Diecast restoration Corgi Rolls-Royce Corniche

[johnlambert]

This was a little project I've had on the go for the last year.  It is a Corgi Rolls-Royce Corniche that was either an eBay or car boot sale cheap buy; I think I wanted one when I was younger but never got my hands on one.  I was inspired by various YouTube diecast restorations.

 

A couple of before photos.

 

 

And after.  I wasn't sure I could match the metallic paint, so I went for solid Vauxhall burgundy, which I rather like.  It took a while to get a good finish but some micromesh and polishing compound (not at the same time) brought it up lovely.  I also managed to fill and rebuild the front number plate and driving lamp.

 

 

 

I wasn't keen on the original interior colour, so I changed that with some enamel paint, chrome detailing was added with Molotow pen except for the wheel centres, which are silver sharpie.

[Vince1159]

Fantastic restoration,nice job....

[CliffB]

That's very nice John 

 

 

[fightersweep]

Lovely job on restoring this beauty. I've watched a fair few of these Youtube videos, and it's all very inspiring. Did you use self tapping screws to reseal the car?

 

Didn't own this one either, but it was on the wants list. There were so many cool cars to choose from with limited pocket money. I think the last diecast I ever got before growing out of the toys was the Corgi Matra Rancho and a Ford Escort. Apart from the Hot Wheels I see in some shops, are diecast cars still a thing for kids these days? A shame if not, but then why push a car around the carpet when you can practically drive it for real on a Playstation!

 

Steve

[johnlambert]

Thanks for the comments and "likes" everyone.

 

1 hour ago, fightersweep said:

Lovely job on restoring this beauty. I've watched a fair few of these Youtube videos, and it's all very inspiring. Did you use self tapping screws to reseal the car?

 

Didn't own this one either, but it was on the wants list. There were so many cool cars to choose from with limited pocket money. I think the last diecast I ever got before growing out of the toys was the Corgi Matra Rancho and a Ford Escort. Apart from the Hot Wheels I see in some shops, are diecast cars still a thing for kids these days? A shame if not, but then why push a car around the carpet when you can practically drive it for real on a Playstation!

 

Steve

Steve, I drilled and tapped the holes to take allen-headed bolts rather than relying on self-tapping screws.

 

I remember the Corgi Matra Rancho; I think I have the smaller Corgi Junior version, they both had an opening split tailgate as I recall?

 

I don't think diecast toy cars are really a thing at all for children, which is why it's pretty much Hotwheels or nothing (I've seen Matchbox in Tesco but nowhere else).  Although the cheap (but sometimes quite nice) "pull-back and go" cars that are sold in the car museum where I volunteer seem to be quite popular.

[fightersweep]

@johnlambert

 

Thanks for the reply and the info about re-fixing the car. Duly noted!

 

Yes! The Matra Rancho had a split tail gate, and I think both the full size and Junior had that feature. I had the larger model that came with a trailer and two racing bikes. Loved it! Have been eyeing one up on eBay as it's one of the few missing from my mid life crisis collection of ten years back....oh that and the Professionals Capri. Might need to re-mortgage for that one. Got three of the Escorts though. One in a Ford promo box that I'm quite fond of. Interesting as Corgi gave it a more detailed paint job than the regular toy with chrome strips and other stuff that didn't make it to the toy shop shelves.

 

A shame that only really Hot Wheels are out there now. Sad to think that almost any vehicle could be bought back in the day. I grew up mainly in the 70s, and the choice was breath taking then with all the Corgi, Dinky, Matchbox, Majorette etc...and other oddities such as a Barlux Fiat Campagnola and caravan (possibly 1/18th scale) in strangely odd military markings that I got one birthday. Even back then I decided that a two birth caravan probably wouldn't survive battlefield conditions very well!

 

Steve

[roymattblack]

Well done in rescuing that lovely old model.

I'm a great fan of restoring old Corgi and Dinky toys. I've done quite a few myself.

Regarding getting that metallic finish... I did a little Corgi NSU Sport Prinz a while back which was a similar colour.

I sprayed the body Halfords chrome, left it a few days then gave it a coat of Tamiya clear red. It worked quite well.

I'll see if I can get a pic and post it.

 

Re: nobody makes decent little cars any longer - have a look at Autoworld on Amazon.
I've bought quite a few. They really are amazing for something quite small:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=auto+world+1%2F64&adgrpid=53589317472&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqeX51J3f6gIVE9d3Ch0xNQ1_EAAYASAAEgJ5jfD_BwE&hvadid=259088772374&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9045076&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16529450998135884156&hvtargid=kwd-309482607309&hydadcr=14878_1829176&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_7sokmnwsi5_e

 

Also, M2 Machines:

 

http://www.m2machines.com/products.html

 

Keep 'em coming. I love these old toys.

Edited July 21, 2020 by roymattblack

[fatfingers]

Great restoration. I've got one of those in silver at my parents that my great Nephew likes to play with when he visits. Its a bit battered but still runs well! (The car that is, not my Nephew! 😉)

 

Regards,

 

Steve

[johnlambert]

Thanks guys.  I've got a few Matchbox, Dinky and Corgi toy cars in the queue for restoration so I'm sure there will be more posts like this when the time comes.

 

@roymattblack funnily enough I've sprayed a number of plastic spoons with silver paint today, in preparation to over spray with various clear colours to see how they turn out.

 

And I've picked up a couple of little diecast cars like the Autoworld ones, when I've seen them at car shows; they are by Greenlight and both are 1968 Plymouth GTXs (different colour and trim).

[Natter]

I'm another one who has seen, and been impressed by, the videos so it's great to see such a lovely restoration on this forum.