Author(s): Giles Chapman

History

Meccano was first on the scene with its die-cast Dinky Toys of 1933. Lesney's Matchbox series arrived twenty years later, at genuine pocket-money prices. And then in 1956 Mettoy's Corgi Toys appeared, packed full of astounding gimmicks. From incredibly humble beginnings - Lesney started life in a derelict north London pub - the British toy car industry grew into a lucrative world-beater, with fierce rivalry developing between the three main brands: Dinky, Matchbox and Corgi. For the first time, Giles Chapman reveals the fascinating story behind the battle to dominate Britain's toy car industry, and the decline that drove it into history. Jam-packed with nostalgic photographs, Britain's Toy Car Wars opens a particularly vibrant and cherished chapter in British cultural memory. GILES CHAPMAN is an award-winning motoring writer. He has edited and written for numerous car magazines, and contributed to national newspapers. His books include My Dad Had One Of Those, Chapman's Car Compendium, Cars We Loved in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and 100 Cars Britain Can Be Proud Of.