How To Build Your Own Mystery Machine Van From The Scooby-Doo TV Show

The most iconic van on TV has to be: "The Mystery Machine," whose job it was to transport  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, and Fred (AKA Mystery, Inc.) to all of the spooky places that their unsolved mysteries lead them. (and rescue them all afterwards too!)  The Mystery Machine has been reproduced in every form a childish mind could imagine, from toys, to clothes & accessories, to decorations, some of which are still sought by collectors.
Here's one Scooby-Doo Mystery solved for you:  The Mystery Machine was based on a 1968 Chevrolet Sport van 108.  It went on to be awarded the "top fictional vehicle of all time" in a 2006 Toys R Us survey.  A different version of this van was featured in the live-action movie about Scooby-Doo and his mystery-solving, teen trouble finders.  Yet, most Scooby fans seem to prefer to replicate the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon version of The Mystery Machine.
"The Mystery Machine" On Screen History:
-The cartoon version of the Mystery Van has too many credits to list, many TV shows, movies, DVD's, but a real Mystery van appeared in two live action movies about Scooby-Doo and the gang: "Scooby Doo" 2002 and "Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" 2004.
Velma, Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, and Fred (AKA Mystery, Inc.)
Even though some real live versions of The Mystery Machine were not actually featured in any live-action Scooby-Doo movies, they still attract lots of fans & photos.  The most famous one is on display at Universal Studios Hollywood, and deserves some love in this article. Too many vans are sentenced to "death row" (waiting for the crusher) each year. (Ask any van owner...they've got break down stories galore.)  Some lucky vans are "pardoned" at the last minute, not only "Dodging" the junk yard claw, but also winning the van lottery to be reincarnated as "The Mystery Machine."  Here is the Facebook Fan Page of one such now famous van: http://facebook.com/pages/Old-Man-Smithers-Mystery-Machine/103291039720299
The Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine has also been sighted in Kirkland, Washington.  The van is actually a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) vehicle working to efficiently measure roadway stripes.  The Mystery Van look-a-like vehicle does not chaufeur Scooby-Doo and Shaggy around.  It has a more serious job, using a laser attached to the van to measure the brightness of stripes as it drives along the highway.
Have YOU renovated a van to replicate The Mystery Machine?  Send us some photos!  check out the "Star Cars" section of http://GearheadDIVA.com for more articles about all your favorite, famous vehicles.
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