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Discover a selection of models that will be on sale this week, from tomorrow, Monday, May 4, 2026, until Thursday, May 7, 2026, on our website. AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION
en vente cette semaine: Corgi Toys – BMC Mini rallye Monte Carlo 1964 339 – Tekno – Volvo N88 semi fourgon tôlé Mobeltransport Danmark 435 – Dinky Toys GB – Maudsley camion transport de chevaux Newmarket race horse 979 Corgi Toys – Buick Regal Kojak’s 290
I remember...
…of a trip to Ventimiglia, one Friday in August 1974.
My memories are very clear. Memory is sometimes capricious, but it can also be astonishing. I remember that, as often happens, there was tension between the French and Italian customs officers.
When I was a child, crossing borders by car impressed me. I didn’t cross many. The armed police, the suspicious looks of the customs officers, the long queues…it was the first time I had ever set foot on Italian soil.
I didn’t know that it would become my adopted country.
I remember being amazed by the Fiat 682 trucks, their right-hand drive, and especially their impressive loads of crates. I can still picture a bright red one around a bend.
We had come to do some “marketing.”
The beginning of the great adventure of collecting was near. We had been looking at the many stands dedicated to miniatures at the market, and I remember my father being particularly interested in a 1/24 scale reproduction of an Alpine 1600S displayed on a polystyrene base.
A beautiful illustrated box completed the set. It bore the Martoys brand. In the shops I frequented, I had never seen products from this brand in France.
My father appreciated the finish and its quality. They seemed superior to the Politoys of the same era. It took me a long time to realize that this Martoys was actually the original name of the B Burago brand! Martoys had been created by the founders of Mebetoys, the Basana brothers, after they were ousted from their company by Mattel.
Under their guidance, Mebetoys had, in fact, begun producing 1/24 scale models. These Italian entrepreneurs had clearly sensed the emerging market.
A few years later, Burago would flood the world with its 1/24 scale models.
modèle en vente cette semaine : MARTOYS – Porsche 911 S 0102
This week we have two Martoys models, both historic in more ways than one.
A stunning orange Porsche 911S, a vibrant color that was all the rage in Germany in the early seventies, and a Fiat 131 Mirafiori, which also marked an era.
This car made its mark in rallying, in an Abarth version. Its lines have aged beautifully, and I appreciate its design.
modèle en vente cette semaine : MARTOYS – Fiat 131 Mirafiori 0140
At the time, lost in the traffic, I hadn’t grasped its appeal.
In a large collection I bought in Milan, I had the opportunity to keep the entire series produced by Pocher in 1/12 scale, from the Fiat 1500 to the 131, including the 124. The lineage of these cars is clearly visible, and the 131 deserves a closer look.
It’s already a classic car. I appreciate its apple green color…
Let’s stick with 1/24 scale miniatures. Martoys’ main competitor was…Italian! It was Politoys, which later became Polistil. Manufacturers from other countries left the field open to Italian manufacturers. I suggest that they couldn’t compete in terms of value for money.
The cost of labor, a genuine desire to produce in quantity to drive down production costs, and undeniable expertise meant they remained alone in this niche. Let’s not forget that Liverpool tried to retaliate with a very well-made Ford Capri. But the Italians were unbeatable and also benefited from a robust distribution network.
It’s known that Burago was the first to understand that these “different” products needed to be sold in other places, such as supermarkets and airport shops worldwide.
The head of Burago recounted how he developed the niche of the “traveling father’s gift,” bringing back a nice toy for his offspring… and let’s face it, bringing your son a 1/60 scale Siku, a 1/43 scale Solido, or a 1/24 scale Polistil doesn’t have the same impact! Especially when the price difference isn’t proportional to the scale of the latter. We have a splendid Polistil Volkswagen 1300 Lufthansa on the agenda. The model is highly detailed.
Personally, I prefer the Martoys model… however, the way this Volkswagen is presented with the low-angle shot of the Boeing 747 is a success! There’s no doubt we’re dealing with an Italian product: the packaging is elegant and luxurious, and the price is reasonable!
This product is very interesting and can enhance any collection. It justifies taking a slight detour. In a collection dedicated to 1/43 scale, it seems to me that one must be willing to make a few exceptions.
I can speak freely about this because I’ve made exceptions myself! I’ve also kept all the first 1/24 scale Polistil models in this Milanese collection!
Finding them new in their boxes is difficult. The condition of the packaging is, of course, very important.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Polistil – Volkswagen 1300 Lufthansa S44
Let’s finish with another Volkswagen from the same period, equipped with Whizzwheels and intended exclusively for the Swiss market.
I’m talking about the Swiss Post Office (PTT) version from Corgi Toys.
We’re nearing the end of our 1/43 scale journey with this Swansea-based company. This model isn’t exceptional. The decals are oversized. It just needs to be considered within its historical context. It’s part of a very interesting collection, and this model, produced in small quantities, is quite rare.
Finally, let’s just say that I have a soft spot for the color yellow!
modèle en vente cette semaine : Corgi Toys – Volkswagen 1200 PTT Suisse 383
an extraordinary firm.
Let’s stick with the color yellow and cross the Atlantic to South America, Argentina to be precise. Buby is an exceptional company.
Products made in South America have rarely reached this level of quality. The founder of Buby was of German origin, as was the founder of Corgi Toys.
I appreciate the fact that Buby has reproduced its models in 1/43 scale. The superb Mercedes LP114 truck offered this week is no exception.
modèle en vente cette semaine: Buby – Mercedes 1112 ridelles 1018
The miniature looks fantastic in this version equipped with a long-wheelbase chassis. I imagine that when it was released in 1965, the pioneers of collecting must have been scrambling for it… if they could even find one.
We tend to forget the difficulties faced by the first collectors, and even enthusiasts of my generation, in acquiring these objects from distant lands.
Today, two or three clicks and you’re in Buenos Aires… not always for the better! The difficulties encountered in finding this type of equipment only strengthened my passion for these products from the Southern Hemisphere.
Looking at them in a display case, I’m always amazed by their far-flung origins, and I appreciate the effort it took to obtain them. You’ll look at this product differently now.
Also, be sure to appreciate its splendid and luminous color… yellow.
exceptional quality of execution
Seeing the Solido models scheduled for release this week, one can only admire the work accomplished by the De Vazeilles family and the quality of their products.
Even if you don’t collect this manufacturer’s products, they are sure to impress you. Whether it’s the 100 series (cars), the 300 series (trucks), or the 10 series (which succeeded the 100 series), all the products boast exceptional craftsmanship… for toys.
These aren’t products intended solely for collectors, as would be the case twenty years later. These Solido models can easily be displayed alongside more recently manufactured items. They even have opening parts.
Seeing the Citroën SM scheduled for release this week, I can say that it stands up to comparison with the splendid Minichamps reproduction made in China.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Citroën SM 184
The two Simca 1308s on the program are finished in unusual colors. I hunted them down in shops back in the day.
These miniatures have aged remarkably well, and as with the Fiat 131 described earlier, I now find myself admiring these cars that I never used to give a second glance when I passed them on the street.
We get older. Like the SM described earlier, I appreciate its superb finish, with its separate headlights and taillights.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Simca 1308 39
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Simca 1308 39
The two latest Solido models are interesting because of their unusual silver color.
The Mercedes C111 is, in my opinion, by far the most beautiful reproduction of this extraordinary model. A later version exists with a black-painted hood. This part was painted separately, and Solido noticed that there were sometimes significant color variations between the body and the hood, similar to the contemporary De Tomaso Mangousta.
To avoid this issue, a satin black finish for the hood was implemented. As you can see, the single-color version is therefore rare because it was produced for a very short time. Furthermore, the model offered here has a red interior, not black, which was also produced for a very limited time.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Mercedes C111 180
The Berliet Stradair tipper truck, the latest Solido model also offered in its single-color silver finish, is, in my opinion, the rarest color combination for this beautiful product. The color isn’t realistic, but we’re in the world of toys, and I must admit that in a display case, lined up side by side, they look quite impressive. If, like me, you love this truck that embodies my generation, don’t hesitate!
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Berliet Stradair benne basculante 306
My favorites are two products made by the famous British company Britains,
Known worldwide for its 1/32 scale figurines.
Both vehicles are also reproduced at this scale. The first is a rare “safari” version of the famous long-wheelbase Land Rover 109. This dates back to the early 1970s (1972).
In 1967, Britains initially released a military version, equipped with a gun mount and two figures. The model is detailed and highly realistic. It’s a truly magnificent toy. Unfortunately, it’s not affordable for everyone. This type of product was only available in high-end toy stores.
This wasn’t the case for agricultural equipment, such as the splendid Massey Ferguson combine harvester scheduled for release this week, which was also distributed in rural areas, where demand was, of course, significant.
The quality of the workmanship and the wide range of available accessories allowed the Britains agricultural range to achieve considerable success in the countryside, despite its price. Back when I used to roam the countryside on my moped looking for miniatures, I remember seeing lots of these Britains agricultural models… but no Dinky Toys… others had gotten there before me!
The programmed Land Rover “safari” is rare. It’s a realistic “safari” version equipped with a roof (the other versions are torpedo-style). It has a very attractive zebra-striped finish, which was fashionable at the time.
I’m thinking, of course, of the Daktari version from Corgi Toys… I appreciate one detail that draws us into the African setting: the presence of two figures, one of whom is an African tracker indicating to the guard the presence of danger or the path to follow…
modèle en vente cette semaine : Britains – Land Rover 109 chassis lon 9377
That’s the magic of toys: they spark the imagination.
I’ve rarely had these two toys for sale. They’ve always been rare, sought-after, and therefore expensive. Recently, I had the opportunity to find a beautiful lot of Britains toys, including the motorcycles and the Land Rover.
I took the plunge and kept the whole set. The one I’m offering is the one I’d kept in my collection for almost 20 years; I just couldn’t bring myself to sell it… buying the lot it was part of finally changed my mind! This Land Rover also exists in “Farm” and construction versions. But the most expressive and beautiful is undoubtedly the “Safari” version.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Britains – Massey Ferguson combine harvester 760 9570
also on sale this week
