The 1:43 scale line was discontinued entirely around 1983.Ī later well-proportioned and well-detailed Mebetoys Porsche 924 coupe in larger 1:24 scale. In an interesting twist Mattel's 'Flying Colors' normal sized smaller Hot Wheels were offered in Italy in Italian Mebetoys boxes in the late 1970s. Thus Mebetoys were marketed as a sort of larger Hot Wheels range. "Hot Wheels" was translated into Italian as "Sputafuoco", or literally, the cars that "spit fire". The Hot Wheels flames-off-the-wheel emblem was applied to some Mebetoys packaging. market, models like the realistic Toyota 2000 GT were augmented with ones such as Tom Daniel's fantasy custom Twin Mill (a model still used in the standard Hot Wheels line). Thus the marque became less 'European' with more Mattel influence. Hard plastic 'speed' tires replaced rubber and new California custom body designs were introduced in 1:43 scale and marketed as Hot Wheels Gran Toros, though they still said Mebetoys on the base. Incrementally, however, Mattel changed many aspects of Mebetoys. At first, these were the same realistic Mebetoys European models and had many opening features, rubber tires, and excellent detail. In 1969, Mebetoys was bought by Mattel, which carried on Mebetoys models and began to market new 1/43 scale cars. Then Mattel took over and the Mattel red pointed circle was added alongside the Mebetoys logo. Some boxes were other colors like a bright yellow. Packaging was often a wood grain beige style with a plastic window – always including the 'eye' logo. The original Mebetoys logo was an 'opening eye' that looks very similar to the American CBS TV logo. They had exquisite detail with rubber tires and were mounted on a wood base with a decorative identification plate and covered with a clear plastic display box. These two cars were a 1925 P2 World Champion Grand Prix car and a 1951 Alfetta racer. In the 1960s the company issued a couple of 1:24 scale Alfa Romeos, referred to as the "le veterane" set. Sinclair's Auto Miniatures, largely responsible for bringing the diecast collector hobby to the United States, discussed that many people were not aware that Mebetoys also made a few promotional issue diecast cars. From a few inches distance, proportion and detail were well executed, but up close casting and flashing irregularities, presumably after tumbling the diecast pieces, were evident. įront fender corner of the 1:24 scale Porsche 924. Corgi Toys made the Bora, but the Mebetoys version was much better proportioned, detailed and painted. Models such as the Lamborghini Urraco, Maserati Bora, Toyota 2000 GT, and Ferrari 365 GTC-4 were also special and not often seen in 1:43 scale. Politoys had the Rivolta and Corgi and Matchbox made the Grifo ubiquitous, but nobody else made the Fidia S4. Other models were unique because they were not offered elsewhere, like the ISO Fidia S4 grand touring sedan. Mebetoys Innocenti Mini (Italian-made mini) appeared in several different guises – including with skis and sled on its roof rack. This car, in 1:43 scale, was topped off, literally, with three spare tires on the roof. Some were very clever model selections such as the Autobianchi A66 Elaf petroleum with a roof luggage rack carrying two large plastic oil barrels, or the Porsche 912 Rally (a 911 in rally form) with rock guards in thin yellow plastic strips covering the front windshield and hood and also featuring red and chrome body and bumper supports which extended from front to rear bumper. Mebetoys models were known for well-done castings. Innocenti Mini with opening hood and doors featured with skis and sled Models were exact to scale with many moving parts, and generally more sophisticated than venerable British producers Corgi and Dinky Toys. In detail and proportion, Mebetoys joined superior model producers of French Solido and fellow Italian Polistil, in many ways these became the triumvirate of diecast models on the European continent, though Danish Tekno and Italian Rio Models also were important. A diecast car line was started that same year, rather late compared to the entry of many other companies in the early-to-mid-1950s. Their brother Mario Besana joined the company in 1967, one year after the company started. Mebetoys was started by Ugo and Martino Besana in 1959 in Oleggio Castello, Italy. Mebetoy's main competition in Italy was the earlier trailblazer Mercury, Polistil and the rarer Ediltoys. The company was purchased by Mattel in 1969, which continued commercialising Mebetoy as one of its brands. Meccanica Bessana Toys (mostly known for its acronym and tradename Mebetoys), was an Italian toy manufacturer that produced die-cast scale model cars during the 1960s and 1970s.
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