di Lorenzo Achilli
Let's go back to talking about a well-known model car manufacturer produced in Italy: Bburago.
It was born in 1974 with the name of Martoys, but the following year it changed its name to Bburago. The production site was in fact located in Burago di Molgona (MB). Its patron, Cavaliere Mario Besana, was already known in the sector for having been, together with his brothers Marino and Ugo, the founder of Mebetoys, acronym for “Meccanica Besana Toys”, in 1966.
The first models were reproduced in 1/24 scale, and they were sports cars, utility vehicles and off-road vehicles (Alpine A110, Range Rover, Fiat 127 and Porsche 911). All with excellent attention to detail and opening doors, some even with opening hoods and an above-average quality-price ratio.
It must be considered that in that period the models were more toys to "play" than collector's items to keep in the display case, therefore aimed at a very young public (including myself). This did not prevent the owner from always equipping the models with 4 or 5 openings, unique at that time. At the beginning of the 80s the steering wheel and steering wheels were also added.
Production continued with a series of vintage cars in 1/18 and 1/43 scale. Many models were sold in assembly kits in 1/18, 1/24 and 1/43 scale. This was also a brilliant idea, because they were simple to assemble, already painted, practically finished.
The pieces needed for assembly were put in a box and sold to model makers, who still had the option of modifying, developing or customising the model as they wished.
Allow me a pleasant personal memory: these were the first kits that allowed my imagination to find vent and put my humble modeling skills to the test.
Most of the sales were still related to the already assembled ones. The body was and is in die-cast metal. Some series included various versions of the same model: road, competition, police forces.
The first 1/18 model that started the worldwide success of the range of this size was the Rolls Royce Camargue, fully openable, which was actually in 1/22 scale. Other cars taken into consideration were the 1/1 scale F14 single-seaters such as the Ferrari 312T2 (Grand Prix series).
The company also launched into industrial vehicles, producing the Fiat 50 N trucks and the Tons series in various configurations.
In 2002, Bburago, with another intuition of Mr. Besana, managed to have the collaboration of Giorgetto Giugiaro for the production of the “Prima”, a model car that the famous designer made only for the Brianza company. A prototype never made in real life, but on sale in scale for a few euros.
The company also published an endless series of small-format catalogs. These were included in the 1/18 scale boxes or could be requested from the seller or by writing directly to the office. An effective example of marketing was the advertising page in the magazine “Topolino”.
Unfortunately, in 2005 the company was declared bankrupt due to fraudulent bankruptcy and money laundering of 5 million euros, derived from the bankruptcy itself by the former CEO Marco Besana and his accomplices. After their arrest, the company ceased all production.
The brand was later acquired by the Chinese May Cheons Group (also owners of Maisto and Polistil), which resumed production in China. Old collections were released and new ones were introduced. Since January 2013, the three brands have been distributed by Mac Due Group, which unfortunately closed.
Since January of this year, Bburago cars have been stored in a single European centre in Belgium and an Italian branch – like Polistil – is set to manage distribution to national retailers.
After the historical excursus, let's now talk about the numerous 500 models that Bburago has created in various versions, kits, colors, boxes.
The first ones to come out were in 1/18 scale, which was actually 1/16, as written on the first packages, before actually becoming 1/18.
Of the “Gold Collection” series were the 500 L, cod. 3327, dark blue (1-2), and the red 500, cod. 3304 (3-4). Following, the dark blue 500 L “Mille Miglia” cod. 3204 (5-6) and the 500 Abarth “Donati” with the famous number 5 on the doors, cod. 3334 (7-8) (continued).
To request information, report errors and suggest additions, you can write to my mailbox mail.
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