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On 7/3/2019 at 12:06 PM, Datsuncog said:

20190703_014744.thumb.jpg.986242ad17e6bfc93685324e125d8b5f.jpg

Dinky Toys Pontiac Trans-Am - one of the notorious Hong Kong Dinkys

I found out something I didn't know.... I do already own a Hong Kong Dinky !

Bought this Chevrolet Camaro  - oooh - thirty years ago and thought it a rough diamond, even then

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This one doesn't have the typical 'Z28' door sticker, but some (rare?) tampo striping.   Despite being 'sister cars' in real life and also having the T-bar roof, I can see that, surprisingly, nothing is shared!   The Camaro is a two-seater; has different bonnet (hood!) casting; there are side exhaust pipes as part of the plastic base; of course different body shell.  Seems an odd way of pooling resources.

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image.png.a85c8178ad7fc10b520ba8fef8360c0f.png Cars-8.jpg

It does have an opening bonnet, although the hinge is wonkied.  But look!  It has a V6 engine - never found in the Z28 spec, which wearing those fender extensions and air spoiler should imply

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To an American, this is a Kidco model as Dinky was a UK-only brand.  I wonder if, to an American collector, it could be valuable?

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Thought not.

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I've fallen way behind on matters of diecast tat; one of these days I'll get around to writing up the 1:76 Plaxton Panorama collection sponsored by the excellent Mr D Cog.

For now, though, I must share a bit of an obsession that I'm trying, and failing, to kerb.

20190630_195020-01.thumb.jpeg.61214502dd0033e3db2de574036f4ee9.jpeg

Many moons ago, I chanced upon a loose Corgi 1:36 Sierra 2.3 Ghia in frustratingly fictitious racing livery at a car boot sale. It wasn't very many quid, so I had to have it, because Ford Sierra Ghia. 

Now, my dad had an early Sierra Ghia, and I still consider it one of my very favourite cars in the whole world. While it's nice to have a decent-sized model of a Sierra Ghia for the first time in my life, the fact that it's decked out in silly racing car livery began to slowly eat away at me.

What I needed, what I really needed, was one that actually reflected the spec of my dad's car (putting aside the fact that his was a 2.0 rather than a 2.3, and that Corgi elected to cast the impression of window winders into the doors, despite the Ghia having leccy efforts as standard.

EDYEB43XkAAgWHP.thumb.jpg.3bfdf27b0ae0fdcba84d9e9db05dd5e6.jpg

Anyway. At 39 years of age, I'm now allowed to spend my pocket money on anything that takes my fancy, and I knew that I just wouldn't be satisfied until I had a model of My Dad's Sierra.

So, to eBay I went. Not immediately, but over the course of several months. I wanted a blue one, boxed, and in the best condition I could find, but not at a stratospheric price.

Naturally, because "I know what I've got here", everything was stratospherically priced.

Until, one evening, a chance visit to eBay suddenly threw forth an example that didn't cost any arms, legs or less vital appendages.

20200601_175640.thumb.jpg.ee741bd8f1a63c1a5e14109aed5cc945.jpg

Complete with yellowing plastic packaging that prevents the camera from properly focussing on its target, I'm guessing that this was among the final releases for the Sierra, packaged with a strange clip-on badge sort of thing that I'm not entirely sure of the purpose of. Incidentally, my Rolls Royce Corniche would have arrived in a similar package; I still have the Rolls Royce badge, whose very existence baffled me even when I received it at age 12 or so. (Incidentally this was from Chas and Dora, our next-door neighbours, now sadly deceased. Dora would later donate her Triumph Acclaim to my mum when she learnt to drive in 1993, and that would later become my first car. Cheers, Dora).

So. I now had a blue Ford Sierra Ghia, so that's good.

Except, the blue is really a bit too dark to be properly representative of my dad's car, which was a far lighter, slightly greenier shade called Glacier Blue.

Also, this model wears the generic wheels that would grace so many others in the 1:36 lineup, including the Rolls Corniche. They're almost get-away-withable, slightly resembling as they do the wheel trims you got on a Mk 3 Escort Ghia: 

69cba8c454004d12fe7384984d784646.jpg.c96af92ff1fbcea095a30755e554b9a2.jpg

As it happens, my dad's Sierra Ghia had a set of trims that actually should have belonged to a Sierra Laser, and I reckon they're among the most apt trimz that the Sierra ever did wear. They're all curvy and smooth and perfectly in kinship with the old jellymould's flowing lines.

bb7b374e-e660-40c6-9e80-99e9c8f9b52e.jpg.c0bb4dfeb8b436e9c92d2061460ccb88.jpg

Anyway. I digress again. One thing that is quite cool about this release is the natty SIERRA number plates that it has in the appropriately spacey font that Ford used in the 80s.

20200601_175917.thumb.jpg.2fc63ecb7d8d1ae09314fedfababeaae.jpg

The 80s really were spectacular, weren't they?

 

20200601_175702.thumb.jpg.6252823e610283c6fde73c6221b93106.jpg

Looking at the above, the Sierra really does seem a bit of a poor relation compared to much of that lot, doesn't it? Consider that the Fezza 308 had its working pop-up headlights, the 325i (and Merc 190?) had its sliding sunroof, and the Bond Aston did all its gadgety things. The Peugeot 205 had a working engine, I believe.

No I don't.

Anyway, so there I was, finally possessing a 1:36 scale Corgi Ford Sierra Ghia, in almost the right colour, and with wheels that looked no less alike the ones on Dad's car than any other set that Corgi modelled. I was satisfied. 

Or was I?

Nope, of course not. While it's nice, very nice, it somehow feels NO GOOD AT ALL to represent my dads car with a model that was built and packaged long after the subject it depicts went out of production.

What I really needed was an example from the very beginning of the production run.

And now I have one.

20200601_175347.thumb.jpg.2dd1820e3dbef89643a2db88bf725024.jpg

Now, the more observant among you will notice that it very definitely isn't blue, even if you squint. But, for me, right now, that's okay; especially given the context of this incredible packaging, of which I offer the following pictures.

20200601_175357.thumb.jpg.bf562c18fa8f9dd47bc2c03556f3a195.jpg

20200601_175415.thumb.jpg.ab648f27962db10dc85fa274c84c9ef8.jpg

20200601_175438.thumb.jpg.2ea3f0e22b9d64d29626388d66eb76c6.jpg

All of this, to me, is unspeakably gorgeous. The packaging, with its proud 2.3 Sierra Ghia emblems, is just perfect. Somehow, by using the very same graphic design that actually appeared on the car itself and the publicity materials that I spent so much of my childhood poring over, lends the model a tangible connection to the car itself. This model, in this box, feels like it's an integral part of the Sierra Story.

It has immediately become one of my very favourite model cars, and its bright yellow hue gels perfectly with the orange of its promotional packaging. It's just wonderful.

Would be even better if it was light metallic blue, though....

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2 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

I've fallen way behind on matters of diecast tat; one of these days I'll get around to writing up the 1:76 Plaxton Panorama collection sponsored by the excellent Mr D Cog.

For now, though, I must share a bit of an obsession that I'm trying, and failing, to kerb.

20190630_195020-01.thumb.jpeg.61214502dd0033e3db2de574036f4ee9.jpeg

Many moons ago, I chanced upon a loose Corgi 1:36 Sierra 2.3 Ghia in frustratingly fictitious racing livery at a car boot sale. It wasn't very many quid, so I had to have it, because Ford Sierra Ghia. 

Now, my dad had an early Sierra Ghia, and I still consider it one of my very favourite cars in the whole world. While it's nice to have a decent-sized model of a Sierra Ghia for the first time in my life, the fact that it's decked out in silly racing car livery began to slowly eat away at me.

What I needed, what I really needed, was one that actually reflected the spec of my dad's car (putting aside the fact that his was a 2.0 rather than a 2.3, and that Corgi elected to cast the impression of window winders into the doors, despite the Ghia having leccy efforts as standard.

EDYEB43XkAAgWHP.thumb.jpg.3bfdf27b0ae0fdcba84d9e9db05dd5e6.jpg

Anyway. At 39 years of age, I'm now allowed to spend my pocket money on anything that takes my fancy, and I knew that I just wouldn't be satisfied until I had a model of My Dad's Sierra.

So, to eBay I went. Not immediately, but over the course of several months. I wanted a blue one, boxed, and in the best condition I could find, but not at a stratospheric price.

Naturally, because "I know what I've got here", everything was stratospherically priced.

Until, one evening, a chance visit to eBay suddenly threw forth an example that didn't cost any arms, legs or less vital appendages.

20200601_175640.thumb.jpg.ee741bd8f1a63c1a5e14109aed5cc945.jpg

Complete with yellowing plastic packaging that prevents the camera from properly focussing on its target, I'm guessing that this was among the final releases for the Sierra, packaged with a strange clip-on badge sort of thing that I'm not entirely sure of the purpose of. Incidentally, my Rolls Royce Corniche would have arrived in a similar package; I still have the Rolls Royce badge, whose very existence baffled me even when I received it at age 12 or so. (Incidentally this was from Chas and Dora, our next-door neighbours, now sadly deceased. Dora would later donate her Triumph Acclaim to my mum when she learnt to drive in 1993, and that would later become my first car. Cheers, Dora).

So. I now had a blue Ford Sierra Ghia, so that's good.

Except, the blue is really a bit too dark to be properly representative of my dad's car, which was a far lighter, slightly greenier shade called Glacier Blue.

Also, this model wears the generic wheels that would grace so many others in the 1:36 lineup, including the Rolls Corniche. They're almost get-away-withable, slightly resembling as they do the wheel trims you got on a Mk 3 Escort Ghia: 

69cba8c454004d12fe7384984d784646.jpg.c96af92ff1fbcea095a30755e554b9a2.jpg

As it happens, my dad's Sierra Ghia had a set of trims that actually should have belonged to a Sierra Laser, and I reckon they're among the most apt trimz that the Sierra ever did wear. They're all curvy and smooth and perfectly in kinship with the old jellymould's flowing lines.

bb7b374e-e660-40c6-9e80-99e9c8f9b52e.jpg.c0bb4dfeb8b436e9c92d2061460ccb88.jpg

Anyway. I digress again. One thing that is quite cool about this release is the natty SIERRA number plates that it has in the appropriately spacey font that Ford used in the 80s.

20200601_175917.thumb.jpg.2fc63ecb7d8d1ae09314fedfababeaae.jpg

The 80s really were spectacular, weren't they?

 

20200601_175702.thumb.jpg.6252823e610283c6fde73c6221b93106.jpg

Looking at the above, the Sierra really does seem a bit of a poor relation compared to much of that lot, doesn't it? Consider that the Fezza 308 had its working pop-up headlights, the 325i (and Merc 190?) had its sliding sunroof, and the Bond Aston did all its gadgety things. The Peugeot 205 had a working engine, I believe.

No I don't.

Anyway, so there I was, finally possessing a 1:36 scale Corgi Ford Sierra Ghia, in almost the right colour, and with wheels that looked no less alike the ones on Dad's car than any other set that Corgi modelled. I was satisfied. 

Or was I?

Nope, of course not. While it's nice, very nice, it somehow feels NO GOOD AT ALL to represent my dads car with a model that was built and packaged long after the subject it depicts went out of production.

What I really needed was an example from the very beginning of the production run.

And now I have one.

20200601_175347.thumb.jpg.2dd1820e3dbef89643a2db88bf725024.jpg

Now, the more observant among you will notice that it very definitely isn't blue, even if you squint. But, for me, right now, that's okay; especially given the context of this incredible packaging, of which I offer the following pictures.

20200601_175357.thumb.jpg.bf562c18fa8f9dd47bc2c03556f3a195.jpg

20200601_175415.thumb.jpg.ab648f27962db10dc85fa274c84c9ef8.jpg

20200601_175438.thumb.jpg.2ea3f0e22b9d64d29626388d66eb76c6.jpg

All of this, to me, is unspeakably gorgeous. The packaging, with its proud 2.3 Sierra Ghia emblems, is just perfect. Somehow, by using the very same graphic design that actually appeared on the car itself and the publicity materials that I spent so much of my childhood poring over, lends the model a tangible connection to the car itself. This model, in this box, feels like it's an integral part of the Sierra Story.

It has immediately become one of my very favourite model cars, and its bright yellow hue gels perfectly with the orange of its promotional packaging. It's just wonderful.

Would be even better if it was light metallic blue, though....

I have that very same model, albeit with a slightly less good box. The script is pure 'Autoshite', if you remember the original site's 'Cafe Pan-Am'. I'm not sure the yellow isn't a fictitious colour for the Sierra which is a surprise as all their other Ford models of the time came in authentic colours. 

It's an excellent model, right down to the bands on the front seat trim and the wheel covers.

Great purchase!

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My Corgi Sierra came in this tatty box:

30074190265_621e82a4a2_c.jpg

Corgi Ford Sierra and Renault 11 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

I now have a little one that matches it, also with the original logo on the box.

I didn't have the 1:36 example when I was young, I suppose I was getting a bit too old for them back then (but now?!). Pleasingly captures the feel of the rea thing to me, except for the Subaru-esque frameless doors....

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20 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

From last year's musings... I'm pretty unclear about the origins of this one too, but I've managed to track down nearly all the 1970s Corgi catalogues and still haven't seen this one mentioned yet.

The Bill Manzke book on Corgi Juniors reckons it was made from 1976-78, and also advises "Believed to have been intended as a tie-in to a James Bond movie, but rejected by the licence owner".

It was also  made in Hong Kong rather than GB, which further muddies the waters.

Here's the Aerocar in the 1977 Collectors Catalogue:

Aerocar.thumb.jpg.ced0664f1de9705dca5d0a103ecb266a.jpg

Hidden at the back amongst the randoms in the Super range.

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Was surprised to find the '32 Ford in Poundland alongside the new 2020 range stock, as it is listed as a 2019 colour.  It was the only one.  Same as @TheDoctor's local, the shelf does not have the pricing labelled correctly - it stated £1.  Yet they are £1.50 at the till.  I mentioned this to duty manager who was passing and he gave me some excuse that didn't add up, so I decided he was a cock and left it.

Also the sole VW Golf at the big Tesco.  The rest of the box was all last year's stock.  I don't understand what they are up to.  Cocks.

20200602_082746415_iOS.jpg

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FIRE BIRD TRANSAN

Yes, that is what it says.  Mis-translation things like this make me smile.  

It's not so bad really.  It is at least recognisable as a 1978 Pontiac Firebird complete with central hood 'shaker', cross-hatch grille and inset front turn signals.  The door panel gap could fit a Bella Emberg through, but still.

Any idea who made this? 

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32 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Was surprised to find the '32 Ford in Poundland alongside the new 2020 range stock, as it is listed as a 2019 colour.  It was the only one.  Same as @TheDoctor's local, the shelf does not have the pricing labelled correctly - it stated £1.  Yet they are £1.50 at the till.  I mentioned this to duty manager who was passing and he gave me some excuse that didn't add up, so I decided he was a cock and left it.

Just FYI, if a shop has something priced lower than it rings up on the till, they are obligated by law to only charge you the advertised price. I know it's only a quid, but I'd definitely have 'made a scene' particularly if some cock tried to fob you off

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14 minutes ago, barrett said:

Just FYI, if a shop has something priced lower than it rings up on the till, they are obligated by law to only charge you the advertised price. I know it's only a quid, but I'd definitely have 'made a scene' particularly if some cock tried to fob you off

This is true, but if they want to be get technical, they can 'take it off sale' for a certain period*, therefore you don't get to buy it at the cheaper price, and it reappears later at the 'new' price. This is handy in retail if your inexperienced colleague has labelled a really expensive product incorrectly. My partner has been a retail manager for most of her life, so knows the other side to this quite well. 

*it's something like 24/48 hours. 

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My wife picked up a pair of boots in Zara that were labeled on the shelf as £90 but the tag attached said £15. When she told me she was going to chance it I walked to the back of the shop in embarrassment. The cashier consulted the manager and ultimately honoured the sale at £15.

My wife asked nicely rather than waving a virtual Consumer lawbook in the air which is possibly why she got lucky. I couldn't believe it!

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2 hours ago, barrett said:

Just FYI, if a shop has something priced lower than it rings up on the till, they are obligated by law to only charge you the advertised price. I know it's only a quid, but I'd definitely have 'made a scene' particularly if some cock tried to fob you off

I couldn't see myself getting anywhere with Mr minimum-wages-worth

Besides, the queue was full of heavy, sweaty, hairy people who really didn't care what a social distance was, having sugar-fuelled children in pants and wellies clambering over the shelving to entertain them

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I think they changed the rules on shelf pricing - it's an "invitation to sale" and up to the customer to check it's correct at the till. Most shops will honour it but once I had a manager "go and check the price" and change what it said while he was there ?

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Picked this up at car show, in recent years

Porsche 911T in 1/60 scale

Brand was a new one on me: DARDA MOTOR, Made in W. Germany.   I assume that despite its clean condition, it predates David Hasselhoff singing on a wall in Berlin.

The Carlos Fandango wheel set might look daft but the sprung motor inside is very strong and it needs the extra traction to get off the line.  In fact, despite a rubber insert in the rear wheels, it spins them, lunges forward at great lick, flies off the desk and clouts the wall.  The wife was elated.

The quality of the engineering, paint and decals is very good.  Is it rare?  Is it valuable?  Any more DARDA in the AS  fold?   I might have found my new thing.

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7 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Here's the Aerocar in the 1977 Collectors Catalogue:

Aerocar.thumb.jpg.ced0664f1de9705dca5d0a103ecb266a.jpg

Hidden at the back amongst the randoms in the Super range.

I have the ford d series and the mack but the tanker is esso.

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1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Is it rare?  Is it valuable?  Any more DARDA in the AS  fold?   I might have found my new thing.

They go for good money on eBay. I'd really like the Porsche and the Beetle, there's a KITT too.

I only have a buggy with a broken motor and a copy.

You can still buy spares for them, again not cheap

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8 hours ago, bunglebus said:

@RoadworkUK there's a silver one on eBay if you're up to repainting it the right colour?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153956205151

With that front bumper damage, it would actually be a reasonable depiction of how Dad's car looked after hitting a hare on his way to work.

8 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

This is a nice one too.

Wob-look rear arches aside, that's terrific! I had no idea such a model existed. Might need to invest. It'll have to be next month, though, as my better half is a little disgusted by how many suspiciously toy car sized boxes are arriving, when I patently don't have anywhere to tidily keep them...

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I like these big Zylmex toys. How its fragile exhausts etc haven't been snapped off I'm not sure

 

49964237047_850dcb6fab_4k.jpg20200602_180750 by RS, on Flickr

49964238442_214f124f32_4k.jpg20200602_180801 by RS, on Flickr

49964238502_0d4e980f53_4k.jpg20200602_180808 by RS, on Flickr

49963954736_d40d32c75e_4k.jpg20200602_180817 by RS, on Flickr

49964239952_946d342592_4k.jpg20200602_180823 by RS, on Flickr

49963454733_00cd494927_4k.jpg20200602_180829 by RS, on Flickr

 

A little Zylmex to go with my big Zylmex

 

49962846581_e8ed5ef20e_4k.jpg20200602_105028 by RS, on Flickr

 

And how about this Corgi Olds Toronado with flip up lights? Think the towbar is a bit out of proportion

 

49963139047_be03e4b153_4k.jpg20200602_105242 by RS, on Flickr

49962856376_41d8407d99_4k.jpg20200602_105249 by RS, on Flickr

 

Found a couple more blackwalls, Stutz Blackhawk is an odd looking beast

 

49963135692_09492b9884_4k.jpg20200602_105200 by RS, on Flickr

49962852896_e285eda58b_4k.jpg20200602_105205 by RS, on Flickr

 

I've been trying to replace my long-lost childhood version of this for ages - they've always got the rear cover missing, which holds the tailgate in the undamaged position. This one still needs a repair, but I can do that

 

49963132732_7766094d90_4k.jpg20200602_105108 by RS, on Flickr

49963132467_ce6a54c82f_4k.jpg20200602_105112 by RS, on Flickr

49962348723_cebc9a1d5d_4k.jpg20200602_105123 by RS, on Flickr

49962850876_178c422044_4k.jpg20200602_105132 by RS, on Flickr

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Ah, balls, that Sierra is available for less than a tenner posted.  (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-43-SCALE-1984-FORD-SIERRA-GHIA-IN-LIGHT-BLUE-NEW-IN-BLISTER-PACK/164219972422?hash=item263c45eb46:g:k10AAOSwgrxexO43)

That means I've just spent another tenner.

Makes me wonder what else was in the European partwork range it was released in. And potentially puts my wallet in serious peril.

EDIT: What is it about the Sierra's wheelarches that make it so hard to model?

Having ordered that 1:43 Ghia, I'm wallowing in the realisation that its proportions really aren't that hot (I still have to have it, though.... because Sierra Ghia). I've found that Neo got on the scene, too, with a shitetastic 1.6 GL.

Headlights and grille look great:

771207534_Screenshot2020-06-02at20_19_58.thumb.png.61c9267b578e6b685166e4645caacbf5.png

Rear end is on the money:

1858876588_Screenshot2020-06-02at20_20_24.thumb.png.ef098c5081bdd8605d32f55dc5c86615.png

Wheelarches are annoyingly awful, and doorhandles are questionable, but CHECK OUT THOSE TRIMZ!

597251542_Screenshot2020-06-02at20_20_59.thumb.png.39e581d5137486d5d8c57f5925766fe9.png

Everywhere that's ever stocked them seems to be out of stock, but as the cheapest ex-listing has it at about sixty quid, I won't lose too much sleep.

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