Corgi first hit the marketplace in 1948 under the name Castoys.These where produced for Marks& Spencers. These remained in production until 1951 when the Corgi as we now know it was launched. They where a very go ahead company, being the first to introduce windows when they first hit the shops. The company eventually moved into ownership of the Mattel toy company, after a management buyout in 1995 it is now known as Corgi Classics and produces Models for the collectors market