DIE-CAST SCALE MODEL        page last updated: 24 October 2011

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THE GREEN HORNET'S 'BLACK BEAUTY'

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It's based on a Chrysler Imperial. If you compare the pictures of the Corgi Imperial there are definite similarities. That aside - isn't this a horrible thing? The eBay auction said 'all buttons ok, tyre missing and some bits from front operating things but otherwise fair' I don't call that a description of what we are looking at here... I don't know what 'all buttons OK' means but it's not this. The boot mechanism appears to be working, but obviously no spinners are present, however the entire front firing mechanism including the grille, the bumpers and one headlight are missing! It's a filthy wreck! 'Otherwise fair' obviously includes burning a hole in the windscreen.

I think you can buy all the bits so I may have a go at restoring this one - and I only paid £2.60 for it so what do I expect?

"BLACK BEAUTY" CRIME FIGHTING CAR

SECRET BUILT IN MISSILE LAUNCHER AND FLYING RADAR SCANNER

There are quite a lot of features on this car; missiles fire from behind the grille, spinners launch from the boot and a man shoots from the rear window. It was popular in it's time too; Corgi did well to sell 800,000 cars for a TV tie-in where the TV show was not shown in the UK. Good going Corgi.

The car was in the range from 1967 to 1972. Look carefully at the wheels on these. It comes with either spun hubs or cast detailed hubs and this makes a significant difference to value. All of these are expensive if still boxed and with all the leaflets and missiles still there - but a cast hubs car can be worth double a spun hubs car.