Those of us who are of a certain age have certain vans imprinted in our unconscious, thanks to the medium of television; think of 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 lovable 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 van 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. Machine’s ‘flower-power’ designs and 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 large number of RVs, Chevy, GM, Ford and Dodge have been converted into homage to the wheels of the Scooby Doo Gang.
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 combine harvesters into flame tanks. With its instantly recognizable red stripe, this GMC pickup was more than just a getaway car; it became an icon of automotive pop culture that simply oozed class.
The Ecto-Mobile, used by the Ghostbusters in the movies of the same name, may not have had the class of the A-Team truck, but it did promote the idea of heroes battling odds that were stacked a mile high. against them A converted hearse obviously tapped into an alternative 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, having been inspired by children’s drawings. Originally the bright red van used a generic crown symbol to represent Royal Mail but, when Royal Mail consented to the logo being used, it was changed accordingly.
The celebrity van of the future is likely to be something different than 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 that of 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 the fuel is running low.
While the celebrity trucks of our past have been indelibly imprinted on our memories, it’s the hybrid trucks that are likely to grace our screens well into the future.