Majors

1101 Bedford Carrimore Car Transporter

October 1957 -1962

There would also seem to be a metallic cerise cab which may have been issued with a blue carrier section.

Collectors will have often swapped the cabs and rear sections from several models so many combinations can be seen but these three are, I believe, the only ones actually intended.

Smooth or shaped fixed wheels. Shaped wheels seem to be scarce and only found on the on the red cabs and particularly hard to find on the rear transporter section.

Early models had a black base with three rivets. Later this would be grey with either two or three rivets. Two and three rivet bases have been found on both smooth and shaped wheel cabs with grey bases so it is unclear when any change was made.

Combinations of a red cab with shaped wheels and a later type 1105 rear transporter section with suspension have been seen but it has not yet been possible to verify whether this was a transitional issue from early 1962 or just a later mix of components.

1100 Bedford Carrimore Low Loader

April 1958 - 1963

Red or yellow Bedford cab

Metallic blue or metallic dark blue loader section.

Smooth or shaped fixed wheels. Shaped wheels seem to be scarce and only found on the models pulled by red cabs.

The cab may have a black or grey base, the grey base having smooth or shaped wheels and two or three rivets.

1401 Service Ramp

April 1958 - 1961

One of two items which were produced by Mettoy Playcraft before the Corgi range was introduced. Now painted metallic blue and red instead of red with a Corgi logo.

1104 Bedford Machinery Carrier

September 1958 - 1963

Red cab, silver carrier section with black rear axle that can be removed.

This edition has a winch.

Smooth or shaped fixed wheels. Shaped wheels are less common.

The cab may be black or grey, the grey base having smooth or shaped wheels and two or three rivets.

1102 Euclid TC-12 Bulldozer

November 1958 - 1963

Rich yellow or lime-yellow.

No driver and no lever to control the blade.

1103 Euclid TC-12 Tractor

October 1960 - 1965

Essentially this is the 1102 Bulldozer with the blade element removed. You can still see the holes where it is attached on either side. Yellow or lime-green. With grey or black rubber tracks.

1106 Karrier Airfield Radar Van

January 1959 - 1961

Issued with either four or five orange stripes.

Smooth fixed wheels on all models.

1109 Bloodhound Missile on Loading Trolley

February 1959 -1961

White missile with yellow fins on khaki trolley. Controls can be used to manoeuvre the missile from the trolley to a Launch Ramp.

1110 Bedford Mobilgas Tanker

April 1959 - 1965

Available with smooth or shaped fixed wheels.

Early cabs had a black base, later ones a grey base and it may have two or three rivets and smooth or shaped wheels

1112 Corporal Guided Missile on Launching Ramp

June 1959 - 1961

The large white missile and it's adjustable Launching Ramp which turns into a trailer that can be towed. The missile was first issued with a rubber nose cone only but later a replacement was available with a cap exploding device. That device was also available separately.

1111 Massey Ferguson Combine Harvester

August 1959 - 1964

This is the first edition with metal tines and no driver. also metal chute tops.

1113 Corporal Erector Vehicle with Missile

October 1959 -1961

The huge vehicle needed to carry the missile was also fitted with a device which enabled the missile to be placed in a vertical position and lowered on to its Launching Ramp.

1115 Bloodhound Guided Missile

December 1959 - 1961

The Missile was available separately.

1116 Bloodhound Missile Platform

December 1959 -1961

The Missile Platform was available separately.

1117 Bloodhound Missile Trolley

December 1959- 1961

Designed to carry the Bloodhound Guided Missile and available separately.

1118 International Army 6x6 Truc

May 1959 - 1964

Three editions:

There are also two types of chassis, one that appears solid from the side and one that is 'see through' to some extent. I have been unable so far to ascertain which came first and whether both appear in the later 1133 model.

These trucks can be difficult to identify! There are two types of chassis: one is 'see-through' and one solid. I believe the 'solid' type is the earlier type.

On the front and rear are insignia and you'll find two types: one is the 'Allied' blue and red, the other is a Dutch blue, red and white insignia. It also seems that some models were issued without any insignia but, of course, it can be difficult to be sure they have not simply rubbed off over the years.

The British and Dutch models should have plain canopies and no stars anywhere. There is a US edition that has stars on the bonnet and also on the canopy where is affixed to a flat surface. There seem also to be examples with stars on the doors instead of the bonnet.

Examples with text on the sides of the bonnet are most likely to be later 1133 models but I cannot rule out the possibility of a 1118 model having this text. the problem is that canopies and boxes may easily have been changed so do not provide firm evidence of which is which.

Silver may be applied to lights and sometimes to the radiator grille too.

1119 Hovercraft SR-N1

June 1960 - 1962

1124 Corporal Missile Launching Ramp

October 1960 - 1961

The ramp element alone was available separately.

1121 Chipperfields Circus Crane

October 1960 - 1969

Revised in 1963 with suspension added.

1123 Chipperfields Crircus Animal Cage

January 1961 - 1968

The first edition had metal sliding doors at the end. Later editions had plastic doors.

The Cage may have smooth or shaped fixed wheels and was issued with transfers in the box with, initially, either lions or polar bears (or sometimes both). Later tigers would be added.

All models have suspension.

1120 Midland Motorway Express Coach

March 1961 - 1963

With smooth or shaped fixed wheels

1129 Bedford Milk Tanker

May 1962 - 1965

First edition with the Bedford early type cab.

No suspension and with shaped fixed wheels. Smooth wheels, if they exist, would be rare.

These models all appear to have blue paint covering the whole of the lower side but on later models, and possibly all #1141 models, masking creates a white triangular area of white at the rear. See #1141 notes below.

1130 Chipperfields Horse Transporter

October 1962 - 1971

This included six horses, usually in white but brown are known.

1105 Bedford Car Transporter

November 1962 - 1966

A new cab and a new rear section, now with suspension and some other minor differences.

Most obvious are the lack of visible pin heads on the sides of the upper section. The 1105 base is also clearly different with a closed section providing suspension.

1128 Priestman 'Cub' Shovel

May 1963 - 1976

This long-running model remained pretty much unchanged through.

1104 Race Horse Transporter

September 1973 - 1976

The 1130 model re-issued for Racing stables and including now 6 horses with card coats and straw with detailed interior. The cab loses the mirrors but the wheels are upgraded to the larger more detailed type.

There are now many Car Transporters on the market which appear to have the old Big Bedford cab (no interior or suspension) with the later trailer section with suspension. Whether this is the result of people switching elements around over the years or some may be transition models is unclear.

1107 Euclid TC-12 Bulldozer

November 1963 - 1966

1102 with a lever now operating the blade and a driver added.

A rich yellow finish or lime-yellow.

1131 Bedford Machinery Carrier

November 1963 - 1966

The cab is usually mid-blue. A light blue (as illustrated) edition is quite scarce.

The axles are usually black but yellow is known too.

Most of these will have shaped wheels but some scarce late editions were fitted with cast wheels.

1132 Bedford Low Loader

November 1963 - 1966

Always a bright yellow cab and rich red load area.

I have been unable to discover any of these with cast wheels, all appearing to have shaped wheels as for the 1131 model. However, with similar production periods I am assuming that there may be scarce examples with cast wheels to be found one day.

1127 Simon Snorkel Fire Engine

September 1964 - 1976

Another long-running model. Some variations in the boom supports which may be silver or gold.

The wheels were shaped in the early editions, then cast and late models had the larger, more detailed wheel. My thanks to Mr Bowyer for the photographs and updated information on this model.

1133 International 6x6 Truck US Army

January 1965 - 1966

As described above, these should always have text on the sides of the bonnet and stars on the doors (occasionally bonnet). One definite feature is a star on the canopy that has been placed in a circular indent.

Silver may be applied to lights and sometimes to the radiator grille too.

Despite what the catalogues may say, neither this nor the earlier 1118 had suspension fitted with the revised chassis (unlike the Circus Crane which did).

1134 Bedford US Army Fuel Tanker

January 1965 - 1966

No suspension and it retains the old Big Bedford style cab, despite its comparative late issue, and with fixed shaped wheels. An odd model, bearing mind the later cab was available in khaki at this time for 1135.

1135 Bedford Machinery Carrier US Army

January 1965 - 1966

This did have suspension on the later Bedford TK cab with wing mirrors. Both lemon and red interiors are known. With a driver.

1137 Ford H Series 'Express Service'

September 1965 - 1971

This model came with a character in the box who looks ready to change a wheel. Early issues had shaped wheels and later issues the more detailed cast wheel fitted to many commercial vehicles towards the end of their production.

Known with a distinct gold or silver horns on the roof.

1140 Bedford Mobilgas Tanker

December 1965 - 1967

An updated Bedford TK cab with suspension. Same tanker section as before with fixed wheels. the cab has free-spinning wheels.

1141 Bedford Milk Tanker

December 1965 - 1966

Short production period for this second revised tanker model. The cab is now teh Bedford TK with suspension and mirrors. the tanker parts stays the same with fixed shaped wheels.

A change in the masking at the end of the tanker produces a white triangular shape at the rear in later issues but whether it is the case with all 1141 models is not known.

1138 Ford H Series Car Transporter

April 1966 - 1969

Another update for the Car Transporter, now with the Ford cab. Always in red and blue with grey top section and with detailed cast wheels.

1142 Holmes Wrecker Recovery Vehicle

May 1967 - 1974

Another smart bit of Corgi engineering. Two boom with hooks and controls. The booms may be bare metal or matt or shiny gold. Late editions have an opaque red plastic roof light. All editions have detailed cast wheels and came with two mechanics. One in a wheel-changing stance and another holding a spanner.

1139 Scammell Chipperfields Menagerie Transporter

October 1968 - 1972

1143 American La France Aerial Rescue Truck

October 1968 - 1980

Another very long-lasting production period and an enormous Corgi model. Available in red and silver with red wheels or red and white with silver wheels.

1144 Scammell Circus Crane with Rhino Cage

March 1969 - 1972

Detailed cast wheels

1148 Scammell Mk IV Car Transporter

May 1969 - 1970

Detailed cast wheels

1145 Unimog 406 with Gooseneck Dumper

October 1969 - 1976

February 1976 - 1977 re-issue

First issue has independent suspension with metal wheels, coil springs, wing mirrors and jewelled headlamps and suspension. All these features lost on the re-issue.

1147 Scammell 'Ferrymasters' Truck

December 1969 - 1972

Detailed cast wheels

1146 Scammell Handyman Tri-Deck Car Transporter

October 1970 - 1973

Detailed cast wheels.

1150 Unimog 406 Snow Plough

February 1971 - 1977

Detailed suspension, metal wheels, wing mirrors and jewelled headlamps on first editions.

Later dumbed-down editions lacked these features.

1151 Co-operative Promotional Set

A scarce set, issued briefly during 1970/1 and comprising three models:

462 Commer Van in blue and white with cast wheels and Co-op stickers on the side van panels and rear door
466 Commer Milk Float in blue and white with cast wheels and Co-op stickers on the cab doors and rear float panel (otherwise very similar to 466 but not aware of a 466 with cast wheels)
1151 Scammell Articulated Trailer with white cab and blue trailer on white chassis, Co-op stickers on the cab doors and sides and rear panel of trailer