This radar truck based on the Karrier Gamecock van was released in 1959 as part of a much larger range of military hardware and vehicles. At this time Corgi had three different missile systems, more probably than NATO. There was the Bloodhound, the Thunderbird and the Corporal - this last being a tactical nuclear device. Lovely.
The van was always cream and can have either four or five orange stripes. The four stripe version getting the better price. It remained in production through 1961 and was available singly or as part of a gift set. It has a couple of features, the rear aerial folds flat and the radar dish can be rotated by means of a knurled knob on the side of the bodywork.
What is really unusual is that the centre probe is still present on the dish.
I suppose it is self-fulfilling in a way that I should get at least some excellent bargains on eBay, a dogged persistence combined with a refusal to pay above certain prices combined with the infinite number of monkeys theory means that when a bargain is there one has a good chance of bagging it. This model is 50 years old near enough, its scarce as hens teeth and in very good condition - look at the base, it has never really been played with. It cost me £11.00 which was a steal.
I can put the Rocket Age gift set together now - we have the RAF Land Rover, Thunderbird Guided Missile on Trolley, RAF Staff Car-Standard Vanguard, Decca Radar Scanner, Karrier Gamecock Radar Van, Bloodhound Guided Missile, Bloodhound Missile Platform, Bloodhound Missile Trolley, yes we've got the whole lot.
