Many were baffled when the new Giulietta sedan came out in 1977. The line was probably too far ahead of its time, due to its truncated tail. Initially the two available engines were 1300 and 1600, but later came 1800 and 2000. After the initial distrust, the Giulietta began to experience good sales success. The first series was replaced in 1981 by a restyling.
Mebetoys was founded by Mario Besana in Milan in 1966. The company produced many different models, first in 1:43, then also in 1:25. Already at the beginning of the 1970s Besana sold the company to the American Mattel, shortly thereafter founding Martoys and then Bburago. With Mattel, the Mebetoys models, originally very detailed, became simpler and closer to the needs of the toy world. Mattel used its Hot Wheels brand for all Mebetoys models from 1981 onwards and closed the Italian factory in 1984.