For 30 years, the Italian company Bburago has delighted collectors with scale models of cars. The first cars were released in 1974 and then came out under the Martoys brand. For two years, models of only one scale appeared on the market - 1:24. In 1976, the Besana brothers, who owned the company, gave it a new name - Bburago. By that time, the line included only 9 basic models: Renault Alpine, Porsche 911, Lancia Stratos and others.
Later, new series of cars of other scales appeared: 1:18 and 1:43. Early models were often poorly worked out, the lines looked wrong. Cars turned out to be similar to ordinary children's toys. For example, the developers of the BMW 3.0 CS were never able to show the subtle curves of the wings of the original.
The launched line of cars in 1:18 scale turned out to be better made, as it is designed for collectors. Bburago started making model cars from the 1930s, then moved on to the 50s and 60s, and gradually reached the present day. Lamborghini Diablo has become one of the best selling cars of its time.
The quality has improved every year. Larger versions have movable elements, some of them are equipped with removable wheels. Even the kid-friendly 1:43 scale Pocket toys that cost a few dollars are highly detailed. The series includes 36 small cars in six colors.
Until the 1990s, Bburago's main focus was the production of 1:18 scale miniatures, until competitors such as Exoto, Yatming, Jouef and many other companies began to fill this niche. The main advantage of competitors was the low cost of production - the release organized in China and Thailand was much cheaper than Bburago, which continued to operate in Italy. This factor became decisive and led to the bankruptcy of the Italian manufacturer.
Among the rarest specimens, the Peugeot 907 concept car, made in 1:18 scale and released before the closure of the company, is distinguished. It was also planned to introduce the Ferrari 360 Spider in the same scale, but this never happened.
