Famous Vans in Television History
Those of us of a certain age have certain vans imprinted in our unconscious, thanks to the medium of television; think the Mystery Machine, driven by Fred and The Scooby Doo Gang or the distinctive black van used by Hannibal Smith’s A-Team. Younger viewers are being introduced to the less dynamic, but equally adorable van, driven by Postman Pat. And possibly the least stylish hybrid van we all remember is the ‘Trotters Independent Trading Co’ van driven by Del Boy from ‘Only Fools and Horses’. In fact, this latest truck is so popular and so instantly recognizable that one of the three-wheelers used in the show recently sold for £44,227.50. Let’s hope the new owner has cheap van insurance!
A recent Toys R Us poll found the Mystery Machine to be the most popular fictional vehicle of all time. Although it does not have an official make or model, it is generally assumed to be a ‘wonderful’ motorhome. The ‘flower-power’ designs and Machine’s slightly psychedelic paint scheme help capture an era of television that was seemingly innocent, but hinted at ‘extracurricular’ activities; Why was Shaggy so distracted and hungry all the time and what was in those Scooby Snacks? Such is the popularity of the Mystery Machine that a host of motorhomes, Chevys, GMs, Fords and Dodges have been converted to homage to the Scooby Doo Gang wheels.
The A-Team trip, by comparison, was less extravagant and certainly had the upper hand on machismo. His sleek black van was as much a part of the team as BA Baracus, providing them with a home on the road and a seemingly endless supply of tools with which to turn old harvesters into flame-throwing tanks. With its instantly recognizable red stripe, this GMC pickup was more than a getaway car; it became an icon of automotive popular culture that simply oozes class.
The Ecto-Mobile, used by the Ghostbusters in the movies of the same name, may not have been in the class of the A-Team truck, but it furthered the idea of heroes fighting odds that were stacked a mile high. against them A converted hearse obviously tapped into an alternate power source, allowing Dan Ackroyd and his gang to catch ghosts left and right. Although used for less mundane purposes, Postman Pat’s truck is equally recognizable, as it was inspired by children’s drawings. Originally the bright red van used a generic crown symbol to represent Royal Mail but, when Royal Mail gave their consent for the logo to be used, it was changed accordingly.
The celebrity van of the future is likely to be something different from these icons of the past; however, you may not notice it from the outside. Conventional vans run on fossil fuels, such as diesel, while hybrid vans run on a combination of fuel and electric technology. In addition to all the benefits offered to the driver and his passengers, this also has a positive effect on the environment. Because they can run on a minimal amount of fossil fuel, the amount of carbon dioxide a hybrid van emits is much less than a standard vehicle. There’s also less chance of running out of fuel at an inconvenient time; Because the hybrid van can charge its batteries while it’s running, there should always be a backup source to fall back on when fuel is running low.
While the celebrity trucks of our past have been indelibly imprinted in our memories, it is hybrid trucks that are likely to grace our screens in the future.