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This model is the Corgi 463-A-3 Commer Ambulance in White. This is the version with the removable rear.
There are no opening parts. The exterior is painted white with the headlights, grille, badge, and bumpers picked out in silver. The rear lights are picked out in red. The bumpers and all other features are cast into the body, including the Commer emblem/name badge above the top of the radiator grille. It also carries a water-slide decal on the sides that reads "AMBULANCE" in red lettering.
The interior is a red vac-formed insert into which a silver/grey plastic steering wheel has been fitted. The glazing is clear plastic in the cab area and blue plastic in the rear which also doubles as the blue exterior roof light.
All wheels are of the "shaped" type - spun, polished wheel hubs with separate "rubber" tyres on steel axles.
The base plate is grey painted metal and is marked in the centre with "CORGI TOYS" at the centre top, Commer on the second line, "3/4 Ton" on the third line, "CHASSIS" on the fourth line and "PATENT APPLICATION 21101/59" on the fifth line, and "Made in GT Britain" on the sixth line. Behind the front axle is the small locking screw that holds the rear body to the main body casting. The base is held in place with a single rivet at the rear and two body locating tabs at the front.
This model was issued between February 1964 and 1966 and 213,000 were sold. The scale was stated to be 1:45.
Item: 3638
This model is the Corgi 463-A-3 Commer Ambulance in White. This is the version with the removable rear and is a complete rebuild done by Vic Sherstone of Christchurch (NZ).
| Vic was a member of the New Zealand Model Vehicle Club Inc. (NZMVC) and was well regarded as a master rebuilder of old Dinky and Corgi toys. He once told me the tale of how he purchased 10,000 aircraft rivets, hired time on a lathe, and turned them all down so they were the proper size to be used when rebuilding Dinky and Corgi toys! I was privileged to visit him several times and view his workshop and current projects. He gave me several tips on how to disassemble toys properly, what sizes of components to use when restoring items, and how, and where, to get computer matched paints in New Zealand (at a time when this was NOT common). |
There are no opening parts. The exterior is painted white (which over time appears to have turned a creamy white colour in contrast to the rear removable unit which has remained a crisp white) with the headlights, grille, badge, and bumpers picked out in silver. The rear lights are picked out in red. The bumpers and all other features are cast into the body, including the Commer emblem/name badge above the top of the radiator grille. It also carries a water-slide decal on the sides that reads "AMBULANCE" in red lettering.
The interior is a red vac-formed insert into which a right hand drive, silver/grey plastic steering wheel has been fitted. The glazing is clear plastic in the cab area and blue plastic in the rear which also doubles as the blue exterior roof light.
All wheels are of the "shaped" type - spun, polished wheel hubs with separate "rubber" tyres on steel axles.
The base plate is grey painted metal and is marked in the centre with "CORGI TOYS" at the centre top, Commer on the second line, "3/4 Ton" on the third line, "CHASSIS" on the fourth line and "PATENT APPLICATION 21101/59" on the fifth line, and "Made in GT Britain" on the sixth line. Behind the front axle is the small locking screw that holds the rear body to the main body casting. The base is held in place with a single rivet at the rear and two body locating tabs at the front.
This model was issued between February 1964 and 1966 and 213,000 were sold. The scale was stated to be 1:45.
Item: 3639