View Full Version : Lesney 1970 Catalog artwork


SMS88
03-29-2009, 04:46 AM
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/Morris%20Marina%20TC/2009-Mar.jpg
I have been enjoying and contemplating this wonderful artwork :wave:

Here is the cover of the 1970 Lesney catalog which was produced late in 1969 or perhaps early 1970 featuring wonderful G box artwork and the earliest transitional Superfast.
Studying this cars on the cover, these are mostly artists drawing of the real 1:1 cars rather than the Lesney casting.
Aside from the DAF container truck & YY,these are most but not all of the earliest new castings initially released with superfast wheels.The 52 Charger,68 Porsche and 5 Lotus were already finalised when this catalog was issued but the 29 Mini,54 Capri,30 Buggy and 34 F1 racer were to be distorted somewhat to enable them to perform on the track sets. But the orange car to the far left, the Mercedes C111, never made it to release in the 1-75 series.If it had done,it would have looked something like this:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/Morris%20Marina%20TC/2009-Mar008.jpg
The Mercedes C111 joined the Kings range as K30, and unlike the 5 previous cars to join the Kings range (K21-24,26), did not appear in 1-75 (no.62,70,73,33 and 3).
Lesney had the initial policy of making larger models of the 1-75 series, and it is reasonable to deduce that when this artwork was drawn,the C111 was already chosen.However, Corgi issued a smallscale 1/60 C111 with opening rear hood in 1970 and given that Lesney never did issue any model already cast by their Corgi Rockets /Juniors competition this may explain the artwork and non appearance
The smallscale issue of the K22 Dodge Charger was much later in 1971 than the K21/K23/K24 and when it did appear it was as an unstretched Funny Car - perhaps its just a pipe dream to consider that before the concept 52 Dodge Charger III was made, the small scale K22 Charger had been planned for release as a late regular wheel with the chrome hubs and separate tyres...and following Hotwheels springing the speed surprise, the part finished project was shelved until the Funnycar idea came up....
what do other collectors think???
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/Morris%20Marina%20TC/2009-Mar007.jpg

Lummox
03-29-2009, 01:20 PM
Interesting theory and probably excatly true.
I'd be interested to hear what the Mountain might have to say about this.

Too bad there wasn't ever a 1-75 Lesney C-111 because the proportions on that little Corgi
looks horrible. Even the '70s Hot Wheels C-111 is better than that. The HW C-111 even has opening gwd's!!! (gull wing doors :))

SMS88
03-29-2009, 06:46 PM
Interesting theory and probably excatly true.
I'd be interested to hear what the Mountain might have to say about this.

Too bad there wasn't ever a 1-75 Lesney C-111 because the proportions on that little Corgi
looks horrible. Even the '70s Hot Wheels C-111 is better than that. The HW C-111 even has opening gwd's!!! (gull wing doors :))

Have you seen the K30??? Lesney didnt get it right either unfortunately......
A year or so ago I saw a 1:1 C111 at a design exhibition,and the 1/43 castings from Corgi,Solido and Pilen got the shape right, and this little yellow car here also has it right unlike the portly Rocket! Can any expert correctly name the brand behind my yellow car???? Its a toughie for me and the sole item I have with this logo on the baseplate.....
If the weather is good in Mountainīs part of the USA we may not get anymore posts from him until next winter.........