Italian Terms and Translations

Gran Toros were made in Italy by Mattel S.p.A, the former Mebetoys company.Therefore, the native language of the Gran Toros is Italian. The Italian language has many dialects where individual words have different meanings. The translations on this page are in proper or "university" Italian. The English on this page is United States English.

Parli Italiano? (do you speak Italian?)

Since the Gran Toros were all made in Italy and bear Italian markings we're often asked what these words mean. Here are some translations.

Sputafuoco

Sputafuoco literally translates to Spitfire. "Sputa" means "spit" and "fuoco" means "fire." This was the name for the Gran Toros series sold in the Italian market. This name was discontinued in 1973.

SuperBolidi

SuperBolidi is a made-up combination word which means Superb Shooting Stars, from Superbo, which means Superb, and Bolidi, which is the plural for Shooting-Star. This is found on the bases of the very earliest Gran Toros made for the Italian market. The word SuperBolidi was later replaced by the "official" name for the series, Sputafuoco (which replaced SuperBolidi on the bases). The earliest castings even carried an
SB-XXX numbering system, an abbreviation of SuperBolidi-XXX. Examples of this very early name and numbering system appear on the bases of the earliest Ferrari Can Am castings (as SB-101, see the Ferrari CanAm page) and the earliest Astro II castings (as SB-102, see the Astro II page).

Route Brucia Pista

Literally "wheels" (ruote) that "burn" (brucia) the "race course" (pista). You can say this expression translates to "Hot Wheels."

S.p.A (often seen after Mattel- Mattel S.p.A.):

SpA stands for Società Per Azioni- When Mattel Inc. purchased Mebetoys, it had to create an Italian subsidiary society for the Italian market. This was called the "Mattel S.p.A." This is similar to Incorporating (Inc.) here in the U.S.A. Società means Society and Azioni literally means "stocks."

Meccanica

In English, meccanica means mechanics. The company name Mebetoys is short for "Meccanica Besana Toys". The name comes from ME (for the first two letters in Meccanica), BE (for the first two letters in the founder's last name: Besana), and TOYS.

Translation of the First Italian Advertisement

		il nuovo concetto di "corsa" creato da Mebetoys e BruciaPista.
		the new racing concept created by Mebetoys and Hot Wheels.
		Le nuove grandi macchine Mebetoys le fantastiche ruote delle bruciapista le piste piú larghe del mondo.
		The new big machines made by Mebetoys the fantastic wheels of Hot Wheels the biggest tracks in the whole world.
		Sputafuoco, i giganti-bruciapista piú veloci e perfetti del mondo.
		Spitfire, the giant Hot Wheels, the fastest and most perfect in the world.
		Ragazzi! Finalmente papà è d'accordo. Sputafuoco è un' irresistibile novità! Due splendidi modelli; Ferrari Can-Am e Astro Chevy. Piste per alte velocità con partenza e traguardo. Ed ora entrate anche voi nella scuderia dei piloti piú veloci del mondo! Sputafuoco, i bruciapista in "formato gigante" in tre diversi tipi: Record Mondiale, per km lanciato_____ Doppio Sprint, doppio pista per gare ______ Gran Prix, per grande corsa al brivido. (i modelli Sputafuoco funzionano senza electtricità e batteria). Sputafuoco, i formidabili superbolidi-bruciapista.
		Kids! Finally your Papa agrees. Sputafuoco is an irresistible toy. Two splendid models; Ferrari Can-Am and Chevy Astro. Track for other racers with starting and finish gates. And now you too can enter the race with the fastest drivers in the world! Sputafuoco, the Hot Wheels made giant size in three different sets; Worldwide Record, for km time-trial______ Double Sprint, two tracks for a match _______ Gran Prix, for big race excitement. (The Sputafuoco models function without electricity or batteries). Sputafuoco, the formidable super racers.
		Novità. riservato ai ragazzi piú veloci del mondo.
		New. reserved for the fastest kids in the world.

Translation of the Second Italian Advertisement

		eccezionale novità T'RANTULA UN nouvo modello Sputafuoco.
		exceptional new T'Rantula. a new Sputafuoco model.
		Luci anteriori. Simulatori DI direzione. Muso a mandibole DI tarantola. Motore cromato, 7500 cc. Sedile super anatomico avvolgente. Apertura DI emergenza sul tetto. Cuscinette scorrevolissimi. Calcomania DI ragnatela. Alloggio per paracadute frenante.
		Front lights. Simulate direction. The mouth and mandibles of a tarantula. Chrome motor, 7500 cc. Super anatomical wraparound seat. Emergency escape hatch. Very smooth bearings. Tarantula web. Place for braking parachute.
		i gigante bruciapista piú veloci e perfetti del mondo.
		The giant Hot Wheels the fastest and most perfect in the world.
		Straordinario, ragazzi. Questo nuovo modello sembra una macchina vera. Guardate come è bello, come è ricco DI particolari, come è perfetto in tutti i dettagli, e come sfreccia veloce. Sputafuoco è UN superbolide meraviglioso! Le sue ruote sono le stesse del bruciapista, ma molto pui grandi, per poter correre ancora piú veloce.
		Extraordinary kids. This new model looks like the real thing. Look how beautiful it is, rich with features, how perfect in every detail, and how fast it runs. Sputafuoco, is a marvelous super racer The wheels are the same as the Hot Wheels but bigger so it can run even faster.
		Attenzione: puoi comprare subito questa bellissima macchina DA sola o nella confezione le piste giganti tipo bruciapista.
		Attention: you can buy these beautiful machines right away, either by itself or with the race track.
		nei migliori negozi e nei seguenti Mondo Regali Mattel.
		In the best stores as follows, the World King Mattel.

Translation of the page in the back of the 1971 Sputafuoco Catalog

		In questo catalogo hai trovato i modelli piú indicati alla tua personalità di pilota. Devono essere subito tuoi: nelle prossime gare lascerai gli amici senza fiato! E pensa che presto saranno a tua disposizione altri boldi sensazionali con cui conquistare il primo posto assoluto nel mondo delle corse!
		In this catalog you found the models most appropriate for the racer in you. You've got to buy them right away: you'll leave your friends breathless! Think how amazed other racers will be when you quickly conquer first place in the racing world!