The Matchbox Mercedes Coach was first released in 1966 and was produced in only two variations. Early versions had a turquoise metal lower section with a white plastic top; later versions had an orange lower section with a white plastic top as you see here. This nice bus – the second of two eBay bonus cars I picked up from the same seller when I bought my Ford GT – is the third example of the orange variation that i’ve found, and the first to have all of its parts. (The first two I found were only the bottom metal piece, devoid of any interior or glass)
While Mercedes-Benz has been in the bus-making business since 1895, it is unclear which model the Matchbox #68 Mercedes Coach is actually based on. I came across a thread on diecastgarage.org that suggests convincingly that it is actually a knock-off of an East German 1961 Robur bus, with only the grille modified to look like a Mercedes.
Even if the Matchbox Mercedes Coach is questionable in its accuracy to an specific model, it does have some very nice details.
Matchbox | 1967-1969 | #68 | Mercedes Coach | orange metal lower body and base, silver grille and bumper, white plastic upper body, clear windows, white interior | England | black plastic wheels
The Race Case MBX 