Corgi 418 Austin FX4 taxi

[SMS88]

To the best my knowledge there are 5 different variations of the Corgi 418 Taxi to collect , I now have 4 of them - This was a much better toy than the bigger selling Dinky IMHO!
1. smooth hubs,yellow seats + all card box original issue,
2. spun hubs,driver from Routemaster,yellow seats in gift set box, re-issue
3. whizzwheels,yellow seats,metallic black cherry paint + red/yellow window box
4. whizzwheels,red seats,metallic black cherry paint + red/yellow window box
5. whizzwheels,red seats, black enamel paint ,blue tinted windows + black/yellow window box (this version may also exist with untinted windows!)
Yellow seats in whizzwheels body would be very short run using left overs from the Giftset issue which only sold 81,000 according to the Great book of Corgi!

[fixer]

I must agree with you Mick even as a kid I thought corgi were better than dinky and still do to be honest

[johnboy]

I must agree with you Mick even as a kid I thought corgi were better than dinky and still do to be honest

I must admit that I prefer the slightly later Corgis too but love the old DInkys

[SMS88]

I must agree with you Mick even as a kid I thought corgi were better than dinky and still do to be honest

I must admit that I prefer the slightly later Corgis too but love the old DInkys

The Dinky FX4 was 1/36 scale with an oddly bulging rear and opening doors....

[Fred7A]

I’ve been away from this forum for a while, so hello again!

Here are my three taxis with spun hubs, one with no driver and two different drivers.


A collector I know refers to the two drivers as “older” and “younger” drivers. This one is presumably the older. Wearing a cap, he seems to be a scaled up copy of the Routemaster driver.


This is the “younger” driver, who is hatless and sports a dapper bow tie. This taxi is in fact a repaint which has been taken apart, which does spoil the provenance, but I have seen other examples with the same driver. He looks like he’s the same figure as fitted in the Saint Volvo.


I have the enamel black Whizzweels taxi with red seats with both tinted and untinted windows. I must admit the Whizzwheels one with yellow seats was new to me, and I’m sure they’re not common. Having said that, I did spot one at the weekend but it was very rough. I did have a “black cherry” one, but I have a feeling I mistakenly traded it on as a duplicate…

[SMS88]

Great photos of the drivers Fred ! Interesting to see that ´The Saint´ actually does fit - perhaps some leftovers that wouldnt fit in Routemasters were used and now I can see I have 3 more versions to look for. I dont know how rare the metallic black cherry Whizzwheels ones are compared to the black enamel later issues - this model isnt that common compared to many others so its difficult to tell although I havent got any other black enamel examples I do have 2 more metallic black cherry examples both with red seats........

1. smooth hubs,yellow seats + all card box original issue,
2. spun hubs,yellow seats + all card box original issue,
3.driver from Routemaster,yellow seats in gift set box, re-issue
4.driver ´´The Saint´´,yellow seats in gift set box, re-issue
5. whizzwheels,yellow seats,metallic black cherry paint + red/yellow window box
5. whizzwheels,red seats,metallic black cherry paint + red/yellow window box
6. whizzwheels,red seats, black enamel paint + black/yellow window box
7. whizzwheels,red seats, black enamel paint,blue tinted windows + black/yellow window box

[ClOwY]

Just got one myself in job lot for a song ,,
older driver, spun hubs.
VNM, which year where they issued please.
if wanted photos weekend

[GHOSTHUNTER]

1960 saw the first version of the Corgi FX4 and it was made available until 1965. In 1971, it was re-issued with Whizzwheels. The 'Spun Hubs' (replacing the Smooth Hubs), were introduced during the 1960 production period.

Ghosthunter.

[ClOwY]

Thanks Kevin
Gary