Promotional Model

This gorgeous horse box is based on a well-known vehicle used by Whitbreads in the 50s and 60s. The actual vehicle was a Seddon, but an Atkinson badged cab was used for this delightful Corgi Classic model. Beautifully finished in the old glossy dark brown with a white roof for both the tractor and the 4-stall horse-box semi-trailer, the model represents a real vehicle that was used to carry Whitbread's famous shire horses around the country in the 1950s and 60s. The trailer is clearly a reissue of Corgi well-known Chipperfields'box from the 60s, although this time it doesn't include the plastic figure and a lamp-post, for reasons not immediately obvious.

The nicely detailed tractor unit has jewelled headlamps rear view mirrors, correct registration number OXT 187, and equally authentic fleet number S97. 

9,900 of the set were produced, the certificate being in the form of an oval Whitbread beer mat - a nice touch applied to all the Brewery Collection. The box was the modern end-flap style, just large enough to contain the truck and its protective packaging. Shop here

The J2 range of 15cwt vans and pick ups was designed by Morris but was very much a BMC product and was the corporations first unitary construction van. Launched in 1956 it continued in production until 1967 by which time over a 120,000 had been built. The J2 was originally fitted with the 1489cc version of BMC's B-Series engine, which was used in many different vehicles including the Austin Cambridge and MGA. In 1962 it gained the enlarged 1622cc engine, which was been fitted in the rest of the corporation's products, and a floor change gearbox. A diesel version using the same engine was also offered. In line with BMC's thinking in the late fifties, an Austin badged version of the J2 was made, which differed only grille shape, the Austin being plainer in style and more rectangular. The BMC JU van that was announced in 1967, and produced until 1974 was actually a very heavily revised J2 under the skin. Shop here

Samuel Whitbread established Whitbread with Thomas Shewell in 1742. In 1750, Samuel Whitbread moved his brewing operations to the first purpose-built mass-production brewery in East London. For over 200 years, Whitbread & Co introduced many brands to the UK, such as Stella Artois and Heineken, amongst others, which grew in popularity up to the 90s when people began to purchase international brands such as Fosters and Budweiser. Then, in 2001, after a long history of brewing, the company known as Whitbread Group Plc decided to sell all its breweries and brewing interests (Whitbread Brewing Company) to Interbrew, now known as InBev. Buy it now

Edwin Foden Sons & Co Ltd was formed in 1887 and development work commenced on Foden's idea of a superior steam wagon. By1901 a design had been produced which was to set the standard for steam wagons for the next twenty-five years. The company developed successive ranges of highly successful steam wagons. They, and arch-rival Sentinel, practically monopolised the market.

The Foden 'C' Type was the final design of the overtype (engine above boiler) Steam Wagon developed from earlier models. This wagon was introduced in the 1920's and had a double crank compound engine which developed 23 B.H.P. at 450 rpm. It was fitted with spur gearing giving speeds up to 16 mph, but special gearing could be ordered which would enable the wagon to achieve 26 mph, double the permited speed limit for such wagons. Edwin Foden died on 31st August 1911, being succeeded by his sons William and E.R. (Later to found ERF). By the late 1920s it was becoming obvious that however excellent the product, steam was giving way to the internal combustion engine, and so a new era of Foden wagons started leaving steam behind. Display stand not included. Buy it now

Whitbread traces it origins back to the 18th century when in 1742 Samuel Whitbread first entered the brewing trade.By the 1780's he was brewing more beer than anyone had brewed before.His efforts laid the foundations of the modern business which two and a half centuries later is thriving ,continually adapting to the changing tastes and markets.
For the model collector the name of Whitbread is likely to remain synonymous with ale and beer for some time to come, so let's have a look at some of the vehicles which for serveral gernerations have distributed their bottles, barrels and kegs around the country. A word of warning though, for well over half a century Whitbread stuck to the same basic livery of dark brown for the bulk of their vehicles so you'd better like brown.