The beginnings File:Bougie-solido.jpg|1st model by Solido - Candle Gerogovia. File:Portrait Ferdinand De Vazeille.png|Portrait of Ferdinand de Vazeilles. File:Solido1.jpg|Transformable models in zamak. In 1919, Ferdinand de Vazeilles created the
Nanterre Precision Foundry. It has become one of the most renowned in
Europe for
die casting of special materials applied to the automobile and aviation. In the 1930s, it sought to diversify and was contacted to mold an object for use in advertising by the company Gergovia, a French manufacturer of auto parts famous for its
spark plugs. The success was immediate and this, now legendary, «Bougie Gerogovia» caused Ferdinand de Vazeilles to have an idea. The French industrialist decided to start producing metal toys and filed a patent for this new activity in 1932. The adventure was launched! Two years later, the Solido brand was registered by de Vazeilles. Its name refers to the strength of the toys offered. This new company will go through the decades and settle in the French industrial landscape. Despite the
Second World War, Solido continued its activities. Production slowed down, the materials used were of lower quality, but the factory remained open despite the conflict! The brand adapted to the situation and offered «camouflage» toys. It also developed new toys, in-keeping with the times, such as a board game on the UK blockade with ships to be destroyed using small explosive mines. A kind of
Monopoly mixed with a naval battle. Guns are also developed for children, as well as other toys related to the concerns of the time. The
post-war period was, as for many French companies, a period of a great growth.
The post-war success Sources: File:Première Usine Ivry La Bataille.jpg|First Solido's factory in Ivry-la-Bataille. File:Panneau Ivry La bataille.jpg|Pannel in front of the first Solido's factory. File:Entrée de l'ancienne usine de Ivry La Bataille.jpg|Entry of the Ivry-la-Bataille's factory. With the arrival of his son Jean in the family business, Solido was propelled into a new dimension! The brand was growing in France, neighboring countries,
USSR and
Japan! Jean de Vazeilles had an idea: to propose real cars but on a reduced
scale. This is how the 100 Series arrived at the end of the 50s. The
1/43 scale was chosen in order to compete with the N°1 in the sector at that time,
Dinky Toys. The success of the "100 Series" was immediate and allowed Solido to develop hugely. The 1960s accelerated this development and Solido made a name for itself thanks to its many innovations. The arrival of opening elements (doors, hood or trunk) was a revolution. The patent filed in 1961 for metal tracks on Solido tanks showed the company’s ability to propose major inventions. The world of
auto sports also allowed Solido to make a name for itself. Thus, during the
24 Hours of Le Mans, the spectators of the race could have a chance to own the very same cars of the race that they had experienced live! An example of responsiveness and seriousness unequalled in the sector. This capacity opened many doors for Solido, who began working increasingly closely with the
car manufacturers. Sometimes, some creations are too forward-thinking or fail to meet success despite their quality. This was the case for the "Built 1000" products. A series of miniature 1/43th dioramas in bricks to build, like those of the
Lego brand. A good idea, but unable to find its audience at the time. The 70s mark the great diversification of Solido which now offers in its catalog:
cars,
trucks,
construction equipment,
tanks,
Formula 1, police vehicles,
firefighters, but also
helicopters and
snowplows! It’s time for Solido. But this decade marks the end of the family business because Charlotte, the daughter of Ferdinand de Vazeilles, leaves the company, giving control to someone outside of the family.
Many challenges before the new century Sources: File:Catalogue Solido 1989.png|Catalog Solido 1989. File:Usine Solido de Oulins en 2022.jpg|Oulins' factory in 2022. File:Michel DEBROCK.jpg|Michel Debrock, project manager of Solido in the 90s. File:Yves Parrod.jpg|Yves Jarrod, responsible of Solido ads. File:Dodge - Solido - Flickr - dave 7.jpg|
Golden Age Series' Model. The 80s began with great news: Heller and Solido announced their merger at the
Toy Fair in
Nuremberg, on February 1, 1981. It was at this time that
Emile Véron took over the management of Solido. The co-founder of
Norev (Véron upside down) and creator of
Majorette is thus appointed to head one of its direct competitors.
Antimilitarist, he immediately set aside the Solido's flagship military vehicle range. Nevertheless, a few years later, following a partnership for the commemorations of the
Normandy Landings, he decided to relaunch this series of vehicles in the face of very great demand from the public - children and adults! It was under the direction of
Emile Véron that Solido developed greatly. The
1/18e arrived at the end of the 80s and highlighted the modernity brought by its new director a few years ago. In the 1990s, one out of every two miniature cars sold in France came from the Solido/Majorette association. This is a typical example of French success. A popular product that crosses generations thanks to its accessibility and robustness. Some models have sold more than a million copies! This is the case with the
Bugatti Royale or the Char Patton M47. Just before the arrival of the new millennium, Solido experienced a new revolution with the explosion of the
1/18th scale! This scale became increasingly popular, whether by children or adult collectors. The “children of Solido” are growing up, but they are not giving up the brand. As they become adults, more and more people are collecting small cars.
Car manufacturers understand this well and that is why many launches of real cars are accompanied by their model. As for example with the
Renault Twingo! The small city car is accompanied by a fabulous range of derivatives, including a
1/43 scale model produced by Solido. Miniatures became promotional items. Thus, Solido/Majo Pub ran at full speed and more than a third of the miniatures produced were for advertising purposes! === The challenges of the 21st century == Source: File:Citroën Xsara WRC 1-18 Solido (1).jpg|Citroën Xsara WRC at 1/18. File:Clément ROUVIERE.jpg|Clément Rouvière Project Manager at Solido. File:Frédérick Guillier Sahuqué.jpg|Frédérick Guilier Sahuqué, CEO of Solido, OttOmobile and GT Spirit. File:Tournage du documentaire sur l'histoire de Solido.jpg|History of Solido Documentary's cutscene in 2022 The 2000s brought challenges for Solido too! The brand was bought by toy giant Smoby. Nevertheless, faced with a new generation of children more attracted by
electronic toys and
video games, we must adapt and react. Solido focuses on quality and strong partnerships. Like those made with
Peugeot and
Citroën in the
World Rally Championship or
Mitsubishi in
Rallye-Raid: the launch of the new
Pajero miniatures takes place at the same time as the
Paris-Dakar rally! A stroke of genius. The Tuning wave is also followed by Solido. Unfortunately, the situation became critical and Smoby resolved to close the historic plant in
Oulins,
France in 2006. This period was complicated further with the takeover of Smoby by
Simba-Dickie in 2008 and a market that was then in total mutation and in full decrease. In 2015,
Simba Dickie wanted to relaunch Solido and entrusted the management of the brand to a
1/18 scale specialist based in France: Mini Express! The Breton company became known a few years earlier by launching the OttOmobile brand. A dazzling success story that allows Solido to offer itself a new youthfulness on the eve of its 90th birthday! The focus is on
1/18, exactly what made OttOmobile and Solido strong in the past: iconic models accurately reproduced and sold at attractive prices. Now, Solido only offers collection cars. Yesterday’s children have become adults and the new generations of collectors, the ‘kidultes’, love this type of product. Solido expands anew and reappears gradually in specialist stores and supermarkets. At the beginning of 2025, the Breton company has more than 700 dealers in
France and
Belgium. These are
toy stores,
websites,
auto parts outlets,
specialty stores or large stores. Solido also surfs on
social networks to find a new public of collectors. But at the end of the day, we find the same desire and passion that was at the origin of the brand in the 30s! Solido gives us a date for a unique anniversary in the sector: its 100 years, in 2032! Until then, the brand continues to develop internationally.
Europe remains the historical market, but small Solidos are sold in almost a hundred countries.
Asia and
South America are developing strongly. Since 2024, Solido meets the passionate thanks to an increased presence at shows: ''
Epoqu'Auto, Essen, Diecast Con Madrid, ...''
The different logos == Key dates ==