Maker record
Solido
Solido is a French toy and miniature-vehicle brand whose history began with metal toys designed to be assembled and transformed. Early products included vehicles, agricultural equipment, cannons and military toys. In 1957, the brand introduced its 1:43 Series 100, beginning a long line of miniature cars with features such as suspension. Later ranges included military vehicles, commercial vehicles and construction equipment, as well as 1:18 models. Solido products were first made in France; production moved to China after the Oulins factory closed in 2006.
- Founded
- 1932
- Countries
- France
- Locations
- Ivry-la-Bataille, Eure, France
- Founders
- Ferdinand de Vazeilles
The story of Solido
Solido grew out of the Fonderie de Précision de Nanterre, the pressure-diecasting foundry run by Ferdinand de Vazeilles. In 1932, de Vazeilles patented toys made using the foundry’s metalworking expertise. The first products were metal toys designed to be dismantled and transformed. Production expanded at a dedicated factory in Ivry-la-Bataille, and the Solido brand was established in 1934. Early ranges included vehicles, agricultural machinery and military toys.
De Vazeilles’s son Jean joined the company in 1948. Under Jean’s direction, Solido moved toward reproductions of real cars and launched its Series 100 in 1957. The Jaguar Type D Le Mans model began the 1:43 range and featured suspension. During the 1960s, Solido added opening doors and articulated tank tracks; its military models included the M47 Patton, introduced in 1962. The catalogue also grew to include construction and commercial vehicles.
Jean de Vazeilles left in 1978, ending the family’s involvement. Solido merged with Heller in 1981 and later passed through several owners, including Majorette and Smoby. The Oulins factory took over production from Issy-la-Bataille in 1974; it closed in 2006, when production moved to China. Simba-Dickie became the brand’s owner, and in 2015 assigned its management to Z Models, a French specialist in 1:18 vehicles.