Thread Number: 63057
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
1960s mid-engine vans... |
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Post# 856427 , Reply# 2   12/13/2015 at 11:20 (3,027 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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67 Chevy Van 108... with 283 stock V8... Great fun...
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Post# 856495 , Reply# 3   12/13/2015 at 21:08 (3,027 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)   |   | |
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In the cartoon Scooby Doo, the Mystery Machine actually had the engine in the rear. Only two vans that have had the engine in the rear. Either the Chevy Corvair van or the VW van.
I like the first generation Ford Econoline vans(the engine in between the seats and a flat nose), but I prefer the second generation (1969-1974 that had a slight nose and the engine was moved closer to the front.). |
Post# 856509 , Reply# 4   12/14/2015 at 00:41 (3,027 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Actually it would be impossible for the original Scooby Doo van to be rear engine. That's because the rear doors are vertical, and extend from the roof to the floor bed of the van. No room there for a motor as well. The VW microbus had a horizontal half-liftgate to allow luggage to be loaded onto the shelf above the motor. Same for the Corvair "Greenbriar".
Here's a good discussion of the topic. Bearing in mind that we're discussing a cartoon car, the indications seem to be that the Mystery Machine was most based on the utility (no passenger windows) version of the late 60's Chevy Van.
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Post# 856587 , Reply# 5   12/14/2015 at 16:59 (3,026 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
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Post# 856616 , Reply# 6   12/14/2015 at 20:12 (3,026 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)   |   | |
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I've always associated the Mystery Machine with the Chevy Corvair van. Here are my reasons why. There was one episode where they actually showed the engine in the rear. That automatically disqualifies the Econoline, Dodge, and the Chevy Sportvan. Another thing is the front seat was a bench seat. Only the Corvair van and the VW van had both the rear engine and the bench seat in the front.
In the article he mentions " the Mystery Machine has a pair of vertical doors that extend to the floor of the van — no room for a rear engine there." yet he fails to provide a picture to back up his claim. |
Post# 856717 , Reply# 8   12/15/2015 at 12:07 (3,025 days old) by nurdlinger (Tucson AZ)   |   | |
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I worked as a flunky on a survey crew for the Wayne County (MI) Road Commission. Crews had '65 or '66 Ford Econolines of the mentioned configuration with the engine between the two front seats. Ours had an overheat problem. One day we took off the engine lid, and removed the radiator cap. Coolant gushed out in a geyser, and hit the ceiling. Cool as it was to drive, after that experience I did not think that I wanted one.
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Post# 856723 , Reply# 9   12/15/2015 at 12:46 (3,025 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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There's no mention on any web site I can find that there was an episode of Scooby Doo with a rear-engine van.
I have two authorized models of the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine van, and both show rear barn doors, not half hatch doors. No room for a rear engine with those kinds of doors. Also, there are no air slots that a rear engine design would require.
But seriously folks, we're talking about an imaginary vehicle created by cartoonists who may or may not have had a specific real world van in mind. The general consensus seems to be the Chevy Van (not the Sportvan, which has passenger windows) is the closest. But the Mystery Van mixes cues from different makers: One piece windshield, spare tire up front, vertical split full height rear doors, apparent center seating (I know several people who as kids used to sit on the dog house), squared off wheel wells, small round rear tail lights, no front or rear grills, etc etc etc.
The live action series also featured vans of different makes, such as from Chevy and Ford. But no VW's or Corvair/Greebriars. |
Post# 856724 , Reply# 10   12/15/2015 at 12:53 (3,025 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Thanks.
No, it's not the original color. Close, though. As far as I can tell, the original color was a slightly darker semi-metallic green. It shows up in various spots if you know where to look, but the repaint was pretty thorough, interior and exterior.
It's fun to drive but kind of punishing. Solid front axle with leaf springs... you're sitting right over the wheels, so there's no leveraging of the impacts. Previous owner had the stock springs flattened and replaced the stock front seats with Recaro brand, which probably have less cushion/bounce than the originals. Cést la vie. I use the van for home improvement runs, and also have taken it to a few car shows/meets. Eventually when I get around to taking a real vacation I'd like to use it for camping. |
Post# 856847 , Reply# 11   12/16/2015 at 02:06 (3,025 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)   |   | |
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The moral is here----maybe cartoonists should design cars-esp trucks???Seen them design flexible planes and outboard motors! |
Post# 856918 , Reply# 12   12/16/2015 at 12:39 (3,024 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)   |   | |
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Post# 856927 , Reply# 13   12/16/2015 at 14:23 (3,024 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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I have a pretty full set of Scooby Doo DVD's. I can't stand the show, but it came in a nice model of the van, that's why I got it. Please let me know the Season/Episode with the van you describe.
I've heard about the bench seat observation... I suppose you could claim a thin seat could be put over the dog house. But again, there's really no proof that the cartoon van is supposed to be any particular brand/make/model. It seems to be a unique design that combines features from different models. Later on, I understand the live action movies had vans with hood noses and motors in the front. Sacrilege! LOL...
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Post# 857757 , Reply# 15   12/21/2015 at 18:26 (3,019 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 857779 , Reply# 17   12/21/2015 at 21:57 (3,019 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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When I traveled to rural Japan on business I was warned by a departing co-worker that a common sight would be one of those micro trucks stopped in the middle of the highway, with the driver and his passenger (usually a farm wife) getting out and looking basically lost. I did see one like that once, but going in the opposite direction. I didn't stop to ask (wouldn't have been able to communicate too well, anyway). Most of the time I'd see them tooling along at a rather sedate speed.
Today I went to a local Costco and saw a pickup in the parking lot of similar dimensions, but it was an all-electric three wheel "Zap!" car. They are kind of cute.
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Post# 857894 , Reply# 18   12/22/2015 at 16:15 (3,018 days old) by nurdlinger (Tucson AZ)   |   | |
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Could this be the bus you described? "Fageol Twin Coach"
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Post# 858138 , Reply# 21   12/24/2015 at 09:17 (3,016 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 858182 , Reply# 22   12/24/2015 at 15:01 (3,016 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)   |   | |
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cool that Gillig is still making buses-I thought they had stopped after 1982,but that was just the mid-engine versions that were discontinued I discovered after closer investigation :)Glad there is a company still making transit buses in the U.S. in 2015... |
Post# 859526 , Reply# 23   1/1/2016 at 20:25 (3,008 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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According to my web searches, Gillig is one of two North American bus companies that account for the vast majority of transit buses sold today in the USA. The other one is a Canadian firm the name of which escapes me. New Flyer something.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO sudsmaster's LINK This post was last edited 01/01/2016 at 23:42 |