Matchbox Custom 1995 Chevrolet Van Ambulance

Matchbox has a way of making some interesting choices for vehicles.  Of course some of those choices are generics that are either not needed or look too similar to other models.  On the realistic vehicle side they have made some impressive castings with only a few misses.  Matchbox today looks for vehicles out of the realm of normal that other diecast manufacturers would do and create one-of-a-kind models, such as this custom 1995 Chevy van.

The Chevy Van was introduced in the 1960's and started life as a Corvair model that has its engine in the rear, like a VW Bus.  By the late 1960's the Van started to shift away from the Corvair and into its own platform.  The Van sill had front seats over the front wheels, but the engine was not housed between the front seats.  The most iconic version, and long-serving, is the 1973 version that shared components with the C/K pickup.  Surpisingly the Van's body architecture was a uni-body design which improved structural rigidity and has enough room inside where the engine now pushes a bit forward to not impede on passenger space even if it still causes the dash to wrap around it.  The Van served production over the years with minor revisions.  The final year in 1995 saw new changes that included a longer front-end, quad headlights, and third brake light at the rear.  The powertrain used range from a V6 to several V8 motors, the most common being the 5.7L V8 that made an estimated 175 horsepower through a 4-speed automatic transmission.  Even though the Van was popular with conversions most ambulance bodies relied on a cutaway model for a taller body at the rear than a typical panel van conversion.

This Van was once a former Ambulance and after its service it was purchased by one of the Matchbox design team members to create the ultimate recreational vehicle.  In fact, two versions exists: one with a spare tire based on the 6-spoke wheels on the left and fuel canisters to the right, while the other is a dirt bike.  So far most collectors preferred the spare tire version as it doesn't obstruct much of the rear-end detailing.  The Van still has that red paint and most of the emergency lights around the van.  The front has quad headlights and signal lights with a center grille featuring the bowtie logo behind the front push bar on the bumper.  A lower chin spoiler with additional lights is just below the bumper.  There are two mirrors on the doors while an additional two mirrors on the front fenders.  On the sides you can see the details of the door handles, high-roof design, square flashers along with the normal front strobe light, and on the left-side of the vehicle access doors and a toolbox at the bottom.  6-spoke wheels give this van a sporty look and match the spare tire at the rear on some versions.  The right-side has dual panel doors for access to the second-row area.  The rear has square taillights and dual panel doors behind the bumper accessory where the spare tire version at least has additional bumper taillights to take over for the stock ones that are hidden.  Now for such a great casting of a Chevy van here's the downfalls: the base has not much detailing and there is no interior, the latter a dumbfounded move as the vehicle already meets the four part rule, why not include an interior.

As the Hot Wheels A-team GMC Vandura van tends to hide out more this Matchbox Chevy Van ambulance can take over the duty, plus it can take on two roles as an emergency vehicle or as an adventure vehicle.