The top CORGI gifts of Christmases past
CORGI has been delighting gift recipients for almost 70 years with its unique die-cast offerings. Join us on this festive exploration of the top CORGI gifts of Christmases past – do you remember finding any of these under the tree?
The 1950s: Corgi Toys Ford Consul #200/200M
Of course, one of the very first CORGI models was the bestselling one of the era. This toy car was known as ‘the one with the windows’, which made it stand out from competitors, but it was perhaps the timing of the launch that made this such a successful model. The full-sized Ford Consul was released in 1951, and it was considered innovative for the time. This die-cast model was as desirable as its prototype.
The 1960s: Corgi 261 Aston Martin DB5 (James Bond)
This was released a year after the Goldfinger movie hit cinemas, but it still holds the title of the best-selling toy car of all time. With fun features such as an opening bonnet with engine detail, a pop-up bulletproof screen and hidden machine guns, it was a winner with children all over the country. But it was the ejector seat with opening roof that really captured their imagination. This was a hit at Christmas, although we struggled to keep up with demand!
The 1970s: Corgi Toys Diecast Starsky & Hutch Ford Gran Torino
The most popular CORGI gift of the 1970s was the Starsky & Hutch Ford Gran Torino. This model was released in 1977 and quickly became a bestseller of the decade. The stylish red car replica model came with die-cast figures of David Starsky and Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson, as well as another character intended to be a villain. It captured the imagination of crime-drama fans and the car has been recreated several times since.
James Bond and Batman models were also still incredibly popular in this era.
The 1990s: Original Omnibus Company
We’ve skipped the tumultuous decade of the 1980s, where there were no real big-hitters and the future of Corgi was uncertain, and jumped straight into the delightful 90s, where the company was back on an upward trajectory.
The 1990s saw the launch of the Original Omnibus Company, which was instantly popular. This range had its own catalogue and included gems like the AEC Reliance, the Bristol K6A and the Leyland Leopard.
The 2000s: Avro Lancaster B.I “S for Sugar”
The Aviation Archive was released in 1999, but its star product came two years later in 2001. This 1:72 scale Avro Lancaster model was an ambitious project at the time and collectors adored it. It was highly detailed, with moving parts and figures, and it spawned a new generation of collectors.
The Aviation Archive has been a key range of CORGI’s ever since, producing many highly collectible die-cast scale models. You can view the full current range here.
The 2010s: Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800
Our Vanguards range was launched in 1996 and has remained a key line ever since. But in the 2010s, it was really popular. And the Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800 was our most popular model.
It was released in various styles, including a Custom Blue version, two police cars, one in Signal Yellow with a rally trim, a Lombard RAC Rally version and one in Signal Red. All these variations sold out quickly, and few cars had the same number of die-cast models made.
The Ford Escort is still a much-loved tooling today. You can see our whole range of Vanguards here.
The 2020s: Corgi Toys 267 - 1966 Batmobile With Batman & Robin (Reissue)
The Batmobile was CORGI’s second-best selling model of all time, after the James Bond Aston Martin. So when we re-released it in 2024, sales went crazy, bringing back some wonderful memories for lots of collectors.
It’s easily our bestselling Christmas gift of the last few years, with great features such as a pop-out chain slasher blade, launchable rockets, a motion-activated exhaust flame and a new-and-improved tow hook. And it’s still as popular as ever – in fact, we think it’s a great gift for this Christmas too!
Have you ever unwrapped any of these models at Christmas? We’d love to see your CORGI models in situ in your model displays.
In the meantime, why not take a look at our Christmas gift suggestions for this year?
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