Corgi Toys were one of the UK’s finest post-war diecast toy vehicle makers and this gift set is an excellent example of their work. The box contains two models of a Commer van cab and chassis (then a familiar sight on our roads) along with four different bodies which could be interchanged, to enable eight different toys in all. The set came with a seat and load of milk crates, and even a scale milk man. The models had sprung suspension and “working” headlights too, the latter using a clever fibre system to direct natural light from the cab rooF.
The box is a great example of Corgi’s careful packaging design too. The models were only sold packaged in this attractive ‘box’, basically a polystyrene tray with compartments to protect the toys (see last image below), with a printed card box lid. This had a great illustration showing the variants possible, linked by dotted lines to the central picture. It is certainly more technical than you might find on toy packaging these days but explains all nicely. The box also carried the usual Corgi information panels in their regular colour scheme and sans serif all-caps typography. There was a neat little Gift Set logo too, with cursive text, plus the Corgi logo.
Thanks to all this the gift set seems to have survived in bigger numbers than other Corgi toys, the packaging was clearly too nice to be thrown away! However the ravages of time do affect many, I particularly like this very well played with example I spotted online.
The set was released in 1965 but only sold for a few years. Corgi then recycled the Commer model in 1968, reissuing it as a TV news vehicle complete with cameraman stood on the roof and as a Holiday Camp Van. This was common practise to help monetise the high costs of producing the moulds.
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