VBD2 is closed. Please go to https://vbd3.co.uk instead.

Here is a favourite model of mine, the Ambulance bodied Mercedes-Benz, but as a kid, I was puzzled by the 'Binz' part of the name on the box.

They are in fact a separate coachbuilding company working on Mercedes-Benz cars...
The company is still active and this link will take you to a nice 'Binz' based website...http://www.mbzponton.org/pax058/people/variants.htm

GHOSTHUNTER.

Very interesting Ghosty. Thanks for the view.

The SF03 Benz Binz Ambulance was one of my favourite Matchbox in my chiildhood, but only after the SF51 Pointer Tipper

Thanks Ghosty!

Ghosty, you weren't the only one confused with the Benz and Binz names.

Well there you go I always thought that Binz was some sort of licencing side step by Lesney... Never realised it was a separate company

Their ambulances had a huge share of the market in Germany and Nordic countries until this millenium when very powerful VW Transporters and Mercedes Sprinters took over the market

Binz (http://www.binz-automotive.com) is still a major player in the ambulance conversion business. They don't need to construct the station wagon part anymore as such bodywork since decades comes directly from the carmakers but the conversion to special vehicles is still carried out by companies like Binz or Miesen (the maker of the Corgi 's "Bonna" ambulance).