Efsi Toys

Efsi was a Dutch company making diecast cars and trucks starting in 1959 under the Bestbox name. The company could be considered the Matchbox Toys of the Netherlands, but its origins and purpose as a government sponsored employer was far less commercial than other toy manufacturers. Efsi was based in Heerlen, the Netherlands, which is located in southern Limburg province.

Among EFSI's first vehicles were a set of 1960s Formula One cars including Ferrari, Brabham, Honda, Lotus, and Cooper Maserati (Breithaupt 2001; Rixon 2005, p. 85). These were first marketed under the Best Box name and had realistic engines, thick black tires and realistic, solid appearing, deep-set wheels. Several other vehicles were also marketed under the Best Box label, like a Citroen Dyan sedan. Another popular line were a very Matchbox-like series of diecast bodied Ford Model T vehicles in various forms including coupe, sedan, pickup, delivery van, delivery van in fire engine livery (with ladder), tanker, and wrecker truck. Some Model T versions had diecast bases, but plastic bodies. Overall, these were simple but attractive models, produced since the Best Box days, then later cast with the Efsi name up to about 1980 or beyond. The Model T delivery van was made in several liveries like Harrod's, Cadbury, and George Travis wholesale confectioner. Even later, many Efsi vehicles were closely duplicated by Spain's Auto Pilen (Bras 2012a; Bras 2012b; Breithaupt 2001).

Other cars, like a Jaguar XKE convertible, BMW coupe, and a Citroën DS ambulance were also made. Many EFSI cars were a bit smaller than those made by Matchbox and some dies seemed very close to Matchbox - like the Mercedes-Benz 280 convertible and a Mercedes-Benz flat bed truck. One earlier Ford Transit van casting appears similar to one made by Zylmex around 1990, so EFSI appears to have participated in the common practice of buying tooling and also selling it to companies in other countries.

...
Wikipedia