Solido

Lore & Background

Solido originated from the Nanterre Precision Foundry, created by Ferdinand de Vazeilles in 1919. The foundry specialized in die casting for automotive and aviation industries. In the 1930s, after being contacted to mold an advertising object for the spark plug company Gergovia, de Vazeilles decided to produce metal toys, filing a patent in 1932 and registering the Solido brand two years later. The name was chosen to suggest the strength of the toys. During the Second World War, production continued but slowed, using lower-quality materials; the brand offered camouflage toys and a board game involving the UK blockade.

After Ferdinand's son Jean joined the business, Solido expanded into neighboring countries, the USSR, and Japan. The 100 Series launched in 1957 with the Jaguar Type D Le Mans, introducing 1/43 scale to compete with Dinky Toys. In 1960, Solido developed its first military vehicles and patented metal tracks for tanks. The company also created opening elements on models and tied in with auto sports like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 1970s saw diversification into cars, trucks, construction equipment, tanks, Formula One, police and fire vehicles, helicopters, and snowplows. In 1974, the factory moved from Issy-la-Bataille to Oulins. The family business ended when Ferdinand's daughter Charlotte sold the company to Majorette in 1979.

The 1980s began with the merger of Heller and Solido in 1981. Emile Véron, co-founder of Norev and creator of Majorette, took over management. As an antimilitarist, he suspended the military vehicle range but later relaunched it due to public demand after a partnership for the Normandy Landings commemorations. In 1989, Solido entered the 1/18 market. In the 1990s, about half of miniature cars sold in France came from the Majorette-Solido association, with some models selling over a million copies, including the Bugatti Royale and the Char Patton M47.

Reader's Guide

Solido's significance lies in its long history as a French die-cast manufacturer, adapting from a precision foundry to a toy producer. The brand's early adoption of 1/43 scale in the 1950s positioned it as a competitor to Dinky Toys, and its later move into 1/18 scale in 1989 expanded its collector appeal. The company's military vehicle range, particularly the Char Patton M47, became a flagship product, selling over a million units. Solido's legacy includes its role in the Majorette-Solido association, which dominated the French miniature car market in the 1990s. Despite ownership changes—from the founding family to Majorette, then Smoby, and finally the Simba Dickie Group in 2010—the brand has persisted. Since 2015, under the management of Mini Express, Solido has continued producing models, focusing on 1/18 scale replicas of classic and modern cars, rally vehicles, and other automotive icons. The brand's history reflects broader trends in the toy industry, including the shift to Asian production and the challenges of competing with electronic toys.

Did You Know?

• Solido's name was chosen to suggest the strength of its toys.
• The company patented metal tracks for use on its miniature tanks in 1960.
• The Char Patton M47 military model sold more than a million copies.