Corgi Rockets 1971 Ford Capri
Bleuville
Posts: 384MI6 Agent
I was looking at the list of Corgi Rockets toy cars (competing with Hot Wheels). They were only on sale from 1970 to 1971
and one model 925-Ford Capri (OHMSS) puzzles.
The real Fod Capri was launched in Feb.1969. However there were no Ford Capris in the OHMSS film (correct me if I'm wrong).
So was there meant to be, but the real cars weren't delivered to the filmmakers?
Or is it just another unrelated car like the Spectre Merc 280SL (sports car not saloon) ?
The OHMSS related Rockets were 923-Ford Escort, 924-Mercury Cougar and 925-Ford Capri and 928-Merc 280SL.
Does anyone know?
Bleuville. "Fancy meeting you here Fraulein!"
and one model 925-Ford Capri (OHMSS) puzzles.
The real Fod Capri was launched in Feb.1969. However there were no Ford Capris in the OHMSS film (correct me if I'm wrong).
So was there meant to be, but the real cars weren't delivered to the filmmakers?
Or is it just another unrelated car like the Spectre Merc 280SL (sports car not saloon) ?
The OHMSS related Rockets were 923-Ford Escort, 924-Mercury Cougar and 925-Ford Capri and 928-Merc 280SL.
Does anyone know?
Bleuville. "Fancy meeting you here Fraulein!"
Comments
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Corgi just took an existing Ford Capri (D922) from the Rockets line, put some stickers on it and sold it on an OHMSS blister package.
Also observed well, that the Mercedes 280SL was not the Mercedes sedan, which can be seen in the movie.
I can recommend Dave Worrall's excellent book "The James Bond Diecasts of Corgi"
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Ah, I see. So it seems, Corgi was simply trying to capitalize on it's rights to produce James Bond related diecasts without creating new tooling. You learn something new everyday! Thanks Bondtoys.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I am happy that I can give some infos to an old fox like you are {[]
Yes, Corgi partly worked like this (using existing tools to create new products), but they also went to total opposite way - particularly with OHMSS!
1: The Escort has a totally new tooling
2: The Cougar was based on an existing model (D937)
3: The Capri was also based on an existing model (D922)
4: The Mercedes was a totally new
Then there where the 2 bobsleds, which have been made out of new tools
7: The VW Beetle I am not sure: My guess is, that Corgi already had an existing tooling but I can't find any more infos on this.
The most interesting OHMSS item is to me the "Corgi Rockets Alpine Ski Set", a James Bond Corgi collectible, that never was:
It was never marketed with a James Bond connection, but it clearly was inspired by the OHMSS ski chase. The skier even wears Bond's blue ski suit.
Additionally, they issued an Aston Martin DBS in wrong colors, which also never was on an OHMSS blister card:
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
The Cougar was not based on an existing model - it's more the opposite: 937 uses the same casting as Tracy's car and was released at the same time. The ice race was filmed in the winter of 1968/69 so Corgi knew that the Escort would feature alongside the Cougar. Consequently they made their Cougar as a closed convertible to be suitable for the ice race - and it can't be an older casting as the '68 Cougar is a very different looking car. The Escort was of course always planned to be sold as a rally car alongside the 007 version.
The Mercedes was available without Whizzwheels and later the narrow Whizzwheels (Junior no. 45) so I would guess it was a slightly older casting converted for Rockets use. No problem that it wasn't a limousine - these were toys and not collector's models. Gilbert used red and blue Aston Martins, Scalextric used a 190 SL, and Corgi used a 280 SL. And nobody had a problem with that at the time.
The beetle was indeed an older casting, Husky no. 20 from 1968.
To offer the Capri was perhaps a very late decision to have a fourth car for the 978 set. I guess that Corgi had planned the DBS as a Bond car. Nobody knows, everyone speculates why Corgi didn't produce a Bond version. I think it was because Tracy was killed in it. (Same applies for the bronze Lotus Esprit Turbo which would have made a great model instead of the 2CV). One of the "good guys" died in it so I think they found it unsuitable as a child's toy - it was a different time back then.
The "DBS" in your picture, BT, is actually the DB6 - the DBS is the blue one (or later as a Junior the ugly yellow-green).
The Alpine Ski Set is really a miracle. But the decision to not offer it as a Bond tie-in must have been made prior to the release of the film. They already had seven models planned for OHMSS so probably felt it not necessary to offer yet another (maybe feeling that OHMSS would not be a success?). And they were right as the OHMSS cars didn't sell well (which of course makes them very rare and collectible now).
Not to forget: There was a fire in the Corgi factory in March 1969 - the OHMSS models were clearly not a priority at the time.
Very interesting read! {[]
I disagree with that they may have assumed, that OHMSS would be no success. They had 6 different models in the pipeline - noone would do this if he's in doubt about a potential success.
Regarding the Aston Martin: Maybe we think too difficult: They probably did not get Aston Martin's permission or maybe they did not get the molds ready on time. Maybe the Bond producers still wanted to have the DB5 as THE Bond car and waited for something which could contain gadgets (such as the Lotus from TSWLM).
I remember lurking around these fabulous models in the toystores back then, but my pocket money was not sufficient to buy them....
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
DG
Edit: I do have some of the Corgi Bond cars, however none in the OHMSS line. After all, what Bond collection would be complete without Corgi?
Double Edit: Oops, correction, I do have a Corgi OHMSS DBS, however it is a later edition that did not come out at the time of original release of OHMSS.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
You mean this one?
While browsing for it, I have discovered that here, how cool is that?
and that:
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Incidently the RS Ford Escort was not the version which appeared in the movie either!
Nice Donk
doesn't the presence of the "old" Escort in OHMSS (the movie) have more to do with the fact, that they did not use the new models to crash in the movie (old used cars are simply cheaper)?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
In 1969 the MK1 Ford Escort championship rally car was exactly as it appeared in the movie & driven by the Championship rally drivers of the day on screen however Corgi released it with the later RS/Fibresports wheel arch extensions.
-{ Wow, these are very nice. While the 4-car set appears on Ebay from time to time I have never seen the 3-car set for sale (except one with a repro sleeve) but these sets are a little too steep for my wallet ...
What' wrong with the Escort? It has fender flares - but other than that?
Yes, that will be better - since the true watch expert left the forum no one can recognize your mistakes then
Maybe you are right: But Corgi only made two new castings for the eight (including the Alpine set) models - the skier and the bobsleigh. The remainder could (and eventually would) be used without a Bond connection so it seems like a failsafe approach to me. The packaging too: Just one blistercard design used for all four rockets - with just a different sticker applied to every car. And the set? Just a sleeve around the same items - no elaborate packaging, no inner tray made solely for the set (like they had done for the Husky/Corgi Juniors Crime Busters Set 3008). It all appears to have been made as cheap as possible. But the focus in 1969/70 was on the Rockets track and accessories and not necessarily on the Bond cars.
I really like the DBS repaint as the Persuaders car (and T.C.'s VW Bus is superb too!). The DBSlooks so much better without the black bonnet. Although the blue one was launched with a blue bonnet - but the Rockets are spoiled by the oversize wheels.
Well, Donald Grant is still here and Asp9mm sometimes writes me.
Don't tell me, that you are talking about Deaton 8-) - you'd loose instantly all my respect
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Sure, but before you can play you have to rip the packaging open!
Ouch!, that is precisely what toy retailers of the early 1970's did because of poor sales and then binned the packaging and sold the individual carded models off at 25p each which is why these things are so damned rare now and cost a packet. The retail price tag on the bottom of the Rockets giftset is £1.15p. The Juniors Giftset retailed at 75p and were sold individually carded for 20p each.
What' wrong with the Escort? It has fender flares - but other than that?
Actually the only thing correct about the Escort is its white paint finish as all its decals were incorrect to the Ford Rally Team decals seen on screen.
What, the real cars didn't have "James Bond Special Agent" on the trunk?
Hey, it's a white Mk I Escort - that's as close to screen-accurate as they come. - I only say "Jaws van" ...
Tbh.... both
And please don't push me into a decision....
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!