Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 03, 2025
Rare 1960 Mercedes-Benz Binz Kombiwagen Joins DFW Museum Collection
TLDR
- Owning this rare 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190b Binz Kombiwagen provides exclusive bragging rights as one of only 349 examples from the prestigious German coachbuilder.
- The Mercedes-Benz 190b features a 1.9-liter inline-four engine, four-speed manual transmission, double-wishbone front suspension, and Binz's functional conversion with split tailgate and folding rear bench.
- This preserved automotive masterpiece honors postwar craftsmanship and innovation, inspiring future generations through its display at the DFW Car & Toy Museum's free public collection.
- The 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190b Binz Kombiwagen combines salmon-colored elegance with surprising versatility, featuring hidden storage compartments and a folding rear bench for practical luxury.
Impact - Why it Matters
This acquisition highlights the importance of preserving automotive history and the art of custom coachbuilding, showcasing how postwar European manufacturers blended luxury with practical functionality. For automotive enthusiasts and historians, it represents a tangible connection to an era when craftsmanship and innovation converged to create unique vehicles that served both aesthetic and utilitarian purposes. The museum's commitment to displaying such rare examples ensures that future generations can appreciate the evolution of automotive design and the specialized craftsmanship that has largely disappeared from modern vehicle production.
Summary
The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has acquired an exceptionally rare 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190b Binz Kombiwagen as part of the Ron Sturgeon Collection, marking a significant addition to its automotive exhibits. This unique vehicle represents one of only 349 examples converted by the renowned German coachbuilder Binz between 1958 and 1961, blending classic Mercedes-Benz luxury with practical versatility. Finished in a distinctive Salmon (SW) color, the car features a recently overhauled 1.9-liter inline-four engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission, along with sophisticated suspension and braking systems that ensure both performance and driving comfort.
Inside, the Kombiwagen maintains its authentic period charm with Tobacco MB-Tex vinyl upholstery, gray rubber floor liners, woodgrain dashboard accents, and thoughtful details like vent windows, polished door pulls, and a period-correct Becker Mexico radio. The true innovation lies in the Binz conversion, which includes a split-opening tailgate and liftgate, a forward-folding rear bench creating an extended flat load surface, and an enclosed storage compartment beneath the floor—features that made this vehicle as functional as it was elegant. The DFW Car & Toy Museum, founded by automotive enthusiast Ron Sturgeon, now occupies a 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth offering free admission and parking, along with climate-controlled car storage and event hosting capabilities, making it a premier destination for car and toy enthusiasts worldwide.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Rare 1960 Mercedes-Benz Binz Kombiwagen Joins DFW Museum Collection
