Corgi Batmobile web site

1970 window box. Although this box itself shows a 1966 copyright, I call this a 1970 box because it almost certainly came out at the same time as the second version Gift Set 3 box which has a 1970 copyright on it. Both of these boxes show a similar revised color scheme and new style Corgi logo. Although I suspect a lot of Batmobiles were sold in this box, it is fairly rare now as people apparently didn't like saving it as much as the older fold-out display type. The rear of this box shows a picture of Batman apparently about to be run over by a Batmobile speeding out of the Batcave. An advantage of this box and all other window boxes is that it displays your car and protects it from dust. This box included the same envelope, purple & black instructions, feature leaflet, "Batman" badge, and red (yellow ?) missiles as the earlier versions.

Box type 2 - 70-72 First window box, light blue and yellow, contained at first the red hubs Batmobile with towhook (with a gold beacon cage not silver), and later contained the red tyred Batmobile. Had Batman on the back with the Batmobile speeding towards him. First box to have " the right is reserved to amend specifications or colours" on the bottom. Looks like Corgi were thinking ahead at this time, and this basically gave them the right to use what they felt like in case of factory errors, including the red wheels and glass colours . Subsequent boxes had this apart from the last. This box on the inner flap also had " for spare tyres ask for no 1456 " which was in reference to the red hub Batmobile that was in this box to start with, so if you have this on your flap and a red tyred car in it, you do not have a genuine red tyred box. Later versions of this box for the red tyred didn't have this in Corgi removed it straight away to avoid complaints. This was included for the red hubs on the inner flap because of a lot of complaints about the tyres splitting, and Corgi gave them replacements free, so to stop losing money they changed the wheels.

It seems to me though, apart from the very first box change (which was done so you could see the car instead of mr shopkeeper having to keep taking the car out of the box to show you) that all the box changes occurred when the car itself had changed in some major way, so as to get more people buying the car again. Most of the wheel changes coincide with a box change, so it wouldn't surprise me if this was the case. (unfortunately, i didn't ask about the box changes apart from the first). The car was intended as a collectors piece, not a toy, which is what the first box designers had in mind when they designed it. They changed the box to allow you to display your car in the box without gathering dust, as there was no protection with just the inner plinth display, and also it helped sell the product as you could now see it instead of asking mr shopkeeper (who was very busy) to open it.

We will show you that Original Intact
Condition of the Box (Slim Box) Instruction Sheet - Case & Owner's Badge & Missile.

The Box of 2nd Version has 2 Type that we show the photo.
The one (upper) is very hard to get . The different point is only
the words printed on the back .

The A type box (for red Bat-hub car) still has a large 267. The releases from the first half of 1970 (e.g. Ford Capri, Corvette Stingray, Toyota 2000 GT, Marcos 3L, Saint's Volvo) did not have the number initially, but the number begins to show on most (but not all) releases from the second half of 1970. 1971 releases all but a few have the number those without – like GS 26 – obviously made with boxes printed earlier.

Light blue and yellow, contained at first the red hubs Batmobile with towhook (with a gold beacon cage not silver), and later contained the red tyred Batmobile. Had Batman on the back with the Batmobile speeding towards him. First box to have " the right is reserved to amend specifications or colours" on the bottom. Looks like Corgi were thinking ahead at this time, and this basically gave them the right to use what they felt like in case of factory errors, including the red wheels and glass colours . Subsequent boxes had this apart from the last. This box on the inner flap also had " for spare tyres ask for no 1456" which was in reference to the red hub Batmobile that was in this box to start with, so if you have this on your flap and a red tyred car in it, you do not have a genuine red tyred box. Later versions of this box for the red tyred didn't have this in Corgi removed it straight away to avoid complaints. This was included for the red hubs on the inner flap because of a lot of complaints about the tyres splitting, and Corgi gave them replacements free, so to stop losing money they changed the wheels.

"A type" with "For spare tyres ask for no 1456" on bottom right and left inside flap

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.

This box had is the front with 267 on the top left, doesn't have "ROCKET FIRING" to the back top. In inside flap has written on it has CARTON REGISTERED DESIGN No.939584, and more importantly it "patent application No.3396/69" (this is for the ® Whizzwheels).

This B type box was sale with a Bat-Hub car and have the wrong spare tyres info (mistake printing) "For spare tyres ask for no FRONT - 1457 REAR - no 1456" on the flap. Remember, Batmobile have 1456 tyres on front and rear! The 1457 is for the trailer’s Batboat.

Wrong spare tyres info : "For spare tyres ask for no FRONT - 1457 REAR - no 1456"

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

Wrong spare tyres info : "For spare tyres ask for no FRONT - 1457 REAR - no 1456"

For the Corgi Toys 270 James Bond Aston Martin DB5, in 1969 the blister packaging was replaced with a window box of the similar Type 2 Batmobile’s boxes. There were two variations, although very slight: the first had Playcraft’s name printed on the reverse which was in a later release was altered to Mettoy-Playcraft.

But the B type has a mistake printing!!! This B type box have the wrong spare tyres info "For spare tyres ask for no FRONT - 1457 REAR - no 1456" on the flap. Remember, Batmobile have 1456 tyres on front and rear! The 1457 is for the trailer’s Batboat.

The Aston Martin yellow boxes A type come from 1969 to sometime from July 1970 to late 1971.
The Aston Martin yellow boxes B type was introduced sometime from July 1970 to late 1971.

The first had Playcraft’s name printed on the reverse,
no "270" on the upper left front and no spare tyres info.

The second had Mettoy-Playcraft name printed on the reverse and "270" on the upper left front

The second had Mettoy-Playcraft name printed on the reverse and "270" on the upper left front
and wrong spare tyres info "For spare tyres ask for no FRONT - 1457 REAR - no 1456" on the flap.

Why they are "FOR SPARE TYRES ASK FOR - FRONT - N°1457 REAR - N°1456" printed on the inside flap ?

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

With the 1972 releases the size of this number was reduced, as can be seen on the James Bond Mach 1 Mustang from February 1972.

The yellow/blue box for Red Tyres had is the front with 267 on the top left, doesn't have the spare tyres info. Doesn't have "ROCKET FIRING" to the back top and some word are different. In inside flap has written on it has CARTON REGISTERED DESIGN No.939584, and more importantly it "patent application No.3396/69" (this is for the ® Whizzwheels). This is written on the inner flap on the other side of the box, not the same side that has "secret instructions under platform".

On the box for the red tyres, Corgi removed "For spare tyres ask for no 1456" straight away as there was no way to change the tyres and the implications of this were if someone did buy a red tyred and it had "For spare tyres ask for no 1456" on the flap, then since there was no way to change the tyres Corgi would be obligated to change the car instead, which would have been very very expensive.

As the box was available for 2 years with a red hub in WITH "For spare tyres ask for no 1456", and available for 6 months only with the red tyred WITHOUT "For spare tyres ask for no 1456".

Sellers have invented this crossover (red tyred in a box WITH "For spare tyres ask for no 1456") as there are considerable fewer in existence with the red tyred.

Since the GENUINE box is harder to find, a lot of sellers just say yes it crossed over. NO CHANCE!!!!