Editing Corgi Classics

{{Short description|British die-cast scale model manufacturer}}
{{for|the brand established by the [[Mettoy|Mettoy Company]] in 1956|Corgi Toys}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Corgi Classics Limited
| former_names = 
| logo = Corgi_logo.png
| logo_size = 200
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate = Acquired by [[Corgi International|Zindart International]] in 1999,<ref name=hist/><ref name= sec>[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1028637/000114420406049073/v057964ex991.htm CORGI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED – Hong Kong S.A.R., China. November 17, 2006] on Sec.gov</ref> then became a [[brand]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1995}}<ref name=hist>[https://www.hornbyhobbies.com/community/history-brands/history-corgi The history of Corgi] on Hornyhobbies.com</ref>
| defunct = {{end date|2008}}
| location = [[Leicester]], England, United Kingdom
| key_people = 
| industry = [[Scale model]]
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = [[Hornby Railways|Hornby]] (2008–present)<ref name=reuters1/>
| products = [[die-cast toy|Die-cast]] [[scale model]] [[model car|cars]], [[model aircraft|airplanes]], buses, [[model military vehicle|military]]
| homepage = 
| owner = 
| subsid = 
| brands = [[Corgi Toys]]
}}
'''Corgi Classics Limited''' was a British [[die-cast toy|die-cast]] [[scale model]] manufacturer established as an independent company in 1995,<ref name=hist/> which has its origins in the [[Corgi Toys]] brand introduced by [[Mettoy]] in 1956. It is known for its British and North American vehicle models.

Products manufactured and marketed by Corgi included [[die-cast toy|die-cast]] [[scale model]] [[model car|cars]], [[model aircraft|airplanes]], buses, and [[model military vehicle|military]].

In 2008 the company was acquired by [[Hornby Railways]],<ref name=et1>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/hornby-plc-acquires-toy-car-maker-corgi-classics-in-7-5-million-pound-deal/articleshow/3001396.cms?from=mdr Hornby PLC acquires toy car maker Corgi Classics in 7.5 million-pound deal] on ''The Economic Times'', 1 May 2008</ref> who has owned the ''Corgi'' [[brand]] since then.<ref name=reuters1/>

== History ==
=== Background: Corgi Toys era ===
{{Main|Corgi Toys}}
"Corgi Toys" was launched in 1956 as a new range of [[die-cast toy]] model cars by [[Mettoy|Mettoy Playcraft LTD]], the [[toy car]] company founded in 1936. These new toy cars were soon a huge hit because at the time they were the only toy cars on the market that included transparent plastic windows, they soon became known as "the ones with the windows".

[[File:Corgivolkswagenpolo.JPG|thumb|left|Corgi Volkswagen Polo]]
Although Corgi has had many [[model car]] competitors ranging from [[Dinky Toys]] to [[Lledo]], its name is well known to this day. In its first year of trading Corgi sold 2.75&nbsp;million cars, making it a clear leader of the British toy car industry. In 1966 Corgi won both ''[[The Queen's Award to Industry]]'' and the ''National Association of Toy Retailers' Highest Standards Award'', two prestigious awards. In March 1969, a year's supply was destroyed in the factory in [[Fforestfach]] in [[Swansea]] by a fire, a major setback, which cut profits tremendously. Despite this, Corgi continued to remain among top [[collectable]]s for many years.

Sales increased in the late 1960s and early '70s after the ''[[James Bond]] [[Aston Martin DB5]]'' and the [[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (car)|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]] car was released, but sales were fell sharply after the 1969 fire, which led to substantial ground being lost to its main rival Dinky, but by 1971, the Swansea factory was back to full production again after major repairs costing over £1.3&nbsp;million. The ''Queen's silver jubilee model'' edition released in 1977 was an instant best-seller, along with another nostalgia model, ''Edward&nbsp;VII's coronation state coach'' of 1901. After a rapid decline in sales, in 1983 economic analysts said that decline was inevitable; children and adults had moved on to more sophisticated toys, others however did not agree; they believed if it had not been for the fire there would have been no problem.

[[File:Corgi 2cv white bg.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A Corgi [[Citroën 2CV]], promotional for [[Petrofina|FINA]]]]
Corgi reformed as "Corgi Toys Ltd." in 1984 and turned its attention to regaining the British toy company's confidence. Three years later Corgi turned to the export market for profits, soon distributing in Australia, [[Continental Europe]] and the United States. Shortly after this Corgi started the ''Collectors Club'', which quickly gained worldwide membership.

In 1989 the company was taken over by [[Mattel]], the worldwide toy manufacturing giant (manufacturer of [[Barbie]] Dolls and [[Hot Wheels]] cars), and production was moved to Leicester, the Mattel headquarters. Corgi then introduced a new range: Corgi Classics, selling nostalgia cars, vans and trucks from the 1930s, '40s, '50s and '60s, aimed at those who had grown up during that period. At around the same period in the US, Corgi released a new range of trucks, fire tenders and buses based on North American prototypes, though these were not as successful as had been hoped.

=== Corgi Classics Limited ===
[[File:Arriva Scotland West 800 model.JPG|thumb|left|200px|A Corgi model bus. Buses are mainly produced under the "Original Omnibus Company" brand]]

In 1995, Corgi regained its independence as a new company, "Corgi Classics Limited", and moved to new premises in [[Leicester]].<ref name=hist/> Corgi Classics turned to [[British television]] for model ideas, and soon released models such as [[Mr. Bean#Car|Mr. Bean's Mini]], [[Inspector Morse]]'s [[Jaguar Mark 2|Jaguar]] and later models based on [[Enid Blyton]]'s [[Noddy (character)|Noddy]] tales. A variety of firms ranging from [[Cadbury plc|Cadbury]]'s chocolate to [[Guinness]] beer to [[Stobart Group|Eddie Stobart]] haulage have had Corgi scale models made of their road vehicles. In&nbsp;1995 Corgi introduced a new range of 1/76th scale UK and Hong Kong bus models under the "Original Omnibus Company" banner; by 2007, the total number of individual model releases in this sub-range had exceeded eight hundred.

In 1999 Corgi Classics Limited was taken over by Zindart,<ref name=hist/><ref name= sec/> an American collectors specialists. By 2000, as in the 1960s, Corgi was once again the top British model maker. That same year, Corgi bought the rights to the [[Lledo]] name (and many of the moulds), taking over the popular ''Days Gone'' series. The ''Vanguards'' series was also acquired in the deal. Days Gone and Vanguards models were sold by Corgi under the Lledo moniker until 2004, after which the Lledo name was dropped and the models officially became part of the Corgi Classics line.

In 1999, Corgi debuted the Aviation Archive line of diecast military [[model aircraft|aeroplanes]]. Beginning with 1/144 scale, Corgi created one of the most expansive and widely collected lines of highly detailed limited edition collectable die-cast metal aircraft. This line has been expanded in successive years to include new moulds and liveries and even new scales, such as the super-detailed 1/32 scale Aviation Archive line. Corgi followed with a new line of 1/50 scale [[Armoured fighting vehicle|armoured vehicles]] ranging from [[World War II]] up to through the [[Vietnam War]]. In 2006, Corgi began selling hand painted, spin-cast metal [[toy soldier|figures and soldiers]] in the ''Forward March'' series which complements their 1/32 and 1/50 scale lines of vehicles.

In May 2008, international models and collectables group [[Hornby Railways|Hornby]] announced the acquisition of Corgi Classics Limited for [[British pound sterling|£]]8.3&nbsp;million.<ref name=reuters1>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/hornby-corgi-idUKL0166601520080501|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305160245/http://uk.reuters.com/article/hornby-corgi-idUKL0166601520080501|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016|title=Hornby adds model car maker Corgi to its collection|date=1 May 2008|accessdate=26 February 2011|first=Mark|last=Potter|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref name=et1/> Under Hornby ownership the Corgi brand underwent a rebrand in 2012, this saw the introduction of a new logo and style of packaging, however the main element reasoning behind the change was the relaunch of Corgi Toys.

In 2019 a new series was launched called: CORGI CHUNKIES is new range of toys with moving interactive parts, free-rolling, soft-tyred wheels, left and right hand drive and a strong child-proof build. The chunkies models were designed by Hanan Shpetrick.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

== Famous models ==
{{multiple image
| title =  
| total_width       = 400
| image1            = Nationale_oldtimerdag_Zandvoort_2010,_1969_DODGE_CHARGER,_AM-20-10.JPG
| image2            = Bullitt_Mustang.jpg
| footer            = ''The Dukes of Hazzard''{{'}}s ''General Lee'' (left) and ''Bullitt''{{'}}s Ford Mustang have been some of the scale models produced by Corgi Classics since its inception as an independent company
}}
This is a list of a few of the most famous Corgi Classics limited models:

* [[Inspector Morse]]'s [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]] Mk II
* ''[[Mr. Bean]]''{{'}}s [[Mini]]
* ''[[The Italian Job]]''{{'}}s Mini
* ''[[Doctor Who]]''{{'}}s [[TARDIS]] and [[Dalek]]s
* ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]''{{'}}s [[General Lee (car)|Dodge Charger]] with [[Bo Duke|Bo]] and [[Luke Duke|Luke]] figures
* [[Basil Fawlty]]'s [[BMC ADO16|Austin 1100]] 
* [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)]] and some other ''[[Star Trek]]'' ships, including [[Romulan starship|Romulan]] and [[Klingon starships|Klingon]] vessels.
* ''[[Bullitt]]''{{'}}s [[Ford Mustang]] with [[Steve McQueen]] figure.
* ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' [[Reliant Motors|Reliant]] Supervan III.
* The line of ''[[James Bond]]'' cars.
* The new line Corgi Chunkies.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
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* [http://www.nchwa.com/ NCHWA.com – Price Guides for Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Corgi and more]
{{Scale model brands}}

[[Category:Die-cast toys]] 
[[Category:Model manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Toy cars and trucks]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1995]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Defunct toy manufacturers]]