The Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo is a mix of different real-life vans from the 1960s.

The Mystery Machine first appeared on television in 1969. Designers at Hanna-Barbera, like Bob Singer, used the 'vanning culture' of Southern California for inspiration. The van uses a 'cab-over' design where the driver sits directly above the front wheels. This was a common feature of the 1961 Ford Econoline.The van also has a rounded body similar to the Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon. The bright blue and green colors come from the hippie movement of that time. In the show, the van first belonged to a band called The Flashlight before the Scooby-Doo gang got it.The boxy shape of the van makes it slow against the wind, but it provides a lot of room inside. This space allows the characters to carry tools like ladders, lanterns, and computers. Many fans build real versions of the van today. In 2019, a 1967 Ford Econoline painted like the Mystery Machine sold for more than $15,000.