With an area of only two square kilometres, the principality of Monaco is probably the smallest country in which model cars were industrially produced. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a company called PP (Poly Plastic) produced here a series of simple 1/48th scale plastic toy cars: Citroën DS 20, BMW 1602, Mercedes-Benz 250 SE, Alfa Romeo Alfetta. The models were made in many different colour combinations and are very similar to contemporary toy cars issued by CGGC Grisoni from Italy, but have different wheels. They were also sold in playsets along with plastic accessories such as road signs, traffic lights and petrol pumps. In the 1990s, Bburago produced an inexpensive 1/43rd scale diecast model of the MCA Centenaire super sports car as built by the Monégasque company Monte Carlo Automobile. The Venturi Fétish electric car, made in the early 2000s, after the former French sports car manufacturer had changed ownership and moved its headquarters to Monaco, has been modelled by Norev and Ixo in 1/43rd scale. The manufacturers Eligor and Ixo have both released 1/43rd scale models of an original car which was in service in Monaco: a Renault 4 CV as used by the local police.
Monaco