Karl AKA Stroget is an active curator at HobbyDB of many of the 1/43 model car brands. He has been adding model cars to the DB since 2014; some of his favorites are Alfa Romeo and obsolete Tekno from Denmark!
Pat Conneally’s articles are always entertaining and educational. I particularly enjoyed the recent coverage of the Corgi Toys #236 Motor School Austin A60 Driving School Car (11 Mar 26). My interest in toy cars was supplanted by other things around 1966, but I have since acquired the very nice Corgi Model Club reissue.
Pat’s coverage of steering mechanisms incorporated by Corgi and others was also very interesting, but I think an ambiguity has slipped into the discussion on Matchbox. To clarify: at the time, Matchbox had two different steering systems (and maybe more later on); the AUTO STEER feature in the small scale 1-75 range, and TRUE-GUIDE steering for the King Size cars. As Pat explained, AUTO STEER was just a pivoting full axle arrangement, like the Dinky Toy fitment. But TRUE-GUIDE was much more like the Corgi system with king pins, separate stub axles, and a tie rod of sorts, which was part of the self-centering mechanism. Matchbox was a little devious by indicating spring suspension on the boxes but only illustrating the rear of the car. There was no suspension at the front steering end, unlike Corgi. The Matchbox system was simpler in its operation, requiring only a lateral push to get the car to turn (whereas Corgi required downward pressure on the side one wished to turn, plus a lateral push). That said, Corgi has rubber tires, so the system works on all surfaces, but the Matchbox has semi-supple vinyl tires, which slip on smooth surfaces due to lack of grip and is therefore less effective overall.
The schematic illustrates (a bit confusingly) how the TRUE-GUIDE system works. As shown, basically anything that isn’t bodywork or tires is a single flexible plastic piece that functions both as a tie rod and a return spring for self-centering. Note suspension, but only showing the rear of the car (photo from 1968 Matchbox catalogue)
The base of K-21 Mercury Cougar showing the steering mechanism. Axle well behind the anchor pivot point in the base casting is what enables steering but swings the wheel through a fairly wide arc
The earlier and very similar Corgi system. The distance between anchor and axle is shorter so the wheel doesn’t move around as much inside the wheel well. The Corgi includes suspension, but that means extra complexity and parts
My first experience with Corgi steering was the spectacular Corporal Guided Missile on Erector Vehicle (Corgi Major 1113) from 1959. The LeTourneau Transporter/Erector Vehicle was a thing of diecasting beauty, with working steering, except it was poseable rather than a rolling play feature.
Was Matchbox confused by two types of steering? An early 1-75 Ford Cortina issue with AUTO STEER, but the box illustration can easily be confused with TRUE-GUIDE. This was rectified with later boxes (photo internet)
The later box with “correct” steering system logo (photo internet)
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