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Topic starter
12/04/2026 11:31 am
The Italian model manufacturer Box was founded in 1984 producing diecast models in 1/43 scale. They stopped production in 1990 with their model production bought by Bang and Best. I had a little trouble documenting this history so thought it might be useful to some on the Diecast Zone to show my findings.
The Italian model manufacturer Bang was founded in 1990, as one of the successors of the company Box Model. The Box Model castings were shared between Bang and another Italian company, Best Model. Bang, directed by Carlo Tamburini, started producing high quality diecast models in 1/43rd scale. The range of former Box models was soon completed by newly developed models. Production ceased in December 2005.
The Italian model manufacturer Best Model was founded in 1990 as one of the successors of the company Box Model. The owners of Best Model also manufactured the model car ranges Art Model (Ferrari models, from 1993) and M4 (Alfa Romeo models, from 2007), and in 2004 they took over the model manufacturer Rio. After Best owner Marco Grassini had passed away in January 2016, the business was maintained by his family. In the following years, mainly variants of existing base models were produced, and M4 ceased operations at the beginning of 2026.
The first model that Box produced was #8401, the 1962 Ferrari GTO. It happens to be my favourite. It came in eight variations, 8401,8402,8403,8404,8408,8409,8451,8452. All were the same casting with colour and decal variations. All were introduced in 1984.
My favourite Box Model, the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO.
Here is the complete list of all Box Model issues.
This topic was modified 5 months ago 2 times by David Green
12/04/2026 11:56 am
I have quite a few of the Ferraris, including the brown and white GTO and the Carrera cars. I especially like Best's 908/3, and I have quite a few of those.
This post was modified 5 months ago by Ed Glorius
Retired in Dunedin, Florida.
12/04/2026 2:04 pm
Box, Best, Bang - not the easiest models to search for on the internet. I guess the founders did not envision google being around when they named their companies!
That GTO is my favorite Box, though! That list of all models looks very much like Paolo Rampini put it together for one of his books!
12/04/2026 3:02 pm
That GTO model is stunning!
Steve
14/04/2026 8:45 pm
I had that 8401 GTO, but sold it when I acquired the far superior Kyosho versions.
But I still have seven Box models, including these two GTOs. The green David Piper car was 5th at the 1963 Tourist Trophy race. The blue NART car was 2nd at Sebring in 1962, driven by Phil Hill and Oliver Gendebien. The same pair would win at Le Mans a few months later.
10/08/2026 4:46 pm
Great background history of Box Models. I found most of this info through AI searches because the following are my absolute favorite 1:43 manufacturers: Box, Best, Art, Rio and Top. The 1930s through the 1950s sports cars is my primary focus, e.g. Le Mans, Sebring, Targa Florio, etc., etc. I really appreciate the list of Box issues. That helps.
What I'm finding now is that it's becoming difficult to obtain Box (and Art and Top) models with boxes and cases and whatever paperwork comes with them. They are becoming more rare as time flys. Most of the time they are sold as is without boxes, etc. Oftentimes the boxes don't match, e.g. incorrect box not matching model inside. I purposely bought models like this. One time the model inside was worth more than the box info listed on eBay. So be it.
What I'm finding myself doing nowadays is searching for models I already have. Looking for duplicates. Box models are now almost 50 years old. So instead of going for a more modern, more accurately detailed 1:43 model, I'm moving back in time searching for 1:43 models from the 1980s & 1990s.
Lastly I don't seem to find anything related to Top Model Cars (TMC), made in Italy, on the 43 Forum thread, no matter how I search. Any comments about Top?
11/08/2026 2:06 am
Models by Box, Bang, Best, Rio and Brumm are incredible. They are very sophisticated and have a soul. Made in Italy they used the best technologies and materials. Current models from China don't have such level despite a 30 years difference.
17/08/2026 11:06 am
I have one Top Model. I never found their quality to by up to the diecasts of the day. But I kept this one, the second place 1954 Carrera Panamerica car, for obvious reasons.
Topic starter
17/08/2026 1:05 pm
Here are a few of my Top Models. I have all their Jaguars but am missing images of most.
#16 is TMC 223 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB #16 Le Mans Dk Blue.
#10 is TMC 150 - 1956 Ferrari 625 LM Le Mans Simon/Hill.
#26 is TMC 101 1957 Maserati A6 24 Hours of LeMans Car.
This post was modified 4 weeks ago by David Green
17/08/2026 1:28 pm
I have a few Top Model Collection Alfa Romeos:
1951 412 MM, 33-2 Le Mans 1968, 155 Tarquini
The 412 is special - not sure who else made it in 1/43. The other 2 are not as nice as other 1/43 examples....
David Green reacted
18/08/2026 1:35 pm
Karl - Is it true you are an Alfaholic? There must be help groups for those with this disease.
Karl Schnelle and David Green reacted
19/08/2026 6:51 am
@mg-harv You too might be an Alfaholic if your garage floor has more oil stains than a Jackson Pollock painting.
