What do you get when a British toy manufacturer decides to make a scale version of what is arguably GM’s best family car since the 1964 Chevelle or 1955-57 Chevrolet? Miniature B-body goodness, of course.
Growing up in the 1980s, and being a car nut, I got quite a few Corgi models from my parents and grandparents. I especially remember my Jaguar XJ-S, Matra Rancho, ’57 T-Bird and Peugeot 505. For whatever reason, though, I never got a Caprice. I didn’t even know it existed until my dad got me a book on Corgi Toys and I finally saw one (and a bunch of other Corgis that I didn’t know about and suddenly just had to acquire, but that’s another story).
Thanks to good old ebay, I finally got one. While Corgi issued the Caprice in the expected taxi, police and racing versions, what I really wanted was the stock four door sedan, and I got one. It is modeled on the 1979 Caprice Classic, and has opening doors and trunk lid. I think it looks especially good with its medium green paint, dark green bench seating, and whitewalls.
Starting in the mid-Seventies, Corgi made their models in a larger scale, closer to 1/36 than 1/43. As a result, this Caprice dwarfs the 1960s Corgis in my collection. That makes it no less cool though.
Im trying to find a 3abc Hillman to recolour to match my car apparently Corgi made one but they seem as rare as real ones now.
As tight as the gap is between the wheels and the fenders is all I can say is…
“All my friends love the lowrider…”
Speaking of the Corgi 1:36 Scale 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic 4 Door Sedan, I also have this one but in Silver color with a two tone Blue Side Trim which I brought from a defunct Toy Store at $11.00 back on The Summer of 1985. The next die cast models which I have in my own personal collection that I have acquired from E-Bayers were two of my favorite GM Cars ever produced in 1:43 Scale. The one on the left was a Del Prado 1978 Cadillac Seville 4 Door Sedan and the one on the right was a Universal Hobbies 1:43 Scale 1973 Chevrolet Nova 4 Door Sedan Police Car taken from the James Bond 007 “Live & Let Die Series. These were almost the same scale sizes to the older 1:43 Scale Corgi and Dinky line of die cast cars but were in much better quality and relatively cheaper prices as well.
Nice. I’ve got that Matra Rancho and Peugeot 505 as well, along with a Rolls.
I love it!!!
But does it have the F-41 suspension package? (Or, in this case, F-4.1, maybe)
Now that’s another very nice Corgi we didn’t see here, we generally seemed to only get European-market models in the 80s. Seeing as I make it my habit to buy the sales brochures and models of cars I like but will never own, I can see I’m going to have to jump on eBay and grab a Corgi Caprice now! (Thanks Tom, you’re making me spend all my money now lol!)