Corgi Boxes

1970 Gift Set 3

The Car, Boat and Trailer

The car is the tow hook version mentioned above. The Batboat was the first version or "tin fin" version. Although the Batboat was blue in real life, Corgi chose to mold their Batboat in black. This first version Batboat did feature a "flame" sticker on the side of the hull similar to the real Batboat. The rear deck and fin were covered with a tin lithograph which displayed the yellow and black bat logo and was roughly correct for the actual Batboat. Like the Batmobile of this era, the trailer had metal hubs and rubber tyres, although they were smaller than those of the Batmobile. All Batboat trailers were painted gold.

The Box

1970 Gift Set 3 box, the second version Gift Set 3 box which has a 1970 copyright on it.

1970-72 GS3 box type 2- Red tyred Batmobile and red hubbed Batmobile were both available in this box along with a tin fin Batboat. The box was light blue and yellow, and both vehicles contained Batman and Robin. First window box gift set. On both inner flaps either side it read "For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457". Again, as with the single box, the red tyred Batmobile that appeared in this gift set never had this on the flap, had on both inner flaps either side it read "For spare tyres ask for - trailer 1457" so if you have a red tyred car with this "For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457" on the flap, you do not have a genuine red tyred box. This was meant for the red hubs Batmobile ONLY. It was even removed for the Batboat trailer later on.

I would assume it was introduced sometime from July 1970.

"A type with "For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457" on inside flap.
Without "patent application No.3396/69" (this is for the ® Whizzwheels)

I never seen this box,

The A type box (for red Bat-hub car) have "Made in Great Britain Mettoy-Playcraft Ltd. London" or the "MP logo METTOY-PLAYCRAFT LONDON - ENGLAND"; i don't know.

The B type box (for red Bat-hub car) had to be introduced before early 1972 at the latest. But adding the fact that the changed name Mettoy-Playcraft and the MP logo were already used on the James Bond Corgi Rockets (introduced in October 1969) and on the 1970 catalogue, I'd say that the change to the B box occurred likely rather sooner than later, probably in early 1971.

"B type" with "patent application No.3396/69"
(this is for the ® Whizzwheels) on inside flap.

"For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457"

"B type" with "patent application No.3396/69"
(this is for the ® Whizzwheels) on inside flap.

"For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457"

"For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457"

"For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457"

"For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457"

"For spare tyres ask for Batmobile no 1456 and trailer 1457"

The C type box (for red tyres car) had to be introduced later 1972 for 6 months only.

"C type" with "patent application No.3396/69"
(this is for the ® Whizzwheels) on inside flap.

"For spare tyres ask for - trailer 1457"

"For spare tyres ask for - trailer 1457"

"C type" with "patent application No.3396/69"
(this is for the ® Whizzwheels) on inside flap.

"For spare tyres ask for - trailer 1457"

"For spare tyres ask for - trailer 1457"

This GS3 behind have a very scarce trailer, but batmobile are fake (wrong size stickers, used tyres on a near mint (repainted ?) body, painted rocket tube ...), Batman are yellow paint on body ...