AMC CJ-5 Jeep

In 1944, Willys-Overland, one of the two main manufacturers of the World War II military Jeep, built the first prototypes for a commercial version – the CJ, short for "civilian Jeep". From then on, all CJ Jeeps consistently had a separate body and chassis, rigid live axles with leaf springs both front and rear, a tapering nose design with flared front wings, and a fold-flat windscreen, they could be driven without doors. Also, with few exceptions, they had part-time four-wheel drive systems, with the choice of high and low gearing, and open bodies with removable hard or soft tops. After remaining in production through a range of model numbers, and several corporate parents, the Jeep CJ line was officially ended in 1986. The CJ-5 was introduced in 1954 and remained in production until 1983, a remarkably long run and comparable to the Series Land Rovers running from 1948 to 1985 across all incarnations.

Corgi Toys released their 1:36 scale CJ-5 in 1978 firstly in metallic green with a white top under model number 419. In 1979 it reappeared as the Spider Buggy (Spiderman) which was number 261. Also in 1979 the Golden Eagle Jeep was released under number 441, this being copper brown metallic with a cream or tan hood. Right at the end of the Mettoy period in January 1983 it was revised again as the Renegade; open top in blue with white roll bars (447) and yellow with a red top (448). I have seen one post Mettoy release another Golden Eagle in metallic blue with a black top released in 1994, there may be more post Mettoy releases which I have just not found yet.

In the later Mettoy period the Jeep CJ-5 casting turned up in a number of Gift Sets: June 1978 GS49 Flying Club Set With the Tipsy Nipper plane, August 1978 GS35 Chopper Squad Rescue Set with boat on trailer, September 1980 GS23 Spiderman Gift Set, May 1981 GS29 Jeep & Horse Box, March 1982 GS10 Jeep & Motorcycle Trailer,