Maker record
Politoys
Politoys was an Italian toy marque introduced by APS Polistil in 1960, best known for scale model cars and also used for military miniatures. Its early cars were moulded in plastic; the company later added die-cast models made from zamak alloy. The range included Formula One cars and road vehicles, with models issued in several scales. Politoys was the name used for the model-car line until 1974, when the company returned to the Polistil name across its products.
- Founded
- 1960
- Countries
- Italy
- Locations
- Italy
- Founders
- Eugenio Agrati · Ennio Sala
The story of Politoys
APS Polistil took shape in Milan in the late 1950s, founded by Eugenio Agrati and Ennio Sala. The company began with inexpensive plastic toys, including small vehicles and military miniatures. In 1960 it introduced the Politoys name for model cars and military models, initially making 1:41-scale Formula One cars and other vehicles in plastic before adding zamak die-cast models. The expanding business opened a second factory at Chiari in the mid-1960s and a third site at Settimo Milanese in the mid-1970s.
Politoys became the company’s principal model-car marque, with series in several scales and cars from Italian and international manufacturers. In the early 1970s, APS Polistil also entered Formula One through an agreement with Frank Williams; the Politoys FX3 was a full-size racing car built with a March engine and Williams chassis. In 1974, the company adopted Polistil as its product name across its lines. Its catalogue broadened beyond cars to include aircraft, motorcycles, boats, soldiers, dolls, plastic beach toys and electric slot-car sets. Tonka acquired the Polistil brand in the 1980s. The Italian factories closed in 1993, ending production there. The Polistil name was later acquired by May Cheong Group in 2005, with production and development moved to China.