Budgie Triple Sets

Budgie Miniatures Multipacks
Triple Sets, Flare Collectors Set & Budgie Garage

Between 1965 and 1970 Budgie issued two Series of Triple blister-pack Sets containing Miniature models. Both Series were numbered 96-99.

The packs were a simple design with the three models of each Set enclosed in a combined vacuum-sealed blister and held within a folded card. 'Die-cast models by Budgie' was printed on the front with the title of the Set, and the model names and numbers were printed beneath each blister. On the back details of other Sets in the Series were included.

Triple Sets were particularly aimed at sales in North America and some model names were altered, for example No.15 Austin Countryman became No.15 Austin Station Wagon.

All the Sets are now scarce, especially the first Series, and are rarely found in mint condition.

Flare Collectors Set

Budgie Miniatures were widely sold in the United States through toy distributors and sometimes in sets of several models. The Flare Collectors Set contained six Budgie Miniatures in blue blister-packs inside an open-fronted card box. To avoid damage, the blister-packs were stapled to a backing card.

It is likely that the sets varied in content but each blister-pack carried the maker's name as 'Budgie Division of S.Guiterman & Co.Ltd.' so they can be dated to around 1964-66.

On the lid of the box the Budgie name and Logo were printed and on one side the name of the US distributor of the sets was included. This was a New York business called Flare Industries Inc. It is not known if they imported any other Budgie toys.

Budgie Garage Set of Miniatures

Sometime around 1969/1970 some Sets of late issue miniature models were created under the name 'Budgie Garage' (not to be confused with the Morestone Esso Garage in the 1950's). The owners of Budgie (Modern Products Ltd.) had decided to retire in 1970 and it is probable that the Garage Sets were produced to dispose of surplus stocks because the new owners did not wish to continue making toys (their interest was in the foundry rather than in toymaking).

The Budgie Garage Sets contained 10, or sometimes 12, late-issue miniatures in variable combinations. Some models seem to have been included in every pack, and these were Nos.11 Royal Mail Van, 12 Volkswagen Microbus, 18 Foden Dumper, 25 Cattle Truck, and 27 Fire Chief Car. Two models from the 50-55 Petrol Tanker series were also included, and usually some of the Bedford truck models.

Compared to earlier packs, the Budgie Garage boxes were plain in appearance and carried little information. They were open-fronted with inner card dividers, and at the top (and usually the bottom) they had two-tone illustrations of a garage and filling station with the name 'Budgie Garage' on the sign. There was no printing on the rear. The whole pack was strengthened by elastic bands and then wrapped in transparent shrink-wrap and housed in a brown open-ended card sleeve.

The Budgie Garage Set is scarce and because the box was not strongly made, mint examples are rare.