Metalbox: Corgi made in Hungary (1990s) |
After the first "non Socialst" diecast firm in Hungary - Siku - the second diecast manufacturer at this time in Hungary was the British Corgi (Corgi Toys Limited). The Corgi Toys Ltd. wanted to get a contract in 1986 with a Hungarian based diecast manufacturing company - Metalbox GMK - who able to set up in business (made, sell and distribute these cars) oneself without any supervising. (The GMK had a very special co-company form in the socialist era in Hungary) After the first contact the deal and the agreement was signing of within a short time. The machinery came directly from UK. The transfer and installation of the these manufacturing machinery was finished an unusually short period of time. Meanwhile the training of the workers has been completed also. After obtaining authorization from Hungarian Ministry of Trading - (in Hungarian = KERMI - Kereskedelmi Minisztérium) Licence Nr.: KERMI 133-10190/87 - the manufacturing of the Corgi diecast toy in Hungary started in the April of 1987.
The Corgi sell and take over the executive distribution rights to the Metalbox GMK manufacturing company relation with these Hungarian made models. According these contract the Metalbox GMK is authorised to sell their products only the Socialist and the domestic market. After all lot of product had been exported to "West region" Austria and West-Germany. Unfortunately, the contract was not long-lived, because the Metalbox GMK had some issue in relation with raw material, machinery and working council. So the Corgi Ltd eventually broke the contract with Metalbox GMK. in 1988. The production was finished in November of 1988. All stockpiled parts and almost all UK based tooling being returned to back to the Corgi ltd in same year.
You
can see the following text on all of the Hungarian made Corgi's blister pack:
Eredeti angol szerszámokkal gyártja és forgalmazza: METALBOX
GMK. that is mean: Original English tools mint and distribute the METALBOX
GMK.
The address of Metalbox GMK, Sze'pvölgyi u't 145, is a big garden
with a big house. It is an elite part of the city and the opposite of an industrial
estate. About 2 years ago I rang the bell at this address and the man who
spoke through the intercom told me he has been living there for a long time
and there was no production of model cars. I told him that I have a Yugo with
his address on the blister, but he kept denying.
Who knows more? Please answers! Jeroen BAKKER
Well, The Szepvolgy ut 145 was the office block of the "Metalbox GMK" between 1983-1989 only, because the owner of the Metalbox Istvan Marosi live here and their firm registered at same adress as well.
You can buy these Hungarian made Corgi's from Breki on Ebay.
Corgi Juniors Healer Wheeler
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light blue interior, light blue dome light, dbl spoke, "Ambulance" labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, light blue dome light, dbl spoke, "Ambulance" labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, light blue dome light, 5 spoke, "Ambulance" labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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medium blue interior, medium blue dome light, 5 spoke, red cross labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
Corgi
Juniors 36 : White, black plastic GB base, CORGI JUNIORS, purple windows,
light blue interior, purple dome light, dbl spoke, "Ambulance" labels
Corgi
Juniors 36 : White, black plastic GB base, CORGI JUNIORS, blue windows,
transparent blue interior, blue dome light, dbl spoke, "Ambulance"
labels
Corgi
Juniors 36 : White, black plastic GB base, CORGI JUNIORS, blue windows,
no interior, light blue dome light, dbl spoke, "Ambulance" labels
Metalbox Healer Wheeler
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and DC COMICS INC 1979 copyright from BATMAN !!!
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no interior, medium blue dome light, 4 division, red cross on hood
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, medium blue dome light, 4 division, "Ambulance"
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, medium blue dome light, 4 division, "3" on hood
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, medium blue dome light, 4 division, no graphics
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, medium blue dome light, 4 division, "Police" & blue stripes
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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medium blue windows, no interior, medium blue dome light, 4 division, "3" on hood
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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Kiko: Corgi made in Brazil (1980s) |
These models were produced by A Kikoler Com Ind De Plasticos S.A. in Brazil from Moulds supplied by Corgi. In the 1980's Brazil had high tariffs on goods such as toys , so it was very expensive to import them , as a result parts and moulds were transferred from the UK and models were assembled in Brazil, many of the KIKO models have odd looking wheels and most have revised baseplates.
Kiko Healer Wheeler
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no interior, red dome light, 5 spoke, "Ambulance" labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, amber dome light, 5 spoke, "Fire Dept FD 766" labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, smoke dome light, 5 spoke, "Fire Dept FD 766" tampo print
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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(photos:
http://www.home.railscene.com/garyscars/corgi/cjhun/index.htm)
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or
“IND BRAS” and “KIKO” on black plastic
(photos: http://www.home.railscene.com/garyscars/corgi/cjhun/index.htm)
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no interior, blue dome light, 5 spoke, "Police PD 8" labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, smoke dome light, 5 spoke, "Police PD 8" tampo print
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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no interior, red dome light, 5 spoke, "Police PD 8" labels
(photos: www.publicsafetydiecast.com)
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(photos: http://www.home.railscene.com/garyscars/corgi/cjhun/index.htm)
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(photos: http://www.home.railscene.com/garyscars/corgi/cjhun/index.htm)
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no interior, black dome light, 5 spoke, "Cebolinha” labels with cartoon child doctor on hood and sides
(from Gift Set 3030 MÔNICA Set)
(photos: http://www.home.railscene.com/garyscars/corgi/cjhun/index.htm)
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