The Scooby-Doo van, aka the Mystery Machine, lives up to its name in that while there are some educated guesses as to what car it is, it's still truly a mystery.
puts it, the one question Scooby-Doo and friends could never answer was, "What kind of van is that!?"
When the show first premiered in 1969, there were a couple of possible contenders. Both the Dodge A100 and the mid-'60s Chevy G-Body panel van could pass for the Mystery Machine. With the right paint job and flower-power spare tire up front, of course!
Despite the pricey Ford Econoline conversion mentioned above, this model wasn't even in the running for the Scooby-Doo van. It had the requisite round headlights, but the distinctive headlight housing disqualified it from any serious contention.
Apparently, the true lineage of the Mystery Machine is a bigger mystery than any of the unearthly ones the intrepid Scooby-Doo team tackled!
How does the Scooby-Doo van compare to other cartoon vehicles?
It isn't loaded with voice-activated gadgets like the Gadgetmobile, it doesn't zoom through the air like the Jetson's bubble-topped Aero car, and it certainly isn't as high-tech as Speed Racer's super futuristic Mach 5. However, the Scooby-Doo van can still hold its own with other iconic cartoon vehicles.
For one thing, it definitely holds the longevity record. Scooby-Doo and friends have been solving mysteries from the Mystery Machine for nearly 50 years! That's far longer than any of its cartoon competitors have stuck around.
It's also decked out with everything a group of teenagers solving eerie mysteries might need along the way, including a dash-mounted Ghost Finder instrument panel. Spooky! Plus it has plenty of bench seating for the young mystery solvers to lounge on between cases.
Let's see, bright orange flowers on a bright blue and green background? Check! Green hubcaps centered by orange flowers? Yep, that's unmistakably the Scooby-Doo van!
Even in the extremely colorful world of cartoons, the Mystery Machine stands apart from the rest with its unique color combo and floral pattern.
Another sure-fire way to recognize the Scooby-Doo van is by its total lack of reliability. Along with the atrocious gas mileage that causes it to run out of gas at the most inopportune moments, of course.
Driving this van is definitely not for the faint of heart. Unless you're prepared to solve a mystery in the nearby spooky mansion, that is. Good thing Scooby and the gang always manage a way out of the hair-raising situations their van gets them into!
Insuring your favorite car
Unless you've invested your life savings in a re-creation of your favorite cartoon vehicle, you probably drive something a bit more conventional. It might even be one of
super app will save you time and money by comparing quotes from the country's top-ranked insurance companies. You'll find exactly the coverage you want at a price you're willing to pay when you let Jerry help. And just think of how many episodes of your favorite cartoon you can binge with the time you'll save!
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