The Road to Rio
Rio Models…Italian Beauties in Miniature.

Rio Models, for those not familiar with them are MODELS, not toys. They are made specifically for Collectors and there is no way they could be considered toys, their detail and construction merits being handled with care. The finish of the paint work is excellent and reflects some of the beautiful classic cars of the era, which are included in the range. The company boasts three guiding principles, those being research and selection of models, respect for authenticity and perfection in quality. The latter we are assured is that Rio builds the greatest part of their models by hand.

Rio has been in production since 1962 and operates from Cernobbio, which is in Northern Italy on the West Shore of Lake Como close to the Swiss border and North of the City of Como. It has been said that at one time that Rio and Brumm were connected by family ties and there was a rift which resulted in the formation of the two different companies, but this may be just hearsay.

The diversity of the Rio range can be judged by the small sample portrayed in the accompanying photographs, the difficulty is knowing what to include and what to leave out! One of the early catalogues lists 91 different model types, plus 4 Trucks based on the 1914 Fiat 18BL chassis. Fiats are definitely favoured as 26 models in the range are of Fiats and their variations. There was also special pieces such as the special that was produced in the form of the first Benz 3-wheeled car of 1886, they were made for Mercedes Benz to celebrate 100 years of the Benz firm or 100 years of motoring.

The 1972 catalogue, costing just five pence from ‘Bobs Models’ shows that at that time only 56 models were in the range. Today’s catalogues have the early models listed together with their successes, like Henry Ford the logo to be found on their catalogues and boxes in the form of a vintage bulled car hooter entwined with a serpent bullhorn with the plain word Rio underneath is the same today as it was in the early days just like Ford.

As long as you like veteran, vintage, or classic cars there is something in the Rio range for you. For racing or record breaking you could choose the 1904 Italia, which won the first Targa Florio; or the 1899 ‘Jamais Contente’ Electric Record of that year with its bullet shape. Or there is the square cheese wedge shape of the 1902 Grand Prix Prototype compared with the engine and chassis bareness of the Ford ‘999’ of the same year. Racing in the 1930’s is catered for by the trio of Alfa Romeos in their brilliant red liveries adorned with the traditional clover leaf.

If you like buses, the 1915 Fiat 18BL Auto bus is fully detailed, curtains included, with its Florence Votara destination boards or the same vehicle, re-released with a new serial number in blue and red with French destination boards. The four Fiat Trucks based on the same chassis all appear quite different, a Covered Military Truck from 1914, a lattice covered back with open cab, a side Truck with covered driving position and an open backed open cab version which completes the quartet.

Some unusual models which always seem to prompt questions is the Leyat, with its huge propeller cowling pulled the vehicle along steering was via the rear wheels and driver and passenger sat in tandem. The brain child of aircraft enthusiast Marcel Leyat, it never gained popularity perhaps because of the front wheeled brake in which made it far from safe but is nice to see it modelled for collectors to enjoy today. The Alfa Ricotti again influenced by the blossoming of man’s quest into the air, although in this vehicle the driver and steering wheel were a long way back in the vehicle! An open version of this model was released, the front dome portion provided shelter and the rear cone retained for aerodynamics, nice one! One more unusual vehicle is the six wheeled De Dion Bouton ‘Victoria’ of 1894 this being a steam vehicle a 4-wheeled driver’s unit and a carriage like, free-wheeling, 2 wheeled passenger ‘carriage’ which was affixed like a trailer. Definitely different.

It would of course be impossible to describe all of the Rio models here but if you admire names like Bianchi, Bugatti, Cadillac, Delarge, Duesenberg, Hispano Suizza, Isotta Fraschini, Lancia, Lincoln, Mercedes, Renault and Rolls Royce, all within a time span from the turn of the century to the 1940’s. These models are well worth examining for the wealth of detail such as the bonnet straps, horns, gear levers, tool boxes, lights, all these touches and more can be find on the more elderly vehicles. Note how the artillery wheel centres are finished with a little brass hub cap! Better still turn them over and check out the superb detail on the underside of the model. Many of the later models have lift off bonnets so that you can inspect the engine detail but be warned to keep a restrained finger on bonnets and spare wheels as these may fall and be easily damaged. Later models also having opening doors, such as a Bugatti Type 50, Delahaye B5M, Lancia Dilambda, The Lincoln Continental and the Rolls Royce Phantom 2. Perhaps the best of the doors are on the Isotta Francini type 8A and the charming little Fiat Balilla.

Period features and the coach like saloons of the Fiat Dopple Phaeton, Bianchi 15-20 and the big Bugatti Royales. A nice touch on the Royale is the prancing elephant bonnet mascot which was Ettore Bugatti’s trade mark. Other nice touches you can find are lantern side lights, hood irons, luggage racks and trucks and elliptical windows. The packaging and boxing of Rio models does well to protect them from damage. Each model is enfolded in foam rubber and placed into a rectangular plastic box which sits into 2 equal halves. A little multi language history sheet is included with each model. A fair translation mostly, the whole thing is then slipped into a card outer carton which clearly carries the model number and description and each has its own distinctive colour. Later packaging has changed very little with the only addition being a seethrough portion in the outer carton. This is not a cheap model to buy new but it is worth the asking price if you intend to add the strict 1/43^rd scale line to your collection. However they are not so easy to find and it is well worth scouring the Toy Fairs as sometimes dealers have obtained some as part of a deal and are willing to sell them at a reasonable price. As always the fun is in the hunt, it is hoped that this article has given a little more insight to this particular worthwhile brand of models from the borders of Italy and Switzerland.