248 - Chevrolet Impala

The second generation casting of Corgi’s Chevrolet Impala utilised an ingenious split body – divided by a chromed strip – which allowed the two halves to be painted in different colours. This allowed for liveries that would otherwise have proved too costly to produce. Corgi 221 (the Chevrolet Impala Taxi), Corgi 481 (the Chevrolet Police Patrol Car) and Corgi 482 (the Chevrolet Fire Chief) are good examples.

There was, however, a fourth model using the same casting – Corgi 248, in a much simpler livery. With a cream roof and beige body, this ‘family saloon’ version of the Impala was produced for just over a year, after being introduced to the range in 1965. The box illustration is interesting in that the bottom half of the car is depicted in pale blue – perhaps Corgi’s originally intended colour scheme? Around 162,000 were produced, most of these sold in the USA.