Are Maisto and Bburago the same company?

The short answer: Maisto and Bburago are separate diecast brands that sit under the same parent company, May Cheong Group, and they cover different ground. Maisto is the broader line, with American and worldwide cars from detailed 1:18 Special Edition models to 1:64 Speed Icons. Bburago leans European, with Ferrari, Lamborghini and licensed Formula 1 replicas.

Are Maisto and Bburago the same company?

They share a parent, but they are run as two brands. May Cheong Group owned Maisto and later added Bburago. Both brands' own websites list them side by side as part of the group: Maisto International, Inc. in Fontana, California, and Bburago Italia s.r.l. in Italy. According to Bburago, the brand was founded in the 1970s in Burago di Molgora, in Lombardy.

In practice, you can treat them as two catalogs. The two lines are relatively separate in scale, price, detail and features, and I am not aware of a model that has moved from one brand to the other.

Maisto and Bburago compared

Line names are from each brand's own website; "scales we carry most" is from Fairfield Collectibles' catalog as of October 2026 and will change as new shipments arrive.

What makes Maisto stand out?

Maisto's strength is range. In my experience, customers have always gravitated to the Special Edition line. Those 1:18 models have been in production for quite some time, and they are still well made, heavily detailed classics. Maisto also covers more American manufacturers, along with a broader worldwide selection.

The newer Speed Icons line has 1:64 enthusiasts very excited. These are incredibly detailed models and a wonderful range of halo cars: the flagship supercars and exotics, in a size small enough to collect in numbers. You can browse them in 1:64 or on the Maisto brand page.

What makes Bburago stand out?

Bburago's draw is its European focus and its licensing. With the growth of Formula 1 in the United States, the Bburago F1 line has been very popular with our customers. Bburago holds extensive licensing with Formula 1, covering the drivers and the liveries, and the car decoration is extraordinarily accurate. See the Formula 1 collection for the racing side.

I also have great respect for the Lamborghini models. They give collectors an affordable way to experience the design prowess of Lamborghini. Bburago's own site organizes its range into Formula 1, Racing, Ferrari Race & Play and Street cars, across 1:18, 1:24, 1:43 and 1:64.

Which brand should you collect?

I don't steer customers toward one brand or the other, because collectors tend to start with the car manufacturer, the model and the scale they want. If you want a muscle car or a pickup, you will probably start with Maisto. If you want a Ferrari, a Lamborghini or a Formula 1 car, you will probably start with Bburago. Both brands have a Halo car range, but they are usually separated by scale, price, detail and features, so decide which scale fits your shelf first. If you are still choosing, my diecast scale guide explains how the sizes compare.

Space matters as much as brand. Our selection includes many entry-level models for younger collectors and for anyone with limited display space, and both brands are worth a look there.

If you collect American classics in 1:24 or 1:18, Motormax pairs well with Maisto and fills in many of the gaps.

From the merchant's desk

Our goal is to offer a broad selection of the top-selling models for our market, the United States. We see growth in Euro-centric car brands, especially online. Our catalog customers tend to be more traditional.

A model from each brand

• 1:64 Speed Icon Ferrari Monza SP1
• 1:18 1968 Ford Mustang GT Cobra Jet - blue
• 1:24 2023 Oracle F1 Red Bull RB19 w/figure - Perez #11
• 1:18 Lamborghini Temerario - Orange

Common questions