OK, its a warm-over, a new model that is no more than last year's DB4 with a new paint job and racing numbers - gorgeous though isn't it? I watched the Italian Job on telly last night - how could they do that to one of these? However in the scene where Michael Caine collects his DB4 from storage and retrieves a stash of cash from under the bonnet, the bonnet hinges the other way, back to front. How unusual of Corgi on their very first model with an opening bonnet to get it wrong!

The DB4 remains the best looking Aston ever, bar none. Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond can say what they like - none of the later ones come close to the perfect balance and design of this classic and beautiful motor car.

CORGI TOYS

OPENING BONNET WITH DETAILED ENGINE INSIDE

SPRING SUSPENSION

SEATS AND

STEERING WHEEL

A brief note here on racing numbers. The model was released with number 3 on the door. I've seen them with RN1, RN3 and RN7. On the box there is a 17, in the advertising materials I've seen it is 1. van Cleemput says that 3 is correct, and any other number is due to shortages of the correct part on the production line.

Shame mine is such a dog, I'll really have to get a decent one of these, Chris Davidson's mint in box example below shows just how rough mine is. It will get cleaned and missing jewels replaced as part of my general re-photo project, but a dog it will remain. On the right is one from my own childhood toybox. I don't take full responsibility for the state of this toy. It was passed down to me by my older brothers already missing the headlamp jewels and with the curious bonnet hinge injury. I do plead guilty to the hideous brown paint though and I guess the stickers (GB and tax disc) must have been me too as only I had those.

It is actually later than all the other DB4s that I have, the engine is a single casting with the body, all my others have it is a separate piece, which is the earlier style.