[4] A photograph of the P43 as a wooden mockup exists along with other models of P40 and P43 bis, 30 tons with cannon that looks like it could be a lighter version of the 90/53 piece.

In the same picture, there is a model of a German Panther version slightly smaller equipped with what appears to be a 90/53 cannon.

It is possible that the German part stigmatized the P43 as a plagiarism of the Panther tank (that Italy had received blueprints for the production in license).

It seems that this model has received the abbreviation P43 bis (perhaps for the observed inability to quickly get to the production of the P43 with a piece of 90 mm cannon).

This overlap of studies can be originated either by news from the Russian front on the new Soviet medium tank T-34/85 of 32 tons and with 85 mm cannon (derived from the anti-aircraft gun) or by the availability of data and drawings of the German Panther.

The Italians goal with this vehicle was to create a somewhat equivalent of the Panther and Tiger tanks used by their allies.