History of the 270 and its earlier smaller brother, the 261.

Should you wish to know a little bit about this cars development please read on.

The Corgi 261 and 270:

The 261 was THE car that propelled Corgi into becoming the dominant force in the diecast toy market in the late 60's and 70's. It was released in October 1965 and was an outright smash hit with the children of the day.

Why was it so in demand? Simply, because it was jam packed full of features and was a miniature work of engineering genius. Most diecast cars of this age (particularly Dinky cars) had very few (if any) gimmicks or features. The 261 had an, opening roof, ejector seat, bullet proof rear shield and telescopic overriders. Factor in the ejectable baddie, the accessory pack and 2 stage box and this was THE only toy to have at Christmas 1965.

A casualty of packing in all these features was the spring 'Glidematic' suspension - with plastic suspension being fitted instead. This was a shame as this was a weak point of the 261, and the subsequent 270, with the plastic becoming fragile with age and use resulting in often broken or damaged suspension units.

The DB5 from the film was silver so why did Corgi paint the the 261 gold? This was simply because the silver paint Corgi initially proposed to use looked too much like the Zinc base metal that the car was made from and so it didn't look as though it had been painted. With not enough time to find a suitable paint before the models release date Corgi painted it Gold in reference to the films title.

Corgi obviously wanted to correct this and the 270 was put on the drawing board. Slightly bigger than the 261, the 270 packed in even more features!!! All those from the 261 remained but additionally, the number plates rotated - as per the film - and a pair of 'tyreslashers' were added to the rear wheels.

Initially, the 270 was shipped in a bubble box with a similar instruction envelope, similar baddies and the same lapel badge as the 261. The instruction sheet was different, obviously, also it was red/black/white as opposed to blue/black/white for the 261. The most noteable addition was a set of 9 number plate stickers. Somewhere around 1969/1970, the box was changed to a window box (predominantly coloured blue and yellow - similar to the 1st 267 Batmobile window box). This is one rare beastie as it had a short production run; it was replaced by the darker blue window box.

The instructions changed to black and white around the time of the window box introduction - I'm not sure if any 1st window box cars shipped with colour intructions and would appreciate any thoughts/advice on this. Finally, the lapel badge changed to the 'Luger' style one as used for the 336 Toyota.

Chapter One - The James Bond DB5 Story Begins

My first recollection of James Bond was a birthday treat in the early 1970s to see a re-run of Dr No with my father and a couple of school friends. I don’t recall much of the day, only the sheer excitement and awe of the experience and the final seconds of Dr No, before he slipped beneath the radioactive broth, unable to cease his descent owing to the lack of grip you get from metal hands on metal railings. I was, from that day, hooked on Bond and had as my most favoured toy, a silver die-cast model with more gadgets than you could shake a stick at. This was the Corgi 270, the “New” James Bond Aston Martin DB5. What I did not appreciate at the time was that this model was the second James Bond DB5 that Corgi had produced and that it would turn out to be the most famous car of all time.

This site is dedicated to my formative memory of Bond and that toy car which I rediscovered some 30 years later in a brick-a-brack store at a local market. Co-incidentally this discovery was preceded by a chance visit to the Exeter Toy Fair where I spied upon a silver DB5, which while in mint condition was without its box and still priced up at £45; on further study I noticed the Made in China stamp on the base, pointing to it being a later release and started to think, if only I had kept hold of my childhood model.

Following these unrelated events, the die was cast and whether I liked it or not, the obsessive fire within was lit and my search was on to rediscover the world of Corgi’s James Bond DB5. This is my story, told with the help of those who have followed this path before, of how fine a line it is between a healthy interest and an obsession, a nerd and a geek (a geek by the way knows he is a geek) and that if anything is worth doing it is worth doing to excess! Most importantly, this is the story of Corgi and the James Bond DB5.

Chapter Two - The First Issue 1965 - 1968

The first Corgi Aston Martin DB5 was born out of a meeting held by Eon Productions, owners of the James Bond franchise, in the summer of 1965 to discuss the promotion of their next Bond film, Thunderball. Until now, 007 merchandising had focused, as had the film producers, on the adult audiences but with this 4th Bond film due to feature more gadgets than ever before the potential of appealing to a broader audience and the opportunity to extend merchandising into the then lucrative and untapped toy market was an attraction which could not be missed.

Present at this meeting was Playcraft Toys Ltd, the subsidiary company of Mettoy, responsible for the manufacture of diecast toys. Following this meeting agreement was reached for Playcraft to release the first Corgi Aston Martin DB5 (C261) in October 1965, two months before the release of Thunderball and almost a year after the DB5 first hit the screen and was seen by audiences around the world in Goldfinger.

The model was a instant success and by the end of the year, after only three months, sales were sufficient to earn Playcraft the award of “Best Boys Toy of 1965”.

Although in the films Goldfinger and Thunderball, Bond’s DB5 was silver, the Corgi marketing team felt, when looking at the early prototypes, that customers would think the model was unpainted and a radical decision was reached to release the model painted gold! Whether one of the team also suggested that a gold model would relate better to its film origins is just a wild thought of mine is probably just that, the truth of the matter though, is that the first Corgi James Bond DB5 was gold.

The model was launched at a cost 9s 11d, around 50p in today’s money and a month’s pocket money in 1965, but this did nothing to deter buyers as by the end of 1966, Playcraft had sold a staggering 2.7 million models!

Three designers set about the retooling of the existing DB4, withdrawn from production to make way for the DB5, to completed the DB5 in time for the 1965 Christmas launch. The model was made up of 28 separate parts and it is said that the tooling of this car cost in the region of £45,000. The one error in the first model, only spotted by Aston Martin owners and those with an obsessive eye for detail was that the model passed through quality control with the DB4’s rear end, noticeable by the different light cluster and single petrol cap!

Corgi was perhaps the most innovative die-cast manufacturer of the period, placing its closest rival Dinky in the shade. It was therefore, not surprising, although it was in its day, that Corgi should release a model of such a small scale with so many gadgets. Within the 1:46 scale, 97mm casing, the engineers fitted an ejector seat, front mounted machine guns and bumper rams and a rear bullet-proof screen; all of which were operated by depressing secret buttons and levers secreted around the car, the bullet-proof screen, for instance was raised by pushing in the exhaust pipes.

There was only one version of the C261 produced, although due to the high demand, two castings were actually used in the manufacture and this resulted in two undocumented differences in the models produced, namely: a slight variation in the front wing vent slots and rear light clusters, only noticeable if you have both versions to compare and contrast.

The packaging of the Corgi model was also unsurpassed by Playcraft’s competitors. Its design of an inner sleeve also acting as a display plinth and hidden compartment store for the secret instructions which accompanied the model was unique and a feature repeated on subsequent Corgi releases. The C261 came with two packaging variants: for both the outer boxes were in the traditional blue and yellow colour scheme, but on some of the plinths produced the words “Secret Instructions” were printed within an arrow shape and the exterior of some outer boxes had a thick black line drawn around the words “James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5”.

1965 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 261 - scale 1/43 with box first edition

1965 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 261 - scale 1/43 with box second edition

I never got to see the C261 DB5 in my youth. It was routing around in a box of various diecast models of a small brick-a-brack store at a local market back in April 2008 that I laid eyes on my first C261. It was a battered example, but everything was in working order. I had at the time not known of a metallic gold variant, other than the gold plated limited editions that I had clocked in stores in the 1990s, but this one was different. I noted that the base reported that is was “Made in Gt Britain” so had an inkling it was old, just how old I could not be sure. It was price tagged at £12.50, I offered £10 and the purchase was completed. On returning home, I checked the web, http://www.theoldtoyguide.com. I learned that this piece of worn gold painted metal, fashioned into the shape of a Bond’s DB5 with gadgets a go-go, was a 43 years old C261, the first edition of the Corgi James Bond Aston Martin DB5. I needed to know more. This was point at which my rediscovery turned into an obsession.

Chapter THREE - The NEW One 1968 - 1976

By 1968 the sale of Corgi diecasts was at an all time high. The Bond film of the previous year, You only live twice, had given us a new 007 Corgi in the form of the incredibly detailed Toyota 2000GT. This increase in demand and desire for greater detail led Playcraft to re-launch the James Bond DB5 with even more features.

In February 1968, having sold just short of 4 million models, the C261 was retooled and increased slightly in size to 1:43 scale. The re-launch was completed with the “New” James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (C270) painted this time in silver birch to match the film version and incorporating not only the Q Branch gadgets of the previous model, but also revolving number plates and rear tyre slashers. This was the favoured toy model, I remember having back in the early 1970s as a child.

The packaging was also updated, the carton box was replaced with a plastic blister pack containing the model sitting on a plinth similar to that of the first issue. As before, the plinth contained the “Secret Instructions”, now printed in red and an updated lapel badge, the spare baddie, and a sheet of number plate stickers to affix to the new front & rear revolving number plates. Both Bond and baddie were hand painted and the red interior slightly darker than before. The bumpers and grill were separate castings and the fuel filler caps and rear light clusters now corrected. What a package!

1968 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 270 - scale 1/43

For those with a keen eye, in the transfer from film to model, Playcraft made a couple of number plates changes: while the Swiss plates were correct (LU 6789), the French plates lost the final two digits (62) and the British plates used the James Bond 007 reference (JB 007 GB) rather than the car’s real number plate (BMT 216 A). Very early models came with silver-plated bumpers and front grill but these were very soon changed to gold plate and thus the gilt version is the more common. This model was re-released as a limited edition in 1995, and collectors can easily identify the original by the words “New” and “Made in Great Britain” embossed into the base of the model; indeed, by the time the later version was released, the manufacture of the Corgi diecasts had long been moved to China.

At the time of its release in February 1968, the C270 was on sale for 11/- (55p), by August 1969 it had risen to 11/6 (57p). During 1971 with decimalisation the price became 68p, in 1972 this rose to 69p and by August 1975 the car’s price had risen to £1.15. Putting this all into context, in July 2008, 40 years after it’s release, a MIB blister pack model sold on eBay for the incredible sum of £556.56, that is some return on investment!

The value of the diecast model is increased in later years by virtue of having the box it came in when first purchased. As most children are interested in the toy within rather the box in which it came, few complete models exist beyond the first few days of purchase, thus models with their boxes are highly sought after and attract a higher value. This is simply the law of supply and demand. So what of the boxes and what should the collector be looking for?

In 1970 the blister packaging was replaced with a window box of the similar size and utilised artwork of the original. There were two variations, although very slight: the first had Playcraft’s name printed on the reverse which was in a later release was altered to Mettoy-Playcraft.

1970 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 270 - scale 1/43

The now-familiar blue, yellow and purple striped design, synonymous with the Corgi diecast range, appeared in 1973 together with a slightly larger box. On the reverse of this window box was printed the an advertisement for two other Corgi TV/Film vehicles: The Batmobile and James Bond’s Moonbuggie from Diamonds are Forever. Instructions were now to be found printed on the underside and this was the last time that “Secret Instructions” envelope was provided.

1973 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 270 - scale 1/43

The instructions with this model were printed in either black or blue, and with them were supplied the number plate stickers, lapel badge and the spare baddie. The name Playcraft was dropped from packaging after this issue, returning to the original trading name of Mettoy Ltd

1976 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 270 - scale 1/43 - Without WhizzWheels ???

Chapter FOUR - The Cost Cutting 1976 - 1977

In 1976 the DB5 underwent a third retooling. Although virtually identical to its 1968 predecessor, cost cutting activities meant that this version was released with fixed number plates and no tyre slashers, although it still retained all the gadgets first found on the original 1965 model.

1976 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 270 - scale 1/43 - WhizzWheels

In addition to these changes, the metal spoke wheels and rubber tyres were replaced and moulded plastic took their place with a plated centre giving the appearance of a separate wheel. It is possible that to make space within the chassis for this different wheel design the model also now came sporting flared wheel arches!

The 1976 box contained no “Secret Instructions”, these were now printed on the revers of the box with a photo of the car with all gadgets deployed. The spare baddie was now placed within a hole in the side of the box interior.

This model stayed in production until late 1977 and was the last James Bond DB5 (or at least for the next 20 years) to be made in the 1:43 scale.

Chapter FIVE - The END of the Mettoy 1978 - 1983

By 1977 the majority of Mettoy’s Corgi die-casts were 1:36 scale and if the James Bond DB5 was to stay in production, it needed to fall in line. So the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 was retooled for the 4th time and the C271 was released in May 1978 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) at a cost £3.00. Now 130mm in length, the model also featured the return of the Aston Martin winged badge on the bonnet and the addition of the DB5 badge on the wings and boot.

1978 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 271 - scale 1/36

The quality in this retooling did not leave us with the same standard of model of the previous versions. The machine guns no longer protruded from behind the indicators as in the “real” car, but now popped out from behind the radiator grill. Despite the larger scale, the rear bullet proof screen was thinner than before and activated by pressing the extended sections of rear bumper rather than the exhaust pipes in the earlier model. The front bumper design was different too.

The figures of bond and the baddie had less paint, relying on black and blue coloured plastic to provide colour to their suites while shirts, face & hands were painted. The centre plated wheels were of the then must have four spoke “WhizzWheels” design.

This model stayed in production through many box variations and changes in company ownership until 1990, when production at Swansea ceased and moved to China.

The early models shared the same black/yellow boxes as 1:43 scale model, even down to the mistake of referencing a picture of its predecessor, but had ‘1:36’ printed on the window tag to highlight the change in scale. Later C271 models came in black/yellow boxes omitting the window tag and the final boxes were black/red/yellow.

1978 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 271 - scale 1/36

The model was re-issued again in 1981, identical to the earlier 1978 issue, but the packaging (still depicting the 1:43 scale model) now had the operating features highlighted on the front header card and the instructions on the rear panel. Bond now only had face and hands painted and the baddie, still in blue plastic, devoid of any other colour. Two versions were issued, a red or white interior and dished or 4-spoke wheels.

1981 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 271 - scale 1/36

1981 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 1361 - scale 1/36 & 1/64

In 1983 Mettoy re-boxed the C271 and released its final official James Bond Aston martin DB5. The car, with the same variations as the 1981 model, was unchanged. Bond, for the first time, however, together with the baddie came in unpainted blue plastic. The box had lost its header card, gained a small stand up card stating the title of the model and the secret instructions were now printed on the inside of the box and viewable through the cellophane window. By the end of 1983 Mettoy were in receivership and a buy-out looked to be the only way Corgi could be saved.

1983 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 271 - scale 1/36

Chapter Six - The Corgi Toys 1984 - 1989

In October 1983 Mettoy Company Limited called in the receivers and by March 1984 a management buy-out , led by Mike Rosser, had formed Corgi Toys Limited.

1984 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 271 - scale 1/36

With the contract with Eon effectively terminated on the demise of Mettoy, Corgi Toys had to negotiate the sell off their remaining C271 stocks. Agreement was reached and a new generic “blue” packaging was produced for this purpose. The name “James Bond Aston Martin 271” appeared in small print on the end flaps, and front of the box.

1985 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 271/1 - scale 1/36

Between 1984 and 1990, Corgi produced one final James Bond Aston Martin packaging variation. With no mention of James Bond on the box, this car was coded 271/1 and was the last 007 die-cast to be made in Gt Britain. This car, as with the previous version, had 4-spoke or dished wheels, with the figure of Bond in black and the baddie in light brown, both in unpainted plastic.

In December 1989, the management consortium sold Corgi Toys Limited to the US based toy company Mattel, effectively ending the Gt British manufacture of Corgi toys and its 45 year relationship with Swansea as operations moved to Mattel’s HQ in Leicester and production moved to China.

Chapter Seven - The Mattel Corgi Sales 1989 - 1995

From December 1989, following the management consortium’s sale of Corgi Toys Limited to the US based toy company Mattel, the die-cast operation was allowed to continue as an independent unit under the banner of Corgi Sales Ltd.

Mattel’s first James Bond Aston Martin DB5 made in China, used wheels unlike any used before; they were flat, 16mm in diameter as apposed to the normal 18mm and made the car look squat, low and clumsy. It is possible that they were taken from another model awaiting the correct issue to be manufactured. There was no mention of James Bond on the “blue” box and even the wording “Aston Martin” was printed on clear plastic and placed over the name plate on the front of the box.

By 1991, Corgi Sales Ltd had agreed their James Bond contract and the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (94060) was released as part of a ten vehicle collectors series. The Packaging was one which had not been used before for 007. It was a clear plastic case containing a 007 logo badge printed in black and red on a mirrored finish. The same car was was reissued in 1992 with the logo badge on the left of the car, the 1991 variant had the badge on the right hand side.

1991 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 94060 - scale 1/36 - Badge left

1992 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 94060 - scale 1/36 - Badge right

Manufactured in China, both models came with 7-spoke wheels and a baddie in dark brown plastic. Apart from these changes, the car was identical to that last issued from the Swansea factory.

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the film Goldfinger, Corgi issued their current DB5 model as a gold plated limited edition collector’s item. Released in 1993, a year early, the model sold out before it reached the stores, very few even appearing on the shelves. Its initial retail price of £19.99 almost doubled within 6 weeks of its launch.

1993 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 96445 - scale 1/36 - 30 Th Anniversary Goldfinger

Corgi’s original plan had been to provide the car a brass finish, but due to an early press report stating that the car would be gold-plated, there was no option other than to face possible legal action.

It is rumoured that Corgi had difficulties in the plating process and that only 5,000 were ever completed, however, with my limited certificate stating number 067 out of 7,500 produced how true can this be?

The packaging was the most superior for some time, including a photograph of one of the “real” James Bond DB5s of the ‘60s (taken from the cover of Dave Worrall’s book The Most Famous Car In The World - the complete history of the James Bond DB5”.

Interestingly, Dave Worrall also wrote the brief history which appears on the back of the box too.

The only difference between this and the then current model was that both Bond and the baddie had hand painted hair, face & hands.

The James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (94060) was re-issued again in 1994. It was identical to the 30th Anniversary model, less the gold, and retailed for £6.99.

1994 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 94060 - scale 1/36 - with snow diorama

The box featured a film strip artwork with the Q gadget operations displayed in each frame. The interior artwork depicted a mountain scene as a back drop to the model, reminiscent of Bonds journey tailing Goldfinger through the Alps in the 1964 film.

The back of the box continued with more frame by frame instructions and for the first time on a 007 Corgi, an actual picture of the car from the film.

Chapter Eight - The Corgi Classics 1995 - 2008

In August 1995 Corgi management bought back its independence from Mattel and Corgi Classics Limited was formed. Corgi Classics successfully created a brand that managed to establish itself as the market leader in the adult die-cast collectable market.

In January 1995 it was announced that in the next James Bond film, GoldenEye, Bond would be reunited with his Aston Martin from Goldfinger. Cue a new Corgi variant! Released as part of the Corgi Classics range, the new Aston Martin DB5 (96657) was simply the current model repackaged in a window box featuring GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan as Bond taken from an early film teaser poster. For some reason, however, Corgi printed this picture of Brosnan in reverse!

1995 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 96657 - scale 1/36

The prototype box carried Mattel’s name, which was later changed as when the car was eventually released in December 1995, Corgi were no longer part of Mattel.

1995 was a bumper year for Bond and Corgi fans alike, as not only did they have the DB5 back on the screen but Corgi also decided to reintroduce the original 1:43 scale model as a limited edition in two versions.

The James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (96655) was available in silver, just the same as its 1968 counterpart, complete with tyre slashers and revolving number plates. The detail is good, but not quite as crisp as the 1968 version, the door line mouldings for instance stop short of the top of the door, unlike the original. It has real rubber tyres but does not have the words “Corgi Toys” moulded into them. The front number plate housing is larger than the original and the rear light cluster is painted red, amber & white while the original’s were all red. The base of the car has the words “Made in China” embossed and is silver and not grey as on the original.

1995 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 96655 - scale 1/43

The secret instructions were reproduced and contained within a reproduction envelope just as back in 1968 although they are printed in silver and not red. With the instructions was found a spare baddie but no number plate stickers this time. The number plates were already in place but unlike the 1968 edition, these have remained faithful to the film. The box containing the car was even similar in style to the 1973 issue. The issue was limited to 29,000 pieces world wide and retailed for £19.99 when launched in December 1995. My model pictured above is model number 14,622 of 29,000.

The James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (96656) was the second special edition released in December 1995, as a gold plated version of the silver 96655. It came mounted on a plastic plinth and within a clear plastic display box.

1995 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 96656 - scale 1/43 - Gold plated

This issue was limited to a production run of 19,000 world wide and retailed for £24.99 when launched in December 1995. My model pictured left is model number 12,641 of 19,000.

In 1997 Corgi created a James Bond Collection 007 set of models and the DB5 was included. The Aston Martin DB5 & Oddjob (04201) model was 1:43 scale from the same mould as the 1995 models but was painted in metallic gold similar to the 1965 original rather than the gold plate of later limited editions. The DB5 is accompanied in the collectors box by a 54mm white metal figure of Oddjob, Bond’s adversary from the film Goldfinger.

In 1999 Corgi Classics returned with two releases, these were basically re-release of the 1995 1:36 standard silver model and the 1:43 gold plated special edition. The 1:36 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 was packaged in black and red with as in 1995 a picture of Brosnan as Bond but this time facing the correct way.

The 1:43 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (04202) was released for the 35th Anniversary of Goldfinger, and limited to 6,900 pieces. This differed slightly from the the earlier version, with the outer packaging being green/white/gold and the rear tyre slashers were in black plastic and the baddie was dressed in brown rather than his original blue suit.

1999 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 4202 - scale 1/43 - 35 Th Anniversary Goldfinger

In 2001 the Definitive Collection arrived on the scene with the silver Goldfinger model (04305)

The gold plate 40th Anniversary Edition (CC004307) was released by Corgi in 2005. 12,000 1:36 scale pieces were produced.

Sharing the same detailed diecast mould as the gold variant, Corgi produced a silver model as a special edition for Marks & Spencer. This model was released in a clear plastic display case, similar to that used by Matel in 1991/92, but replacing the badge of that era with a 007 leather key ring.

In 2007 Corgi released the Directors Cut versions of the Thunderball and Casino Royale DB5 models and the Sean Connery Limited Edition Era Set. This latter box set included a 1:36 scale Aston Martin DB5 and the Rolls Royce III Sedance de Ville from the film Goldfinger. Only 1,500 sets were produced worldwide and are a valuable addition to anyone’s collection.

1999 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 04303 - scale 1/36

2002 - Corgi James Bond D.B. 5 - N° 04303 - scale 1/36
British Association of Toy Retailers 50th Anniversary
Presented at the BATR Dinner in January 2000

Chapter NINE - The Hornby Years 2008

On 1st May 2008 Hornby Plc, the international models and collectibles group, acquired Corgi Classics, agreeing to buy the brand, tooling, and intellectual property rights from Corgi International Limited, for £7.5 million.

Hornby planned to build on Corgi's core market of adult male collectors in Britain and attract younger and more international customers.

To celebrate the release of the 22nd James Bond film, in November 2008, Hornby launched its 007 Quantum of Solace Scalextric set, appealing to fans both young and old. The new set contained the stunning, Aston Martin DBS V12 Bond car, ahead of the sleek Alfa Romeo 159 in hot pursuit.

In June 2009, having secured the licensing to continue production of the James Bond models, Corgi released two separate series, the 1:36 scale and the ‘fit the box’. Each having their own section in the July - December 2009 catalogue they featured the most popular vehicles from the James Bond films.

The ‘fit the box’ series, each with a size of around 4 inches, comprised a rerelease in June 2009 of 10 vehicles in a blister pack for £4.99 and a film canister set containing 8 of the 10 models, first released in 2005, costing in 2009 a penny shy of £40. The addition to the set was the Quantum of Solace Aston Martin DBS, TY 96702, which having been retooled from the Casino Royale DBS, did not arrive in shops until the October.

The 1:36 scale complement of 13 models, including the two Aston Martin DB5 variants from Goldfinger CC 04306 and Casino Royale CC 04309, and 4 James Bond Limited Edition Era sets were also scheduled for release in June. Because the Aston Martin DBS, CC 03802, was to receive a completely new and highly detailed interior and seated bond figure, this model did not arrive in stores until early December, but just in time for Christmas!

The 4 James Bond Limited Edition Era sets first seen in 2005, centred on the popular James Bond actors, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and, most recently and new to this collection, Daniel Craig. Each limited edition set came with 2 cars most representative of the movies in which they starred and with a hefty price tag of £34.99.

In these Era sets, Corgi included a set of 4 miniature movie posters in place of the movie booklets which accompanied the 2005 releases. Oddly, rather than the catalogue picturing the Casino Royal version of the DB5 for inclusion in the Daniel Craig set, Corgi paired the Quantum of Solace retooled DBS with the Gold Finger DB5 as included with the Sean Connery set; this was however, corrected on release of the actual models.