the development of this attractive new model, the orders just kept on flooding in and even though the real Focus Mk.3 RS model was only actually available for sale between 2016 and 2018, it appears that this beauty made quite a mark on the motoring world. Representing one of the most desirable cars Ford have ever produced and a car which has to be considered the epitome of the popular super-hatch concept, the Mk.3 Focus RS is undoubtedly the favourite modern Ford for many thousands of motorists. Powered by a 2.3ltr, 345 bhp DOHC Turbocharged engine, this five door practical, yet incredibly sporty little number can reach 0-62 in 4.7 seconds and has all of Ford's extensive motorsport pedigree crammed into its eye-catching bodyshell. With active four wheel drive for better traction and acceleration, this beast has the performance to back up its sporty appearance and in this Nitrous Blue finish, is a guaranteed head turner.
VA15301 - Ford Focus Mk.3 RS in Nitrous Blue
Ford understand the reverence in which the RS badge is held and set out to make the Mk3 Focus RS the ultimate fast Ford. As soon as the first magazine road tests were published it was clear that they had achieved their goal. It had performance that could humble supercars costing twice as much yet it remained a practical 5-door hatchback that could easily be used as an everyday car. Highlights included four-wheel drive, launch control and a drift mode that created an internet sensation just after the car was launched in 2016 as stunt drivers and journalists battled to see who could drift a standard Focus RS in the most spectacular manner.
The resultant ebullient press coverage and bargain launch price of £31,000 meant the RS practically sold itself and was an instant classic. The car modelled was the first right-hand-drive example in the UK. Top Gear Magazine followed its production at the Saarlouis plant in Germany and their Journalists Ollie Marriage and Rowan Horncastle then drove it off the production line and back to the UK. It was subsequently road tested by Autocar, Piston Heads, Evo Magazine and many others. Most famously, however, it was the car Jeremy Clarkson chased Richard Hammonds new right-hand-drive Ford Mustang with during Series 1, Episode 6, of The Grand Tour. It has been retained by Ford and is one of the best-known cars in the company's heritage collection.
Rhapsody in Blue (well Nitrous Blue), this beautiful new model sold out before arriving in our warehouse and there will be a great many blog readers who are looking forward to adding one of these beauties to their collection.
Underlining the incredible popularity of Ford's hot hatch motoring heritage this beautiful model really found favour with the collector and even though it won't be available for release until next month, unfortunately, we are now unable to take any further orders for it on the Corgi website. Although this may be disappointing news for those who didn't pre-order the model, we may have an appealing alternative suggestion for you, its baby brother! Announced with the launch of the current January - April 2023 model range, the second release from our new Ford Focus Mk.3 tooling is another sporty little number, this time the ST model presented in a vibrant colour described as Tangerine Scream.
The Focus ST (third generation) is another example of Ford's hot hatch prowess and whilst is a step down the range from the RS, is arguably an even more practical, even more desirable option for prospective owners. Described by motoring journalists as a toned down version of the RS, this model is still really attractive to look at and still quite the performer, with sporty, aggressive styling and performance, trim levels and owner bragging rights to match. A slightly understated version of the RS, could this model be described as being just enough without being too much?
VA15302 - Ford Focus Mk3 ST in Tangerine Scream
The Ford Focus has been a sales success since it was launched in 1998 as a sensational looking replacement for the long-running Escort range. The third generation Focus, codenamed C346 while being developed, was announced in December 2010, and remained in production in Europe until 2018. It differed from previous models in not being offered as a 3-door hatchback but that didn’t stop Ford offering a performance orientated version of the 5-door, the ST, which went on sale in the UK in the summer of 2012. It featured a 247bhp turbocharged 4-cylinder 2-litre EcoBoost engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, which gave the car an impressive 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds.
The Focus ST modelled here is an ST-2 trim car meaning that it has colour coded Recaro front seats with partial leather trim. It’s owned by Devon-based fast Ford enthusiast James Bennett who bought it in December 2018 from the Ford dealer who had supplied it new, Bristol Street Motors, Birmingham. It was then six months old and had covered just 6,000 miles. Although it looked standard, the first owner had fitted a desirable Mountune MP275 upgrade which consisted of revised engine calibration, a large-capacity alloy intercooler and a high-flow dual-entry air filter. This gave an extra 25bhp, a wider powerband and an improved 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds.
Owner James is an enthusiastic member of the social media group, Tangerine Scream ST Owners Club.
Baby brother of the Focus RS, would you describe the equally attractive Focus ST as being just enough without being too much?
Unfortunately for Vanguards fans, the news here is not all good, as this model is also now getting close to full allocation and as we were putting this latest update together, we actually had to make a few calls to ensure the last remaining models were allocated to the website, as it was showing as unavailable this afternoon. VA15302 is thankfully available again now, but we are afraid that it probably won't survive another busy weekend of ordering activity - it might be time to act!
A really attractive model pairing, both VA15301 and VA15302 are being shown here in production sample form and both are now inbound and scheduled to be in stock and available towards the end of March.
This new hot hatch pairing will mark the debut of smart new Vanguards packaging, which will eventually migrate across the entire range. For now though, it will just be used on modern Ford releases.
A final look at this new Ford Focus Mk.3 pairing.
Before we leave the subject of future Vanguards model releases, the eagle-eyed amongst you may well have noticed the two new Ford Focus Mk.3 releases resplendent in smart new packaging presentation amongst the image selection displayed above and you would be right. Our Graphic Designer Jules has been looking to freshen up Vanguards packaging presentation for some time now and managed to negotiate something of a compromise with these two new releases. Sporting something of a smart carbon fibre feel to it, this new packaging design will initially be used for all new modern Ford subject releases, with remaining stocks of the current design continuing to be used for other releases in the meantime. There will be a gradual phasing of the new packaging design across the entire range, however, collectors will be able to catch a first glimpse of the design with the release of the new Ford Focus (Mk.3) RS and ST models next month.
Basically, these first two releases from our new third generation Ford Focus tooling look so attractive that they almost demanded to be presented in new packaging and we just had to oblige them.
Bristol Beaufort already an Aviation Archive classic
As one of the most heavily requested new tooling additions to the Aviation Archive range, we were extremely confident that our new Bristol Beaufort Mk.I tooling would find favour with collectors, particularly as the first release was a representation of an aircraft used in one of the most heroic actions of the Second World War. In addition to this, the arrival of the Beaufort now allowed collectors to display the Bristol Aeroplane Company's big three aircraft of the Second World War in die-cast model form together for the first time, as we already had examples of the Blenheim and Beaufighter in the range.
Following its release, the new model received some extremely positive reviews across the collector world and with a healthy number of pre-order sales behind it and brisk ordering in the weeks following release, the Beaufort quickly disappeared from the Corgi website, much to the consternation of those who hadn't yet managed to get their hands on one. Although a few weeks passed, our diligent on-line team managed to locate a small number of Beaufort's which were being held for overseas allocation and requested these be diverted to them, so they could once again make it available on the Corgi website. After some negotiation, the majority of the models located were released to them and are still currently showing as in stock on the Corgi website, even though they are now down to the last few remaining examples.
As this development wasn't really communicated at the time and with the second release from the Beaufort tooling due early next month, we thought it might be a good idea to take another look at the original release before it finally disappears from the website for good.
As an Island nation, the protection of Britain’s sea lanes during the Second World War was a crucial battle which simply had to be won. Throughout the first few months of conflict, the German capital warship Gneisenau and her sister ship Scharnhorst were posing a serious raiding threat to British merchant vessels and on receiving news that both ships had entered Brest harbour to undergo repairs in late March 1941, the RAF immediately planned raids intended to destroy, or at least render the ships unseaworthy. On Sunday 6th April 1941, Bristol Beaufort Mk.I N1016 (OA-X) took off from RAF St. Eval in Cornwall and headed for a rallying point off the coast of France, close to the entrance to the harbour. Even though the weather on the day was extremely poor, the crew of the Beaufort were surprised to find that they were the only aircraft in the area and with radio silence essential to the success of the mission, the crew faced the dilemma of whether to press on with their attack alone, or return to base to fight another day.
Although the odds were seriously stacked against them, they turned towards the heavily defended harbour and descended to almost wavetop height to begin their attack run. Pilot Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell managed to expertly manoeuvre his Beaufort into the optimum attack angle for a run on the German warship, passing so close to enemy shore batteries that the defenders could hardly fail to hit their target, but only releasing the single torpedo when he was certain it would strike the warship. Almost hitting the mast of the ship as the aircraft pulled away in a violent, banking turn, the Beaufort exposed its under surfaces to the anti-aircraft gunners who had been following the attack run of the British aircraft and they now raked it with everything they had.
Having sustained heavy damage during its attack run against Gneisenau, Bristol Beaufort N1016 almost immediately crashed into the harbour water, tragically claiming the lives of all souls on board. Their attack had been successful and the torpedo struck home, blasting a huge hole under the waterline of Gneisenau, ensuring it had to immediately return to the dry dock from where it had only just emerged, and another period of extensive repairs. It would be out of commission for almost six months following the attack, with its inactivity proving to be a serious blow for the Kriegsmarine. It's impossible to estimate just how many lives were saved and how much vital cargo reached Britain as a result of the heroic actions of this single Beaufort crew, but both would have been significant numbers.
Launching their devastating attack alone, the selfless actions of Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell and his crew would have probably gone completely unheralded had it not been for the intervention of the French resistance, whose members had seen the entire incident unfold before their eyes. Sending a report on the condition of the German battleship back to British authorities, they also informed them of the actions of this brave Beaufort crew and how they had paid the ultimate price for bravely performing their duty. For displaying valour in the face of extreme peril and without regard for his own safety, Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for valour in the presence of the enemy, an honour he would surely have shared with the rest of his crew had he been in a position to do so.
The second release from this magnificent tooling is scheduled to be with us next month and we look forward to bringing you a final update from this project in the next edition of our blog.
Vanguards range charts Ford's motoring heritage
We end this latest update blog by returning to the subject of new Vanguards model releases and news of two more impending model arrivals which have proved to be just as popular as the third generation Focus models featured earlier. Coming from an earlier era of classic British Fords, we have just the second release from our new Ford Cortina Mk.5 tooling and a sporty Ford from the late 1960s, a model which aligned itself with the racing pedigree of Lotus. All the images we are showing here feature advanced production examples of both model, which puts us all on notice that both are now inbound to our warehouse and close to being available.
Let's take a closer look at the details behind each model now.
VA15002 - Ford Cortina Mk5 1.6L in Cardinal Red.
The Cortina modelled here was sold new by Ford dealer Jack Bygraves Ltd, Biggleswade, in August 1982. The first owner paid for the car to be rust proofed by ‘Protectol’ and that may have contributed to its remarkable survival. It was taken off the road in 1997 having covered just 61,605 miles and in 2014 was donated to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance who carried out some recommissioning and entered the car for the Classics on the Crick Auction on Sunday June 11th to raise funds for their vital work. It achieved £1800 and the winning bidder was William Le Fevre, the managing director of the North Oxford BMW and MINI dealership in Long Hanborough.
Le Fevre’s plan was to restore it in the firm’s state-of-the-art bodyshop and then auction it to raise funds for another local charity, Sobell House Hospice. The Bodyshop Team donated their spare time and skills (and nicknamed the car ‘Elvis’ because of its number plate), while the company donated the parts and materials needed to totally restore the car to its original specification. They achieved a stunning result, and the finished car was featured in Classic Ford Magazine as an example of first-class restoration. The firm’s buyer, Jonathan Martin, then arranged a sale which raised £3,000 for Sobell House. Since February 2020 it has been owned by Essex-based, long-standing Ford enthusiasts Lesley and Andrew Day, who enjoy using it for classic car events.
VA04121 - Ford Cortina Mk2 Lotus in Fern Green.
Ford had a close relationship with Lotus during the 1960s which ultimately led to the Ford-Cosworth engined Lotus 49 F1 car that Jim Clark took to victory on its debut in the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix. In the same year a new high-performance Lotus version of the Mk2 Cortina was announced but, unlike the Mk1 which had been partially assembled by Lotus, it was built entirely by Ford who fitted the Lotus engine and other components on their production line at Dagenham. This meant that the car could be ordered in a wider range of Ford colours and the vehicle modelled here is believed to be one of only four produced in Fern Green metallic.
This example was first registered in August 1969 and, although little is known about its early history, when purchased by Midlands-based Lotus Cortina specialists Lotus Outlaws in 2011 it was still complete with all its original ‘matching number’ components present. Lotus Outlaws and close collaborators EFD Restos, then carried out a bare shell rotisserie restoration to concours standard in 2014-16 which addressed every aspect of the car. They exhibited it at the NEC Classic Car Show in November 2016 where the unusual original colour scheme and superb restoration created a great deal of interest. It was sold to a new owner in 2017 and in 2021 was purchased by fast Ford enthusiast and collector Stephen Gillies who imported the car to his native Australia.
These future Vanguards releases show just how popular Ford car releases have been over the years and how whether it was a family run-around or a motorsport inspired hot hatch, they had no shortage of eager suitors. With classic models in every range over the years, whether contemporary of classic, there will always be a Ford model to suit everyone.
We are afraid that's all we have for you in this latest edition of Corgi Die-cast Diaries but we will be back as usual in two weeks' time with a further selection of model project updates. Between editions, we are always interested to hear your views on all things Corgi, so if you feel like dropping us a line to comment on anything blog or Corgi model related, or indeed to suggest a topic you would like us to include in a future edition, please feel free to do so at diecastdiaries@corgi.co.uk.
If you can’t wait for the next blog, you will find plenty of Corgi model collecting discussions taking place on our official social media channels, access to which can be obtained by clicking on the respective links at the foot of the Corgi website homepage.
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Thank you for continuing to support our Die-cast Diaries blog. Our next edition is scheduled for publication on Friday 24th February.
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