Budgie Miniatures
No.14 Packard Convertible
No.14 Packard Convertible was the first model based on an American car appearing as Esso Series No.14 Packard Convertible in 1957. After 1959 it was re-issued by Budgie in various different boxes and packs. The model was made by Modern Products Ltd. who took over the Budgie name after 1966 and continued to produce it until 1970.
The Packard was a conventional body and base model with a separate driver. It also had a plastic screen which was a new innovation at the time. The red interior seats were part of the base and included a hole or indenture for the driver. The lettering on the base rather oddly had 'Made in England' included twice.
The first colours for No.14 Packard Convertible in the Esso Series were beige body (with plenty of silver trim on the large grille, headlights and front & rear bumpers), red seats and base, an amber coloured plastic screen and a tan driver whose casting included the steering wheel. The wheels were unpainted metal.
This version remained unchanged at first when Budgie re-issued it in 1961 as a Budgie Miniature in yellow Guiterman blister-packs but a short run of models with grey plastic wheels was also issued for a time in yellow packs and these are quite scarce.
After 1963 several changes occurred beginning with a switch to black plastic wheels and not long afterwards the screen colour became blue for a time before reverting back to amber. Finally, the driver changed from tan to gold.
For most of this time, the Packard remained beige but a last run in metallic blue was issued in 1968 when several other Budgie models were painted in metallic colours.
After the Esso Series ended, the Packard appeared briefly in yellow 'Budgie Toys' Guiterman blister-packs before switching to 'Mobile' and 'Modern' boxes. It was also included in the Budgie Gift Set No.12.
The Packard was added to the range of blue blister-packs when they were issued and this remained the main selling method until 1970. It was also included in the triple pack No.99b Traffic Set, and finally it was sold in America in World Toy House blister-packs.
Variation 1 : amber screen, tan driver, umw
Esso Petrol Pump box with Garage Coupon
Variation 1 : amber screen, tan driver, umw
MOBILE Vehicle Series box
No.14 Packard Convertible
Model Variations
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(1) BEIGE, AMBER screen, TAN driver, unpainted metal wheels
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(2) BEIGE, AMBER screen, TAN driver, grey plastic wheels
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(3) BEIGE, AMBER screen, TAN driver, black plastic wheels
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(4) BEIGE, BLUE screen, GOLD driver, black plastic wheels
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(5) BEIGE, AMBER screen, GOLD driver, black plastic wheels
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(6) METALLIC BLUE, AMBER screen, GOLD driver, black plastic wheels
Variation 1
BEIGE
RED seats
AMBER screen
TAN driver
UNPAINTED METAL wheels
Variation 2
BEIGE
RED seats
AMBER screen
TAN driver
GREY PLASTIC wheels
Variation 3
BEIGE
RED seats
AMBER screen
TAN driver
BLACK PLASTIC wheels
Variation 4
BEIGE
RED seats
BLUE screen
GOLD driver
BLACK PLASTIC wheels
Variation 5
BEIGE
RED seats
AMBER screen
GOLD driver
BLACK PLASTIC wheels
Variation 6
METALLIC BLUE
DARK RED seats
AMBER screen
GOLD driver
BLACK PLASTIC wheels
Variation 4 : blue screen, gold driver, bpw
MODERN Vehicle Series box
No.14 Packard Convertible
Boxes & Packs
1957-59 Esso Petrol Pump Series boxes
1961-62 Yellow 'Budgie Toys' blister-packs (Guiterman)
1961-64 Budgie Gift Set No.12
1961-63 MOBILE Vehicle Series boxes
1962-66 Blue 'Budgie' blister-packs (Guiterman)
1964-66 MODERN Vehicle Series (type 1) boxes
1966-70 World Toy House blister-packs (US)
1967-70 Blue 'Budgie' blister-packs (Budgie Models)
1967-70 Budgie No.99b Traffic Set (triple blister-pack)
Blister-packs
Budgie triple pack No.99b Traffic Set
The real Packard Convertible