Auto Pilen
Encyclopedia
Auto Pilen was a diecast line of models made in Ibi, Alicante, in southeastern Spain by Pilen S.A.. Models were produced from the 1970s through the mid-1990s mostly in 1:43 scale. In the late 1980s, Pilen was apparently bought by AHC of the Netherlands. The company appears to have got its start in the 1960s diecasting items like colorful metal sailboats and key chains.
, Mebetoys
, Tekno
, Politoys (Polistil
), and possibly Mercury models.
Since this was a Spanish company, it is interesting to note that FIATs are not shown as FIAT, rather they are SEATs . This was FIAT under license in Spain - starting in the 1960s - long before Volkswagen took control of SEAT. Thus it is the SEAT 600, the SEAT 850 Spyder the SEAT 127, etc.
M Series.
These models did not appear rushed into production, though some have experienced cracking of faulty zinc alloy conglomerate 15 to 20 years later. Pilen in the mid-1970s was right up with other 1:43 scale companies packaging their models in clear plastic display cases, though the screws used to hold models to the orange and yellow plastic bases held them tightly and model tires tend to become fused to the plastic.
Typical Pilen brochures were thin narrow folded strips 1 3/4 inches wide which normally advertised thirty cars. On the opposite side, the collector was reminded that five of these strips could be collected and remitted to receive a key chain from "Escuderia" Pilen - which had been a traditional Pilen product for some years.
The Oldsmobile Toronado, the '63 Corvette Stingray, the experimental Chevrolet Corvette-like Astro 1 and the Adams Probe all appear to have been recastings of previous British Corgi models. Though Tekno also made a Toronado and Pilen's Toronado had opening doors similar to the Tekno, the general look and opening headlights appear more like the Corgi.
Several Pilen models seem dead ringers for Solidos from France such as the deTomaso Mangusta which Dinky also made, but Pilen's version was very refined like the Solido, while the Dinky was rather thick and distorted. Pilen's Opel Manta was surely a Solido replica, as well as the Mercedes-Benz C111 rotary concept. Pilen had a Porsche Carrera 6 race car like Corgi and Solido, but the details of the Pilen model match the Solido.
A couple other models appear to be copies of previous Politoys models of Italy: the Ferrari Modulo Peninfarina and the Lancia Stratos Bertone. The American Ford GT Mark II is very similar to the Mebetoys (also of Italy) version, and the SEAT (FIAT) 850 Spyder is like the earlier Mercury, another Italian model producer. The company's Chevrolet Corvair Monza open cockpit concept is a doppelganger of the Danish Tekno issue. It seems either Pilen had direct access to dies of many toy makers (which does not seem very likely), or it had superior skills in creating new castings closely matching various existing vehicles - perhaps with the help of blueprints.
A few models have mysterious origins. The very nicely done AMC Javelin doesn't seem to have a counterpart elsewhere and neither does the Intermeccanica Indra or the Monteverdi Hai 450, though models of all of these appeared afterward made by different manufacturers. One possibility is that these were new French Dinky castings that had not appeared elsewhere and were to be introduced when the 'Spanish Dinky' line was to premier. Considering the care and quality seen in many of the Auto Pilen models, it is also possible that a few models were done in-house.
Auto Pilen also made a line of Matchbox-sized 1/64 scale cars, but these are more rare. Besides a SEAT 131 Wagon, a Peugeot 604, and a Range Rover - little is known about them. The Range Rover casting was shared with Guiloy which brings us to the subject of Pilen's connections to other Spanish diecasters (Willoughby no date).
as seen with a similar casting of the Pilen Adams Probe as a Joal model, and the appearance of a Citroen CX which had earlier appeared as a Mira
. Pilen's clean Maserati Ghibli, which may have come from an earlier French Norev
Jet Car, also appeared as a Guiloy. The Renault 17 sport coupe also looks to be a knockoff of a Norev. Pilen's SEAT 600 was also boxed as a Guisval. Bickford (2009) also reports that the Javelin, SEAT 124 coupe and the Monteverdi Hai castings made their way to the Venezuelan company of Juguinsa when Pilen was through with them.
Around 1990, there was also a connection with the Dutch diecast company AHC which appears to have bought Auto Pilen (Bickford 2009). AHC has since shared dies and Pilen stamped cars can be found in both AHC and OTO labeled boxes, OTO being an affiliate of AHC (Bickford 2009; Johnson 1998, p. 15). AHC, however, usually produced Volvos, of which Pilen only made a few: the DAF based 66, the 480 Turbo, and the 460 and 850 sedans. Most of these appear to have been developed first by AHC models before they were reverse marketed - and then later sold as Pilens. Some of these Volvos also appear to have been sold as promotional models. There were also some Nissans made by AHC/Doorkey that were packaged as Pilens (Bickford 2009).
Lineup
Pilen made at least 50 different models, in the most convoluted story of diecast seconds and recasts of any successful diecast manufacurer (Colleccion Auto Pilen. No date). Dies were apparently used or copied from a variety of other companies including French Dinky, Corgi Toys, SolidoSolido
Solido is a french manufacturer of die-cast model cars and trucks based in Oulins, Anet, France, about 40 miles west of Paris. Cars are usually made of the alloy zamac in varying sizes, but mostly 1:43 scale.-History:...
, Mebetoys
Mebetoys
Mebetoys was an Italian toy manufacturer that produced die-cast model cars during the 1960s and 1970s. For most of that time the company was owned by Mattel.-History:...
, Tekno
Tekno
Tekno is a toy maker from Copenhagen, Denmark, that began manufacturing construction toys in the 1923 and model autos immediately after World War II, selling 1 million a year during its peak...
, Politoys (Polistil
Polistil
Polistil was a toy company headquartered in Milan, Italy, with production center in Chiari, Brescia. Polistil specialized in diecast metal and plastic vehicles of all sizes. The company also made toy and model tanks, dolls, robots and TV tie-ins...
), and possibly Mercury models.
European but Spanish
Vehicles represented were mostly European and included Ferraris, Porsches, Renaults, Citroens, Mercedes-Benz, Volvos and some American cars as well. There was also a line of at least eight Formula One cars in 1/43 scale from the 1960s including BRM, Ferrari, Lola-Climax, Lotus-Climax, Cooper-Maserati, Brabham, and Honda. A few helicopters and airplanes were available. Numbering for the regular 1:43 series began with an "M" (perhaps reminiscent of Politoys M-Series) and went from 300 to 500.Since this was a Spanish company, it is interesting to note that FIATs are not shown as FIAT, rather they are SEATs . This was FIAT under license in Spain - starting in the 1960s - long before Volkswagen took control of SEAT. Thus it is the SEAT 600, the SEAT 850 Spyder the SEAT 127, etc.
Build quality
For all the complexity of origins of the models, however, the products were very high quality. Most were done in a refined and handsome manner, with evenly applied colors. The paint application was often in a brighter, almost spectraflame (though that is a Mattel term) appearance (Johnson 1998, p. 15). There were many opening features and hoods, trunks, and doors matched the bodies with satisfying precision. Finished parts were thin and svelte and models appear much like Solido - not heavy handed like some British Dinkys and Corgis. Tires were rubber and wheels authentically matched each model - where a generic one was necessary, a handsome wire wheel was employed similar to those seen on PolitoysPolistil
Polistil was a toy company headquartered in Milan, Italy, with production center in Chiari, Brescia. Polistil specialized in diecast metal and plastic vehicles of all sizes. The company also made toy and model tanks, dolls, robots and TV tie-ins...
M Series.
These models did not appear rushed into production, though some have experienced cracking of faulty zinc alloy conglomerate 15 to 20 years later. Pilen in the mid-1970s was right up with other 1:43 scale companies packaging their models in clear plastic display cases, though the screws used to hold models to the orange and yellow plastic bases held them tightly and model tires tend to become fused to the plastic.
Typical Pilen brochures were thin narrow folded strips 1 3/4 inches wide which normally advertised thirty cars. On the opposite side, the collector was reminded that five of these strips could be collected and remitted to receive a key chain from "Escuderia" Pilen - which had been a traditional Pilen product for some years.
Complex origins
Again, Pilen's model selection appears taken (whether by direct copying from blueprints or through available dies) from a variety of other producers. For example, the Talbot/Simca/Chrysler 150 sedan, Renault 12 sedan, and Mercedes 250 coupe were apparently from older French Dinky castings. The Ferrari P5, Citroen DS Pallas, and Matra Simca Bagheera also looked to be Dinky copies (Force 1988, p. 8; Johnson 1998, p. 15). Bickford's online source for diecast oddities claims that Pilen was licensed to make French Dinkys in Spain, but they were never marketed as such (Bickford 2009).The Oldsmobile Toronado, the '63 Corvette Stingray, the experimental Chevrolet Corvette-like Astro 1 and the Adams Probe all appear to have been recastings of previous British Corgi models. Though Tekno also made a Toronado and Pilen's Toronado had opening doors similar to the Tekno, the general look and opening headlights appear more like the Corgi.
Several Pilen models seem dead ringers for Solidos from France such as the deTomaso Mangusta which Dinky also made, but Pilen's version was very refined like the Solido, while the Dinky was rather thick and distorted. Pilen's Opel Manta was surely a Solido replica, as well as the Mercedes-Benz C111 rotary concept. Pilen had a Porsche Carrera 6 race car like Corgi and Solido, but the details of the Pilen model match the Solido.
A couple other models appear to be copies of previous Politoys models of Italy: the Ferrari Modulo Peninfarina and the Lancia Stratos Bertone. The American Ford GT Mark II is very similar to the Mebetoys (also of Italy) version, and the SEAT (FIAT) 850 Spyder is like the earlier Mercury, another Italian model producer. The company's Chevrolet Corvair Monza open cockpit concept is a doppelganger of the Danish Tekno issue. It seems either Pilen had direct access to dies of many toy makers (which does not seem very likely), or it had superior skills in creating new castings closely matching various existing vehicles - perhaps with the help of blueprints.
A few models have mysterious origins. The very nicely done AMC Javelin doesn't seem to have a counterpart elsewhere and neither does the Intermeccanica Indra or the Monteverdi Hai 450, though models of all of these appeared afterward made by different manufacturers. One possibility is that these were new French Dinky castings that had not appeared elsewhere and were to be introduced when the 'Spanish Dinky' line was to premier. Considering the care and quality seen in many of the Auto Pilen models, it is also possible that a few models were done in-house.
Auto Pilen also made a line of Matchbox-sized 1/64 scale cars, but these are more rare. Besides a SEAT 131 Wagon, a Peugeot 604, and a Range Rover - little is known about them. The Range Rover casting was shared with Guiloy which brings us to the subject of Pilen's connections to other Spanish diecasters (Willoughby no date).
Company interconnections
Pilen maintained a close association with other Spanish toy makers also headquartered in Alicante like Joal, Guiloy, Guisval, and MiraMira
Mira also known as Omicron Ceti , is a red giant star estimated 200-400 light years away in the constellation Cetus. Mira is a binary star, consisting of the red giant Mira A along with Mira B. Mira A is also an oscillating variable star and was the first non-supernova variable star discovered,...
as seen with a similar casting of the Pilen Adams Probe as a Joal model, and the appearance of a Citroen CX which had earlier appeared as a Mira
Mira
Mira also known as Omicron Ceti , is a red giant star estimated 200-400 light years away in the constellation Cetus. Mira is a binary star, consisting of the red giant Mira A along with Mira B. Mira A is also an oscillating variable star and was the first non-supernova variable star discovered,...
. Pilen's clean Maserati Ghibli, which may have come from an earlier French Norev
Norev
Norev is a French manufacturer of diecast metal model cars. It has normally has produced modern and vintage European vehicles, especially French vehicles - though Italian, German, and American vehicles were also produced.-History:...
Jet Car, also appeared as a Guiloy. The Renault 17 sport coupe also looks to be a knockoff of a Norev. Pilen's SEAT 600 was also boxed as a Guisval. Bickford (2009) also reports that the Javelin, SEAT 124 coupe and the Monteverdi Hai castings made their way to the Venezuelan company of Juguinsa when Pilen was through with them.
Around 1990, there was also a connection with the Dutch diecast company AHC which appears to have bought Auto Pilen (Bickford 2009). AHC has since shared dies and Pilen stamped cars can be found in both AHC and OTO labeled boxes, OTO being an affiliate of AHC (Bickford 2009; Johnson 1998, p. 15). AHC, however, usually produced Volvos, of which Pilen only made a few: the DAF based 66, the 480 Turbo, and the 460 and 850 sedans. Most of these appear to have been developed first by AHC models before they were reverse marketed - and then later sold as Pilens. Some of these Volvos also appear to have been sold as promotional models. There were also some Nissans made by AHC/Doorkey that were packaged as Pilens (Bickford 2009).