08 August 2011
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Spotlight: Italian model car manufacturer Mercury and its first four 1/43 scale models
Chris Sweetman takes an in-depth look at the history of Italian model car manufacturer Mercury and its first four 1/43 scale models. ...
Trading in Mercury
Mercury was one of the Italian big three model car manufacturers along with Politoys and Mebetoys. I have always had an interest in all of their products although Mercury holds the greatest passion for me.
I owe this to the late Reg Miles. During the 1970s he was the complier for ‘Die-Cast Scene’ in Scale Models magazine. It was one of the main areas for news and reviews of diecast and white metal models. He also included information on obsolete models.
Through these pages I was given an education in what was available on a global level. Previously my knowledge was limited to just British companies like Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys and Matchbox. Now names like Diapet (Japan), Tekno (Denmark), Dugu (Italy), Märklin (Germany), Solido (France) and Pilen (Spain) all came to my attention. Of course, Mercury was among them and in those days they were still producing diecast model vehicles.
Examples of models from many companies were illustrated, albeit in black and white. I remember Mr Miles included some old Mercury lorries dating from the 1950s in one issue. Mercury’s small scale brand, ‘Speedy’, was also introduced to me via his column. Unfortunately, I never saw any of these models in the metal until I began to go to toy fairs in the mid 1980s.
Prices for Mercury models were high in those days and they did not surface frequently. Fast track to January 1994 and I finally purchased my first Mercury model from a Loughborough toy fair: a Maserati 3500GTi. I had known about this model for many years so I was delighted to own it.
This purchase led to a renewed interest in the brand. Over the years I have added a few more Mercury models to my collection plus some of its catalogues. They will form the basis for this article...
PICTURED ABOVE The 'Fab Four'.
PICTURED BELOW Mercury’s first four 1/43 scale model cars. Clockwise from top left: Fiat 2300 S Coupé, Maserati 3500 GTi road version, Lancia Flavia Coupé and Maserati 3500 GTi Competition version.