RIO Models
Italian maker of detailed 1:43 scale classic car models.
RIO Models was an Italian company based in Cernobbio that produced diecast and plastic model cars in 1:43 scale. The business began in 1952 when three brothers—Reno, Nilo, and Diego—founded Fratelli Tattarletti, a firm that initially did diecast work for other companies such as Dell'Orto, Vespa, Rivarossi, and Dugu. In 1961 the company changed its name to ttttt Stampoplastica. Around 1961 or 1962, the brothers launched RIO Models as an independent brand. The origin of the name "Rio" (Italian for creek) is unclear, though two of the founders' names, Reno and Nilo, are also river names. In 1972, Nilo left the company to co-found Brumm, another diecast model car and horse-drawn carriage producer; according to one source, a brother-in-law started Brumm.
RIO Models first appeared in the United States thanks to David Sinclair, a model enthusiast who imported many European brands in the 1960s and 1970s. Along with R.A.M.I., Safir, Brumm, Dugu Miniautotoys, Lledo, Minialuxe, and Cursor Models, RIO followed the Matchbox "Models of Yesteryear" theme, producing replicas of veteran and classic cars for older collectors. Of these companies, only R.A.M.I. predates RIO. According to Edward Force, the first four RIO models were made in 1961: two 1906 Italas and two 1919 FIATs. These may have been produced under the Stampoplastica name for Dugu Miniautotoys, but soon the company began making its own vehicles instead of doing contract work.
The company produced only a few new models each year, building a line of over 30 cars by 1972 and over 60 by 1978. Models were traditionally supplied in "top-up" and "top-down" versions, each painted in a single color. All RIO models were 1:43 scale, ultra-detailed, and contained between 45 and 75 individual parts. The selection seemed to balance popularity, rarity, and unique design. Early models focused on European Brass-era cars and vehicles from the 1920s. This preference for earlier cars is reflected in the standard RIO logo, which features two different automobile horns from the brass era: a fancy snake and a more mundane trumpet. Later, models of vehicles from the 1960s and 1970s appeared, such as the Citroen DS 19 and a 1970s FIAT 124 Sedan, but the line retained a classic sense. RIO was ahead of its time in marketing models to collectors rather than children, long before that became common in the 1980s.
- Founded
- about 1961 or 1962
- Founders
- Reno, Nilo and Diego Tattarletti
- Headquarters
- Cernobbio, Italy
- Scale
- 1:43
- Parts per model
- between 45 and 75 individual parts
- Price mid 1970s
- $15.00 to $20.00
- Price today
- $50.00 to $60.00
Lore & Background
The company started in 1952 when three brothers, Reno, Nilo and Diego, founded Fratelli Tattarletti, which changed its name to Stampoplastica in 1961 and did diecast work for Dell'Orto, Vespa, Rivarossi and Dugu. The Tattarletti brothers launched Rio Models as an independent company about 1961 or 1962. The origin of the name 'Rio' is unclear, though two founders' names, Reno and Nilo, are also river names. In 1972, founder Nilo left to co-found Brumm, another diecast model company.
RIO models were always 1:43 scale and ultra detailed, with between 45 and 75 individual parts. Early models were vehicles from the European Brass era and the 1920s, chosen for a combination of popularity, rarity, and unique design. The standard RIO logo features two different automobile horns from the brass era. Later, models up to the 1960s and 1970s were produced, such as the Citroen DS 19 and a 1970s FIAT 124 Sedan. Models were supplied in 'top-up' and 'top-down' versions, each painted in just one color.
RIO models were brittle, made from a zamac alloy that could be heavy on lead, and prone to zinc rot and cracking. They were not toys; dropping one would smash it. In the mid-1970s, unstable supplies led many retailers to stop carrying RIOs when models were delivered only a few at a time. In 1977, importer David Sinclair noted collectors had been waiting on certain models since 1964.
Reader's Guide
RIO Models holds significance as an early producer of diecast collector models aimed at adults, long before that became common in the 1980s. In the mid-1970s, RIOs cost $15.00 to $20.00 when most other 1:43 diecast cars were $5.00 to $7.00, reflecting their detailed construction and niche market. The company's focus on classic and unusual vehicles—from the Brass era through the 1970s—gave it a distinctive identity. Competition from Brumm, Cursor Models, Ziss, and Minialuxe pushed RIO to improve presentation and promotional know-how. Today, RIO models often come in unique dioramas with historical brochures, and cost $50.00 to $60.00. In 2011, RIO Models was acquired by M4 models of Pesaro, Italy. The legacy is one of a pioneering brand that combined rarity, detail, and a classic sense, though its early models were fragile and supply was erratic.
Did You Know?
- RIO models were made from a zamac alloy that could be heavy on lead, making them brittle and prone to cracking.
- In the mid-1970s, a RIO model cost $15.00 to $20.00, while most other 1:43 diecast cars were $5.00 to $7.00.
- Founder Nilo Tattarletti left RIO in 1972 to co-found Brumm, a competing diecast model company.
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