Progetto K Automodelli was an Italian die-cast model company.
The subjects were usually Italian cars from the 50s to the 70s.
Most were die cast in plastic or resin. Some had die cast bases, others in plastic.
At first the models were produced in Rome, then the main factory was moved to Sesto Fiorentino, north of Florence. The first models came out in '77, while the last one is from 2011.
Progetto K was started by Fabrizio Petrucci, who had previously produced a variety of resin reproductions under the name King Model, based in Centocelle, Rome (where his shop was located). He himself is recognized as one of the first 1/43 scale modelers for collectors, having reproduced cars from the 30s-50s, Alfa Romeos and Fiats.
Despite being a small family business, Progetto K has achieved satisfactory results in terms of die-cast model production, on a par with companies such as Rio-Models, Brumm or Vitesse. This, among other things, by operating in an unusual geographical area, given the location of the other companies (located near Milan).
The Italian brands he preferred were Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Autobianchi, Ferrari and Maserati. Especially the Alfa Romeos were offered with variations of color, line and racing versions.
The Fiat models were the 1100 Berlina 50s, 600 D, 750 D, Abarth, SEAT variant, 850 Sport Coupé, Abarth 1300, Campagnola, Dino Spyder and Ritmo.
The only 500 that was produced in a limited edition is the one in the photo. It is an Abarth 595 SS catalog number PE 040, Rieti-Terminillo 1975, on a blue plastic base with transparent box and cardboard box.
I don't remember the year of production, it must have been after 2006, since the model wasn't depicted in the catalogue I found, which is prior to that year.
Unfortunately, this company was also a victim of the global economic crisis and closed its doors in 2011. Since then, Progetto K has become part of the Pego Italia group. The cessation of activity is attributed to competition from Asian countries for the low cost of labor.
For anyone who has more precise information or would like to delve deeper into this and other topics, remember that my email is lorenzo500pc@alice.it.
Photos from the collections of L. Achilli and C. Mattioli
{gallery}modeling/project_k{/gallery}
