Shite in Miniature II

[Split_Pin]

Specifically it's one from the BP Promo range, first one I ever got!

[Datsuncog]

  On 06/02/2025 at 08:59, bunglebus said:

It is a Corgi, from the farcical era when they sold the moulds then decided they wanted them back (something along those lines anyway) so the Corgi name had been removed

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That's about the size of it - my understanding is that when the Mettoy company started to go belly-up in 1983 after their huge investment in the Dragon home computing arm failed to pay off, they sold a load of their Corgi Juniors tooling to Kiko Toys in Brazil - some obsolete, some current - in a fruitless last-ditch attempt to help balance the books.

After the receivers had been and gone, and the Corgi factory resumed diecast production in mid-1984 following a management buy-out, the new company landed a lucrative deal to produce promotional Juniors-size toy cars for BP.  This turned out to be successful, to the point that production was only constrained by the amount of casting moulds available.

Kiko were approached, and agreed to sell some of the newer tooling back to Corgi as this was somehow more cost-effective than making up new dies.  However, the Corgi branding had been erased from these moulds and so mid-to-late 1980s production of Juniors-sized Corgis included toys produced from branded moulds and also from de-branded moulds.

I suppose the thinking was that at the point the toy was out of the box, it didn't really matter any more whether there was branding or not - but it's confusing for collectors!

Even more hilariously, when Corgi Toys Ltd were bought out by Mattel in 1989, a few of the smaller Corgis were absorbed into the Hot Wheels lineup (per the silver Sierra on the previous page) - and, as previously mentioned, some moulds were redesigned to take a Hot Wheels logo on the base, whilst others remained with Corgi lettering.

Very confusing...

[sierraman]

I think one of the first Corgi juniors I had was the BMW M3, wide body in yellow. My dad must have got them from the BP garage near us. 

[MiniMinorMk3]

  On 05/02/2025 at 16:23, bunglebus said:

 

Lastly, and back to Corgi again - boxed VW Hot Rod "Double Trouble". The Hot Wheels influence is very clear on this one, a few years previously it was a stock Husky Beetle with a roofrack full of suitcases

 

 

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I've just won one of these VW Hot Rod models with a bunch of other stuff, £30 plus commission. Off to pick them up now.

[danthecapriman]

  On 06/02/2025 at 11:04, Datsuncog said:

That's about the size of it - my understanding is that when the Mettoy company started to go belly-up in 1983 after their huge investment in the Dragon home computing arm failed to pay off, they sold a load of their Corgi Juniors tooling to Kiko Toys in Brazil - some obsolete, some current - in a fruitless last-ditch attempt to help balance the books.

After the receivers had been and gone, and the Corgi factory resumed diecast production in mid-1984 following a management buy-out, the new company landed a lucrative deal to produce promotional Juniors-size toy cars for BP.  This turned out to be successful, to the point that production was only constrained by the amount of casting moulds available.

Kiko were approached, and agreed to sell some of the newer tooling back to Corgi as this was somehow more cost-effective than making up new dies.  However, the Corgi branding had been erased from these moulds and so mid-to-late 1980s production of Juniors-sized Corgis included toys produced from branded moulds and also from de-branded moulds.

I suppose the thinking was that at the point the toy was out of the box, it didn't really matter any more whether there was branding or not - but it's confusing for collectors!

Even more hilariously, when Corgi Toys Ltd were bought out by Mattel in 1989, a few of the smaller Corgis were absorbed into the Hot Wheels lineup (per the silver Sierra on the previous page) - and, as previously mentioned, some moulds were redesigned to take a Hot Wheels logo on the base, whilst others remained with Corgi lettering.

Very confusing...

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There were also the promo stuff for the likes of Golden Wonder crisps. The Sierra with GW branding seems to be prolific even now so they must have shifted a serious amount of them.

[MiniMinorMk3]

  On 06/02/2025 at 08:27, morrisoxide said:

I've never noticed the logo in the window before. Why is it backwards?

 

 

 

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Factory error?

 

[ETCHY]

  On 05/02/2025 at 16:23, bunglebus said:

Postie and Evri man were having a punch up on the drive when I got home.

First up, not-a- Husky Ford F350. Lost its hook but the boom is complete, and has a very satisfying motion to lift it

I do like finding near mint diecasts from the interesting eras. Freeman Inter City Commuter has had an easy life it seems

From one Commuter to another - Playart's effort is obviously inspired by Matchbox...

Another near mint gem in the form of a Majorette Acadiane

No baguettes left in this vehicle overnight 

Earlier we were discussing Corgi Escorts, so the arrival of this boxed Mattel Mebetoys is timely

It has tilting seats, and feels like it would last about ten minutes in the hands of a child

Another boxed Ford, and a crossover between Mattel and Corgi (it's like I plan this stuff)

I'm trying to track down more of the Corgi casting Hot Wheels but they're quite elusive in the UK. Card is pretty knackered so I might free it

Base is marked as a Hot Wheels not a Corgi, not always the case it seems, I have some that have full on Hot Wheels liveries but Corgi underneath.

Lastly, and back to Corgi again - boxed VW Hot Rod "Double Trouble". The Hot Wheels influence is very clear on this one, a few years previously it was a stock Husky Beetle with a roofrack full of suitcases

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I love the Corgi Juniors sticker on the underside of the  Husky F350. That's been on there a long time !

[bunglebus]

Some of those Brazilian Kikos are excellent, but lots of money if you find one

[Split_Pin]

Don't forget the new Corgi castings of the late 1980s that all shared the same base and interior, as per my recent investigation*.

This was a surprising find as it was my understanding from something I think @Datsuncog highlighted that existing Corgi Juniors had to be retooled with a metal base for the BP promo to give the cars a higher quality feel. 

[bunglebus]

  On 06/02/2025 at 08:27, morrisoxide said:

I've never noticed the logo in the window before. Why is it backwards?

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The one I took apart was correct 

Right down to fish and chips on the seat, and a tiny Hot Wheels on the picnic tray

Yours is a 2017 multipack exclusive, so fairly unusual 

[sierraman]

I think I’m mind to look through my Corgi Junior castings later. 🤣

What better thing to do on a February evening! 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Another local auction house this week has yielded just one lot of tat. I went over yesterday for the viewing as it was a bit difficult to see what was in some of the lots. After having a list of about 15 lots I came home with 10 that I was going to bid on. After a couple of cups of coffee this morning it was time to get online and get bidding. I had to wait about an hour for the first lot to come up. It was a lot of three old Dinkys in boxes, two of them looked like repaints to me, but some bidders thought they were worth bidding double what my limit was. The rest of the lots soon came up and everything was going over my limits, some by one bid, others by more. I thought I was going to end up with nothing until the last lot that I wanted came up. I had set myself a limit of £50 on the lot and was very happy when I got it for the opening bid of £30.

So what did I get for my £39 (inc comm).

An invoice.

A box with approximately 120 bits of tat.

The larger scale items

The small scale items.

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

[sierraman]

  On 06/02/2025 at 13:45, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Another local auction house this week has yielded just one lot of tat. I went over yesterday for the viewing as it was a bit difficult to see what was in some of the lots. After having a list of about 15 lots I came home with 10 that I was going to bid on. After a couple of cups of coffee this morning it was time to get online and get bidding. I had to wait about an hour for the first lot to come up. It was a lot of three old Dinkys in boxes, two of them looked like repaints to me, but some bidders thought they were worth bidding double what my limit was. The rest of the lots soon came up and everything was going over my limits, some by one bid, others by more. I thought I was going to end up with nothing until the last lot that I wanted came up. I had set myself a limit of £50 on the lot and was very happy when I got it for the opening bid of £30.

So what did I get for my £39 (inc comm).

An invoice.

A box with approximately 120 bits of tat.

The larger scale items

The small scale items.

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

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Some good stuff in there, I see a Capri Mk2, I have one the very same arguably the best most well proportioned Capri in 1/64. 

[bunglebus]

  On 06/02/2025 at 13:45, MiniMinorMk3 said:

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

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They mostly look in good condition, with some interesting bits including a Cubs for @Datsuncog 😁

If you decide to sell the red Matchbox Seafire speedboat let me know, as I sold mine during a clear out recently and now regret it

[155V6]

Siku Mondeo & Lone Star Flyers Mustang 😎

[sierraman]

A Seafire and a tailgate less Stretcha Fetcha is the standard for a job lot. 🤣

[bunglebus]

I found the last three Matchbox I needed to pair up with their rubber counterparts, while having a sort out

Of course they had to be the correct versions of the Hairy Hustler and Fandango, as the stickers/tampos are recreated on the erasers

[flat4alfa]

  On 06/02/2025 at 16:32, 155V6 said:

Lone Star Flyers Mustang

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SOLD!

[Tenmil Socket]

  On 06/02/2025 at 13:45, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Another local auction house this week has yielded just one lot of tat. I went over yesterday for the viewing as it was a bit difficult to see what was in some of the lots. After having a list of about 15 lots I came home with 10 that I was going to bid on. After a couple of cups of coffee this morning it was time to get online and get bidding. I had to wait about an hour for the first lot to come up. It was a lot of three old Dinkys in boxes, two of them looked like repaints to me, but some bidders thought they were worth bidding double what my limit was. The rest of the lots soon came up and everything was going over my limits, some by one bid, others by more. I thought I was going to end up with nothing until the last lot that I wanted came up. I had set myself a limit of £50 on the lot and was very happy when I got it for the opening bid of £30.

So what did I get for my £39 (inc comm).

An invoice.

A box with approximately 120 bits of tat.

The larger scale items

The small scale items.

A more detailed show and tell when I've done some washing.

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Majorette Capri looks nice.

[Remspoor]

  On 06/02/2025 at 01:12, Noel Tidybeard said:

the 2 oxford frenzies turned up today- after seeing pics with the boggly eyed headlights i wasn't expecting to be amazed

but

BUT

they are actually quite nice models especially at a 10er a pop!

 

now fingers crossed they do the maestro in 1:43

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At the moment I cannot see any plans to a Maestro.

 

[FakeConcern]

The other day I picked up a couple of slot cars and asked @flat4alfa what are they? I don't think there's been a reply unless I've missed it.

https://autoshite.com/topic/10758-shite-in-miniature-ii/page/1876/

Get an idea of size from the Corgi Metro

If anyone else knows what they are, please tell. Then we won't need flat4alfa any more!

[Datsuncog]

  On 06/02/2025 at 12:01, danthecapriman said:

There were also the promo stuff for the likes of Golden Wonder crisps. The Sierra with GW branding seems to be prolific even now so they must have shifted a serious amount of them.

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I think the white Golden Wonder Sierra was issued as part of the BP promotion, weirdly, rather than as a separate giveaway with their crisps.

Although a few of the vehicles included in the promotion came with BP branding (Mk2 Transit wrecker, Vauxhall Nova, Renault R5 Turbonutterbastard) a number of other household brands appeared printed on the toys too. Off the top of my head:

- Homefire (smokeless fuel) - black Sierra and Zakspeed Capri

- Schweppes - blue Pontiac Firebird

- Loctite - yellow Renault Trafic van

- Pointers (wholesale groceries) - red Mk3 Transit

- Polo Mints - green Porsche racer

- Jaguar - dark green Jaguar XJS

I don't know if there was some sore of sublicense thing going on where other brands paid BP to put their logo on the toys being given away as part of their fuel promotion - maybe something to dig into?

Corgi also partnered up with Kelloggs for a Frosties collect-the-tokens promotion (as did Matchbox and Siku at different times), with Weetabix also getting in on the action at different times with a variety of Corgi models, big and small.

I seem to recall Yorkie Easter Eggs and special gift packs at Christmas also coming with a couple of small Corgi cars.

Funnily enough, I found some of the BP promos today - but more on that later...

[sheffcortinacentre]

The lotus esprit slot car is I think tyco or similar I had one among about half doz similar ones.

It was from one of those battery powered sets.

[danthecapriman]

  On 06/02/2025 at 19:40, Datsuncog said:

I think the white Golden Wonder Sierra was issued as part of the BP promotion, weirdly, rather than as a separate giveaway with their crisps.

Although a few of the vehicles included in the promotion came with BP branding (Mk2 Transit wrecker, Vauxhall Nova, Renault R5 Turbonutterbastard) a number of other household brands appeared printed on the toys too. Off the top of my head:

- Homefire (smokeless fuel) - black Sierra and Zakspeed Capri

- Schweppes - blue Pontiac Firebird

- Loctite - yellow Renault Trafic van

- Pointers (wholesale groceries) - red Mk3 Transit

- Polo Mints - green Porsche racer

- Jaguar - dark green Jaguar XJS

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I could have sworn it was with tokens from Golden Wonder. Istr you saved up tokens until you got enough to cash them in for the item you wanted. Maybe it was something else though and I’m getting mixed up?

I had the Sierra though at any rate, and all the others from your list except the Pointers Transit van. At the time there was a BP filling station not far from home and my parents would almost always fill up their Datsun Sunny there so that’s how I raked in the tokens! 
Esso did something similar later on where you built up tokens or stamps or something then traded them in for something from a little group of prizes… I got the Esso Scania artic tanker that way! Bigger than Corgi Jr’s though so probably took a good deal more tokens!

The BP that was near home, my parents stopped using in the end because they filled up their Datsun Datsun one day and the carb kept blocking up. After the umpteenth time of stripping it and cleaning everything out it turned out that garage had been selling contaminated dirty petrol and loads of cars in our area had similar problems! 
Wasn’t long after that BP closed it and sold the site (with a big old garage behind) for development. It’s a big retirement apartment site now.

Pretty sure @eddyramrod now has the Loctite glue Trafic. And someone here had the Polo Porsche out of one of my sales.   
I think the green Jaguar XJS and Schweppes Pontiac are here still. Capri and Sierra’s are gone, somewhere. BP Transit tow truck might have sold on here too.

[bunglebus]

Bachelor's Peas Transit in matching box

BP R5

Nova 

Schweppes Firebird 

A big stack of promotionals I got off @andrew e a while back

Not all of them had sponsorship on, but the Polo Porsche did

Weetabix promo

The Golden Wonder crisps one

Weetabix Leyland 

And a Pepsi

Plus Coke

Maybe that's straying from the path, as lorries, fuel tankers etc would always bear some sort of company logo

Alitalia Capri

Shell Sierra - there are of course loads of motorsport type liveries

Like so

Homefire Sierra

Elf R5

British Airways TR7

Frosties Ferrari 

Bachelors Porsche

Frosties Porsche 

Duckhams Landie

Somewhat knackered BP Wrecker

Alternative colours

Shell version 

Pointers Transit 

Lots of Chevrolet vans with sponsorship 

Fuji Hot Rod van - part of a set?

Pretty sure this was too

Loctite Renault 

And a Dyno-Rod

Or just the company name

I left out the usual AA, RAC, British Gas, Telecom etc too

[flat4alfa]

Bought this Hot Wheels Fish'd & Chip'd first release all those years ago when it was first available (2003).   Thought it looked smart in the metallic duo-colour scheme and the open driver's (RHD) window a good touch.  Packaging long gone, thankfully it's still in great condition and not CHIPed

Never knew about the fish & chips dinner on the passenger seat until recently - and from this very thread too.  Anyway, I have now FISHed out any other release examples back here to have a look at the rear window situation.   

This blue with flames tampo is from 2011 and has no window logo on its very deep amber colour

 

This 'Art Cars' series example is from 2020.  Very dark windows, no window logo.  The only one here with a metal base.

This Paul McCartney livery does have the logo.  His fish dinner is there and getting cold.  This is part of a 2015 'The Beatles' series of contrived ideas

This even more contrived one is part of the 2016 Star Wars series.  It has the logo and the only one here made in Thailand not Malaysia

So...  from the limited few here, there doesn't seem to be a consistency.  Assessment failed.

[flat4alfa]

  On 06/02/2025 at 21:11, bunglebus said:

 

Fuji Hot Rod van - part of a set?

Pretty sure this was too

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[bunglebus]

  On 06/02/2025 at 21:28, flat4alfa said:

Assessment failed.

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I've got a few, but I'm not rummaging around in the loft to find them so old pics will have to do.

I know Wiki can quite easily be wrong but it does mention an oddity, in that the very first edition doesn't have a rear window logo if it's fitted with the lace wheels, but does if fitted with the multi spoke type shown above. However it also says that "fished" is hot rod slang for a roof chop, and "chip" is the same for lowering, which no-one seems to know anything about, I've certainly only read that on Wikipedia about this car.

Looking through my pics, I can just about make out the logo on this version which features newsprint on the tampo, as a nod to the fish and chips theme

Art Cars version features a Union flag among the graphics 

I see your Beatles and Star Wars, and raise you Despicable Me 

Not the greatest image, but I can just about see that etched logo here

Waddya know, I have that same first edition, would have been better if it was the version with the lace wheels but never mind

Plastic bodied Color Shifter appears devoid of logo

And a custom because why not?

 

[flat4alfa]

  On 06/02/2025 at 19:29, FakeConcern said:

The other day I picked up a couple of slot cars and asked @flat4alfa what are they? I don't think there's been a reply unless I've missed it.

https://autoshite.com/topic/10758-shite-in-miniature-ii/page/1876/

Get an idea of size from the Corgi Metro

If anyone else knows what they are, please tell. Then we won't need flat4alfa any more!

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The Lotus Esprit was produced generically in Hong Kong and sold under Speedtrax, Toltoys and other brands depending on market.  The sets were 6v and battery-powered.  Speedtrax became Artin.  Pretty sure I have a later red one here, will have a look...   might make a good 1:43 track sister.

The gen-4 Camaro is much later (obviously!) and was in a set with a Corvette ZR-1.  Produced by Kwong Wah Toys, Hong Kong and sold under their brands such as Super Speed.  They go right back into the 1970s with battery-powered 6v sets, but this particular 1990s set was powered by a mains AC transformer

You should be able to see if they run by putting a 9v PP3 battery across the terminals.  Don't hold it there for long though as the LED will likely blow.  Yes, both of them have light!

[Datsuncog]

  On 06/02/2025 at 20:23, danthecapriman said:

I could have sworn it was with tokens from Golden Wonder. Istr you saved up tokens until you got enough to cash them in for the item you wanted. Maybe it was something else though and I’m getting mixed up?

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Could well have been - it's hard to track down information on all the promotions, so I'm largely going by what I can remember myself! 

That Golden Wonder Sierra does seem to crop up in many job lots of the BP Corgis, but it could well have been offered out by Golden Wonder as a promotion.

I think the first promo Corgi made for Weetabix was the Leyland Terrier box van, in 1976:

I didn't have one of these, though I did have this cut-out Dodge Commando:

For reasons I'll never understand, this was kept as a Christmas decoration for many years. I used to carefully place it into the tree, balanced on a branch - and I think it was a tragic casualty when the tree fell over one year.

Seems an articulated Dodge was available too:

A racing car was also offered later the same year:

A later mid-80s promotion featured these five Juniors to collect, which were standard releases rather than specific promotional versions:

(EDIT: actually from 1989)

Also available were an exclusively branded RM and a Volvo articulated truck for lots of tokens, or an Aston DB6 for fewer tokens:

I'm pretty sure a large-scale Ford Cargo was offered out too at one stage - a few of those have cropped up at the market in Weetabix-branded boxes.

(EDIT: yup, in 1998)

They did a similar tie-in with Matchbox in 1991:

The Frosties Corgis were specially decorated:

I had the XJS from this collection - I only had the patience to save up six tokens, whereas if I'd saved up eight I could have had the Porsche and the magazine plus stickers... ah well.

Then again, Tony the Tiger comes across as a bit of a prick in this comic, so maybe it was for the best...