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Touring Car and Delivery Mystery

A relatively non-descript snapshot of a middle-aged couple, seemingly about to head off on a holiday or city trip. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t find a shred of information about a German-based Mats touring car or holiday company. There was a similarly named outfit in the U.S., west of Grand Rapids—but this photo? It’s as European as Europe gets.

As for the bus itself, identifying the make is anyone’s guess. Vintage bus archives are overflowing with models that look just like this one, so we’re calling it a day on that front.

But then there’s the other vehicle—just a glimpse of its rear end, a delivery van tucked into the frame. Based on the wheel and hubcap, we’re leaning toward a Ford 12M Kombi. The bodywork doesn’t quite match cleanly, which only makes it more intriguing.

This is exactly the kind of niche detail we get a kick out of. And honestly, we’re not ready to move on with the week until we’ve cracked it.

So please—help us out?

 

Published:
Wednesday April 16th, 2025
Gerd Klioba
20 April 2025, 21:34
The bus might have been this one pictured below:
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Gerd Klioba
20 April 2025, 21:32
The mystery van surely is a Ford Taunus 15M panel van (Lieferwagen in German, bestelwagen in Dutch). Quite often some additional windows were added into the side panels, in case of our mystery car just one each side covering the rear seat area. Some more with handcrafted windows added:
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Paul Walter
20 April 2025, 16:36
I don’t believe it’s just "Mats." If you look closely over the woman’s shoulder, you can see the continuation of the lettering, suggesting the name is in fact longer, perhaps "Matson" or similar.
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G. Stol
20 April 2025, 12:47
Mr. Delaney is correct, Matser was a touring car company based in Arnhem, Holland. The bus in front is probably a Volvo Type B655 with coachwork by Domburg (photo taken in the early '60s). The mystery car in the back could be a Simca Aronde Chatelaine P60, made from 1958 till 1964.
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John P. Delaney
20 April 2025, 11:57
I suggest that photo was taken in the Netherlands based on the house front and the fence.
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