Proteus Bluebird

153 Proteus Bluebird

September 1960 -1961 (153)

October 1961 - 1963 (153A)

Available always in blue, 153 has black plastic wheels. 153A has alloy wheels with rubber tyres.

Models have crossed flags at the front, initially two Union Flags but later a combination of British and USA flags and I have heard of both types of transfer on each of 153 and 153A as well as the presence or absence of a blue bird transfer.

There has been considerable confusion, it seems, amongst those who you might have thought would have known better as to which came first and, for a long time, I thought that my own Bluebird model I had had since new was the second edition with plastic wheels and I had convinced myself that it must have had 153A on the box. That would, however, have been the 153 I vaguely did remember.

The copy Corgi leaflet published just before issue is a wonderful piece of evidence discovered by my colleague and expert in many things diecast, Lee Harris.