Coronet Classics

I was very shocked to read the news that Frank Jones had passed away. He was one of the best men in the model car business who was interested not only in the business but also in model history and exploring real cars to reproduce them in precision quality.

Unfortunately, my knowledge about his British Heritage Models and its ranges are rather superficial. Last year I wrote Frank to find out more. He replied to me, and we started to work on a series of articles to describe his models. Sadly this intensive job was only just beginning when I learned about Frank’s death. I can’t believe it because I was in contact with him just a few short weeks ago. Thus, to make a dedication to Frank, I will try to make a little review about one of his model ranges, Coronet Classics. This short article is also a tribute to a talented craftsman Alan Burbridge whose name isn’t very well-known in white metal industry.

Frank Jones established his British Heritage Models (BHM) store in 2010. By that time the market for handbuilt models was changing. Most white metal brands had stopped activity with their place taken by resin manufacturers from China. However, Brooklin and SMTS continued production, and Frank became one of their significant dealers. Since he understood that white metal was not growing, BHM also started to sell Neo, Matrix, etc.

Being an automobile enthusiast, Frank realized that many British cars had not been reproduced in 1:43 scale yet and decided to make new ranges for his store. He negotiated with Chinese manufacturers and some time later released models in different ranges: Britannia, Majesty Classics, Excalibur, etc.

Frank was not afraid of making unusual decisions for his business and did not abandon the white metal segment. Therefore, he commissioned special models by Kenna, Somerville, Crossway, GTA, Tin Wizard, SMTS, Minimarque, and J&M Classics for his BHM store.

In the mid 2010s, he decided to fill a gap of the inexpensive British pre- war and post-war cars with a new white metal range created from older kits by Somerville, K&R Replicas, Western Models, etc.

Frank needed a professional kit-builder and connected with Alan Burbridge. Alan was very happy to work with Frank and to build his own variants from obsolete kits. For the new range of models was chosen a name Coronet Classics to stay with the royalty theme as BHM was also producing Majesty Classics, Monarch Miniatures, and Excalibur ranges. A coronet is a small crown which represents the character of these 1:43 models.

Alan built and painted every kit. He also made many improvements like resin headlights, and new exterior and interior details. Each model had a catalog number on the license plates. As a rule only 10-12 units of each model were painted in one or two colours. They were packed in a typical cardboard box. Prices were very high, about 100 GBP per model, but all of them were very exclusive, and white metal collectors appreciated their style.

The first miniature of the Coronet Classics range, the 1937-39 Austin 10/4 Conway open cabriolet, was released in Summer 2017. The Austin 10 was one of the most popular cars before WW2. From 1932 until 1947 about 290,000 units were produced. In 1936 the cars received a new streamlined body and new names: Cambridge for the standard sedan and Conway for the cabriolet.  The models by Coronet Classics, based on Somerville kits, were painted in Blue or Maroon.

In Autumn 2017, Alan made 2 new models: the 1938 Ford Prefect and 1948 Vauxhall Velox based on Somervilles.

The 1938 Ford Prefect E 93A replaced the previous 7W. It was equipped with 30 hp, 1,2 litre, 4 cylinder Sidevalve engine with a thermosyphon  cooling system. The most common bodies were 2 and 4 door sedans, but tourers and drophead coupes were also available. Production of the Prefect model started in Dagenham, Essex, in the plant which would become one of the biggest for the Ford Motor Company. The Prefect was a very inexpensive car, and about 41,000 customers bought this model before 1941. Coronet Classics miniature was made only in Pale Blue. See the ad below for a photo.

Another model, the 1948 Vauxhall Velox L-Type, came in two colours: Green or Metallic Blue. This car was the first post-war Vauxhall. Equipped with 55 hp , 2,3 litre, 6 cylinder, this model was more expensive than the 4 cylinder Wyvern. In fact both cars were based on a pre-war chassis. A black Wyvern was found online recently (see above).

The last models in the Coronet Classics range released in 2017 were the 1951 Austin A30 and the 1959 Austin A35.

The Austin A30 became a bestseller in post-war Britain. Its price was cheaper than a Morris Minor. Despite being a very inexpensive car, the A30 had a pretty design and became the first car in the UK with a unibody construction. It was equipped with 28 hp, 4 cylinder 0,8 litre engine, with Lockheed hydraulic brakes on the front axle. 223,264 cars were produced until 1956 when the modified A35 version was released.

The Austin A35 had a more powerful 34 hp, 0,9 litre engine, increased rear window size, and a new radiator grille. Production ceased in 1959 when the Austin A40 and legendary Mini were introduced.

Both models by Coronet Classics represent versions of 2 door sedans. They were based on K & R Replicas and painted in Blue or Green. The white A35 shown above was a special order.

In 2018 Alan built a very interesting Austin Princess 4-Litre based on Milestone Miniatures (unfortunately no image was kept) and did a series of miniatures based on Somerville making the 1933 Ford Type Y Tudor and the 1950 Ford Prefect.

As far as I know, the Type Y was originally made by Western Models. The Ford Type Y Tudor by Coronet Classics was available in Burgundy or Pine Green, the Prefect in Red or Pale Green.

For the next releases, Frank and Alan chose a sports car theme, making the pre-war 1934/35 Riley Imp and Riley MPH. The Imp and MPH were equipped with the same body but had different chassis. Imp was available with a 50 hp, 1,1 litre engine and for MPH a customer could choose three different 6 cylinder DOHC engines, the most powerful was a 56 hp 1,7 litre.

The MPH took part in Le Mans where two cars finished in second and third places.

The Imp open roadster by Coronet was painted in Sky Blue and the MPH in Pillar Box Red.

The last model introduced under the Coronet Classics name at the end of 2019 was the 1949 Ford Anglia Utilicon Estate Car representing the second generation (1949-53) of this popular car. This budget estate was an excellent vehicle for a family or small business.

Based on Somerville, these miniatures were made in Force Blue or Maroon.

KS found several old BHM ads from Model Collector (2017-19), the defunct UK magazine. The five below all contain Coronet models.

The author greatly appreciated all the conversations with Frank Jones. He was a fantastic person and provided very nice photographs for the article. I will deeply miss our discussions.

Sadly, Coronet Classics production has ceased. Frank was a professional craftsman and model builder. I hope that this short article will be a tribute to him and his models.

P.S. This article is not very comprehensive but based on all the information available. If you can add anything, please do.

Frank Jones and Alan Burbridge made a great contribution to the model car industry, and I’m sure that they will be in our thoughts forever. If you have any models from their other ranges – Majesty Classics, Monarch Miniatures, Excalibur, GTA Models, please connect with the editors or author.