Corgi Toys

Mettoy began producing Corgi Toys in 1956, after selecting the Corgi name in 1955. The name referred to the Welsh dog breed and was chosen in part because the models were planned for production in Swansea. Mettoy had been established in Northampton by Philip Ullmann, who had emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1932. Corgi’s first releases, launched on 9 July 1956, were models of British cars, including the Ford Consul, Austin A50 Cambridge, Morris Cowley, Vauxhall Velox, Rover 90, Riley Pathfinder and Hillman Husky.

During the 1960s the range added new materials and licensed subjects. In 1962, Corgi released its first models with injection-moulded plastic interiors, beginning with the Thames Airborne caravan. The Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger featured pop-out machine guns, a rear bulletproof shield and a functioning ejector seat. Mettoy also developed Corgi Classics for adult collectors. In 1970, Corgi introduced Whizzwheels, a range with low-friction wheels.

Corgi introduced electrostatic painting at its Swansea factory during the 1980s. Mattel acquired the Corgi brand in 1989, and production moved to China in 1990. Corgi became independent again in 1995 as Corgi Classics Limited, with headquarters in Leicester. Zindart International acquired the company in 1999, expanded its ranges to include aircraft and buses, and later took the name Corgi International. Hornby Hobbies acquired Corgi in 2008. Later developments included the Chunkies preschool vehicle line and LiDAR scanning in product development. Recent ranges have included a reissue of the Goldfinger DB5 and a 1:12-scale Triumph Scrambler 1200 motorcycle.