JAMES BOND
FACT FILES

Please note this article is not intended to be the definitive listing of all CORGI James Bond models. Some editions were made exclusively for the overseas market and therefore not generally available in the UK. Models illustrated are not to scale.

2005 marked the 40th Anniversary of the CORGI brand and its association with the James Bond film franchise. The CORGI Aston Martin DB5 had been more or less in continual production in various formats since 1965, although it hadn't actually appeared in a James Bond film since 1997.

Two special limited edition 24-carat gold-plated models were released to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of CORGI and Bond in 2005. The 1:36 scale Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (CC04307) and V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day (CC07505) were each available boxed individually with an original retail price of £19.99 and limited to 12,000 units.

A special gift set containing both cars (CC99171) was also available with a presentation case. This edition was limited to just 5,000 units worldwide and originally retailed at £49.99.

CORGI also issued a 24-carat gold-plated 1:43 scale Rolls-Royce Sedance DeVille in 2005; and although this is the same model that appears in Goldfinger (1964) and as part of the ‘Directors Cut’ range, no mention is made on the packaging that it was a James Bond related release. However, the catalogue number of CC06804 indicates this was a second version of that slightly larger 1:36 scale model. The packaging simply stated that the car was ‘A detailed scale model for the adult collector’. Limited to 5,000 units worldwide the model came with the usual numbered certificate of authenticity.

In 2006, as an alternative to its gold-plated editions, CORGI released a set of eight chrome-plated James Bond models housed in an embossed 007 logo custom metal flight case. The collection was limited to just 2,520 units worldwide and came with the usual numbered certificate of authenticity. Each chrome die-cast 1:36 scale model had its own description card. The eight models were: Aston Martin DB5 & Aston Martin DBS Casino Royale (2006), Jaguar XKR & Aston Martin V12 Vanquish Die Another Day (2002), BMW Z3 GoldenEye (1995), Lotus Esprit Submarine The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Aston Martin DB5 Thunderball (1965) and Rolls-Royce Sedance DeVille Goldfinger (1964).

The chrome Thunderball Aston Martin DB5 (CC04306) with working ejector seat and opening roof, rear bullet-proof screen, and retractable front overriders & machine guns was issued separately in 2007, along with the chrome Lotus Esprit (CC04512) featuring retractable fins and firing missiles

With the release of a new film based on Ian Fleming's original James Bond novel in 2006 a new actor in the lead role, CORGI pulled out all the stops and issued several different tie-in editions of the classic Aston Martin DB5 and latest model DBS. Released as 1:36 scale versions as part of the ‘Directors Cut’ series, the DB5 and DBS took their place alongside the 10 highly-detailed earlier editions of classic vehicles which were repackaged but retained their original catalogue numbers. These models were identical to the 2003 release in every other respect. The new version of the Aston Martin DB5 did not include any of the special features seen on CORGI's models for the past 40 years. As Casino Royale (2006) was effectively an origin story and dispensed with all the trappings associated with the James Bond character, the slate had been wiped clean and CORGI matched their model to that seen in the film. The only working features on the new model were opening doors. The car was now a left-hand drive model with the new Bahamian number plate seen in Casino Royale, and included a figure of Bond in the driving seat.

Directors Cut Editions
• CC04309 1:36 scale Aston Martin DB5 Casino Royale (2006) & Bond figure
• CC03801 1:36 Aston Martin DBS Casino Royale (2006) & Bond figure
• CC99193 Two cars in film canister with Cartamundi^© playing cards
• CC99194 Two cars in silver briefcase with Cartamundi^© playing cards & poker chips [5,000 units]
• CC99195 Two cars in mahogany wooden box with Cartamundi^© poker plaque [300 units]

Twisterz Editions
• TY93528 Aston Martin DBS
• TY93529 Aston Martin DB5
• TY93527 Twist 'n Race Single Tube Launcher with Aston Martin DBS

Showcase Editions
• TY95303 1:50 scale Aston Martin DB5
• TY96701 1:50 scale Aston Martin DBS
• TY95905 2-car Casino Royale set (2006) Aston Martin DB5 & DBS + 2 hand-painted figures

The two Casino Royale models were also released two in special limited edition sets. The first contained the two cars and a Cartamundi^© poker plaque housed in a mahogany wooden box and was limited to just 300 units worldwide, with an original retail price of £249.99. A slightly more affordable briefcase edition included Cartamundi^© silver-edged playing cards & poker chips, this time limited to 3,000 units and retailing at £49.99.

A metal film canister edition containing the two Casino Royale models was also available at £27.99 and included a pack of standard Cartamundi^© playing cards. Early publicity for this edition showed the prototype versions of the two cars, and the film canister released in 2002 with a generic James Bond silhouette in the lid. The actual Casino Royale film canister (CC99193) used the Daniel Craig silhouette featured on later packaging.

CORGI also included the two Casino Royale Aston Martin's in their new ‘Twisterz’ range. These smaller cars had oversized wheels and were designed to be launched onto a racetrack by the ‘Twist 'n Race Launcher’. The ‘Twisterz’ range was similar to the CORGI ‘Rockets’ models popular throughout the 1970s. The added gimmick this time around was that each car could be twisted into two pieces and rejoined with another from the range to create a hybrid racing car!

Also-reissued in new packaging were the eight 1:50 scale models originally released in the ‘Data Cards’ series in 2003. New smaller versions of the Aston Martin DB5 and DBS models from Casino Royale priced at £2.99 joined ‘Showcase’ series with new packaging which included a rotating question & answer trivia game as part of the blister pack. The Casino Royale cars came in red packaging with the eight reissues in blue. A special £6.99 twin-pack containing the two Casino Royale Aston Martin's was also available including two hand painted figures of James Bond and Vesper Lynd (similar to the Goldfinger and Die Another Day twin-packs from 2003).

Following the numerous editions to tie-in with the hugely popular release of Daniel Craig's debut as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006), CORGI next issued three ‘Era Sets’ each containing two cars from the tenure of three James Bond actors. Each set came with the ubiquitous numbered certificate of authenticity and a colour booklet about Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan's portayal of James Bond.

Era Sets 2007 - Limited Edition of 1,500 units
• CC93989 A model history 1965-2007 Aston Martin DB5's Goldfinger & Casino Royale
• CC93990 Sean Connery Era Set - Aston Martin DB5 & Rolls-Royce Sedance DeVille
• CC93991 Roger Moore Era Set - Lotus Esprit Submarine & Lotus Esprit Turbo
• CC93992 Pierce Brosnan Era Set - Aston Martin V12 Vanquish & Jaguar XKR

Era Sets 2009 - Limited Edition of 2,500 units*
• CC93984 Sean Connery Era Set - Aston Martin DB5 & Rolls-Royce Sedance DeVille
• CC93985 Roger Moore Era Set - Lotus Esprit Submarine & Lotus Esprit Turbo
• CC93986 Pierce Brosnan Era Set - Aston Martin V12 Vanquish & Jaguar XKR
• CC93983 Daniel Craig Era Set - Aston Martin DB5 & Aston Martin DBS [^*3,000 units]
• This set also included two miniature reproduction movie poster art cards
 

Each ‘Era’ set was limited to just 1,500 units and a fourth film canister set collected the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964) with the left-hand drive version from Casino Royale (2006). The cars in the sets were essentially the same 1:36 scale versions previously released as part of the ‘Directors Cut’ range. The three actor sets were reissued in 2009 in new packaging and now retailed at £34.99. A new Daniel Craig era set released simultaneously contained the Aston Martin DB5 from Casino Royale (2006) and Aston Martin DBS from Quantum of Solace (2008). This set was limited to 3,000 units and also included two miniature reproduction movie poster art cards from the two films.

In 2008 CORGI Classics had been bought by the international models and collectibles group HORNBY, although the CORGI brand name was retained. All 10 models in the 1:50 scale range were reissued again in 2009 in new generic dark-blue packaging, this time dropping the trivia game element. The latest range now included an Aston Martin DBS with a darker paint scheme to tie-in with the release of Quantum of Solace (2008).

A four-piece collection (TY99296) was also released in 2009 containing the 1:50 scale ‘Showcase’ editions of the 1937 Rolls-Royce Sedance DeVille & Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger; and Jaguar XKR & Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day.

The 1:36 scale version Aston Martin DBS (below right) was issued in 2009 with the new blue gun barrel style packaging and a Quantum of Solace logo, and the ‘Directors Cut’ Casino Royale DBS reissued to match. Essentially the 2009 edition was a slightly re-tooled version of the Casino Royale DBS (CC03801) with a different number plate.

2012 marked the 50th Anniversary of James Bond in the cinema and the return of the classic Aston Martin DB5 in Skyfall. Naturally CORGI issued a 1:36 scale tie-in edition which now returned the model to a right-hand-drive version, but the only special features were opening doors, although an ejector seat is alluded to in the film, it is never seen. This retooled version also restored the original BMT 216A number plate, had photo-etched windscreen wipers, and included a figure of James Bond in the driver's seat.

Demand for the new model was very high, and although due to be available in August 2012 to tie-in with the November release of Skyfall, HORNBY could not supply collectors until after the Christmas peak selling period.

2014 marked the 50th Anniversary of the third James Bond film Goldfinger which introduced the iconic Aston Martin DB5. Never ones to miss a sales opportunity Hornby (under the CORGI brand name) issued a 1:43 scale anniversary edition of the original DB5 toy which won the ‘Toy of the Year’ award in 1965. Two versions of the model were released in retro-styled packaging; a silver edition matching the film version, and a limited edition gold version which replicated that seen on the first release of the CORGI toy in 1965. Once again, demand was high and HORNBY were unable to fulfil orders until a month after the planned January 2015 release. The gold version was produced in much smaller quantities and sold out almost immediately. There was a second issue of both models in 2015. 

Both versions of the car had the special features seen on earlier editions of the CORGI model with the exception of tyre-slashers. The first issue boxes had a sticker which also tied the model in with the 50th Anniversary of Goldfinger (1964).

For the 50th Anniversary of Thunderball (1965) the identical models were issued yet again in revised packaging, this time the silver version was limited to 25,000 units and the gold version 5,000 units worldwide.

With the release of Spectre in 2015, HORNBY/CORGI released an Aston Martin DB10 as seen in the Rome car chase. Curiously Hinx's Jaguar C-X75 was not issued alongside the new Aston Martin, instead the DB5 seen briefly at the end of the film was made available again in a twin-pack with the DB10 (which was also available individually), but this time without the James Bond figure in the driving seat.

Since the last new model was issued in 2015, several CORGI James Bond vehicles have been repackaged and given a new catalogue number, although they are all essentially the same 1:36 scale versions already available in their original packaging. The models were then housed in generic slip-cased boxes similar to the Goldfinger & Thunderball 50th Anniversary editions, with current versions packaged in a rigid fold-up black box featuring Maurice Binder's gun barrel logo and bearing the film title and model name.

Beginning with the release of the first 007 model in 1965, CORGI has issued in excess of 250 different editions of James Bond related vehicles, over 50 of which have been of the classic Aston Martin DB5. The tradition continues with No Time To Die (2021), giving CORGI the opportunity to once again reinterpret the Aston Martin DB5 and Vantage V8 models; both making a reappearance in the latest James Bond film.

In addition to the cars of No Time To Die, CORGI also announced a 1:24 scale model of Primo's Triumph Scrambler 1200 Motorcycle seen in the film (pictured above). Due to be issued in October 2021 to coincide with the eventual debut of the film in cinemas, the model was subsequently cancelled and a new 1:12 scale version was released in late 2022.

In late 2021 CORGI released the Aston Martin once again (RT26101), with the model featuring rotating number plates, a retractable bullet proof rear shield, extending front over-riders, pop out machine guns, and, of course, a functioning passenger ejector seat. This new version of the all-time classic model is presented in original replica packaging seen on the very first CORGI No. 261 release from 1965, including a set of instructions hidden in a secret compartment. Both an iconic car and an iconic toy, the new 60s James Bond DB5 from Goldfinger claims to be the most exacting replica of the original classic available. However, CORGI's advertising was somewhat misleading as the original 261 edition from 1965 did not have revolving number plates - these would not appear until the 270 version from 1968, which was the first model with the authentic silver livery as seen in the film series.

Not to be outdone, the CORGI Model Club (manufacturer of official licensed CORGI Toys) announced their own release of the classic Aston Martin DB5, issued in June 2022. Claiming to be a more authentic replica of the original CORGI 261, this 1:46 scale edition is colour matched to the unique gilded livery of the 1965 toy, and it also comes complete with those all-important working James Bond gadgets that collectors know and love: Opening Roof and working spring loaded ejector seat for dispatching any unwanted baddies, retractable machine guns for shooting at rogue enemy spies, telescopic bumper over-riders to force SMERSH operatives off the road, and working pop-up rear bullet proof metal screen. Missing from this edition are the revolving number plates and red plastic tyre-slashers which were only introduced on the 1968 270 retooled edition.

The CORGI Model Club edition of the iconic James Bond Aston Martin DB5 won ‘Gift of the Year’ in the Commemorative, Collectable and Charitable category at the 2023 awards held at The Royal Lancaster Hotel.

The most famous CORGI model of them all returns in 2024 in a brand-new release to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the iconic James Bond film Goldfinger (1964). First released in 1965, this classic toy is the biggest selling die-cast car of all time. This is a newly tooled version of the classic 261 Aston Martin DB5, featuring all the legendary action features of the original, including the working ejector seat, pop up rear bullet shield and spring out over-riders and machine guns.

For 2024, the 261 arrives in the iconic Silver Birch paint finish of the real car for the first time ever!

CORGI have also announced for Spring 2024 a die-cast model of the Q Glider seen in No Time To Die (2021). While not a real aircraft, the Q Glider was created as a full-size physical prop with an opening canopy by the No Time To Die production team for use on set. The glider prop was used onboard a real Royal Air Force C-17A Globemaster at RAF Brize Norton, and in a water tank set built at Pinewood Studios to create the interior submarine pen at Safin's (Rami Malek) Poisoned Garden. Visuals of the glider deploying from the Globemaster were created using Computer Generated Imagery.

CORGI's Aston Martin DB5 began life in 1965 as a simple children's toy designed to be played with, and the original Sixties models have since become valued collector's items, and each new iteration is now displayed mint-in-box as part of an ever-growing collection of James Bond models aimed at a more adult market. And the legacy continues...

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