What model is The Mystery Machine? 9 film and TV vans revealed

From the Batmobile to Inspector Morse's burgundy Jag, our favourite characters' cool cars often share the limelight with their human co-stars.

But vans are a rarer sight on posters, with too few of these beautifully designed, multi-purpose vehicles getting the screen time they deserve.

So let's redress the balance. Here are nine iconic models at the heart of some pop-culture classics.

1. Scooby Doo

Scooby Doo is recognised the world over. But while the panicky cartoon pooch gets top billing, his pals – Shaggy, Daphne, Fred and Velma – are almost as widely known.

The same goes for his van.

Yes, The Mystery Machine is a true icon. This blue hippy van – with its bold orange and green floral design – has remained the crew's favourite form of transportation since the first episode aired in 1969.

The van has changed shape over the years. It became a Chevrolet Astro in one animated movie and a 1972 Vauxhall Bedford CF in the 2002 live-action version.

But its origins remain suitably mysterious, as fans can't agree on the make and model of the original 1969 Mystery Machine. Some contend it's a 1963 Ford Econoline. Others say it's a Dodge A-100. Yet more swear it's a mid-60s Chevrolet. Zoinks!

2. Only Fools and Horses

This classic comedy was a regular on UK screens for nearly a quarter of a century. The show saw Peckham wheeler-dealer Del Boy and his put-upon younger brother Rodney try to scrape a living, by hook or by crook.

Their vehicle of choice was a yellow, three-wheeled Reliant Regal. It came complete with a roof rack, dangling fluffy dice and a "tax in the post" sign taped to the windscreen.

Half a dozen identical Regal vans (often mistakenly called Reliant Robins by the great British public) were used during the show's 22-year lifespan. All dated from 1972 or 1973.

3. The A-Team

This cult early-80s action-adventure series starred Mr T as mechanical genius B.A. "Bad Attitude" Baracus, who drove the team's 1983 GMC Vandura G-15.

The van was – and is – legendary. It featured jet-black paintwork with a stylish red and grey trim, courtesy of the designers at General Motors Chevrolet.

Needless to say, it was the perfect ally for the show's eponymous soldiers of fortune as they used their military training to fight injustice and oppression.

4. Back to the Future

This sci-fi trilogy stars Michael J Fox as teenage time-traveller Marty McFly, along with Christopher Lloyd as his unlikely sidekick – eccentric scientist Dr Emmett Brown.

In the first film, "Doc" Brown transports his Delorean time machine (and the dangerous Plutonium that powers it) to the car park of the Twin Pines mall. To haul his cargo, he uses a big white truck emblazoned with the words, "DR E BROWN ENTERPRISES – 24HR SCIENTIFIC SERVICES".

This is a 1984 P60 Value-Van, the badge-engineered counterpart of General Motors' long-lasting Chevrolet Step-Van.

Einstein the dog is sitting patiently inside the Value Van when he spots approaching danger, just before the film's famous cliffhanger ending.

5. Jurassic Park

When Steven Spielberg's thrilling science-action blockbuster was released in 1993, the SUVs in the ill-fated dinosaur theme park were certainly put through their paces.

The park staff used yellow 1992 Jeep Wranglers, while the tour vehicles (which were intended to keep visitors – ahem – "safe") were garishly painted 1992 Ford Explorer XLTs.

The Explorers had high-tech self-navigation systems, plus night vision goggles under the seats and drinking water taps for visitors. They ran on electric tracks, which trailed past the dinosaur paddocks – leaving two trapped outside the T. rex enclosure when the power was switched off.

6. Dumb and Dumber

In this 1994 comedy, goofballs Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne set off across country on a mission to give back a briefcase full of cash that was actually a ransom payment.

Their transport of choice? A mobile dog-grooming van that looks like a giant furry dog – complete with a tail, nose and little pink tongue.

We're not sure which make or model was used to create the original "Mutts Cutts" van. However, a fan later created a convincing replica using a 2003 Ford Econoline.

7. Breaking Bad

This award-winning 2008 TV drama follows Walter White, a chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer, who needs to find a way to pay off the costs of his medical treatment.

So, naturally, he heads into the desert and starts cooking up drugs in a battered old RV nicknamed "The Krystal Ship". The striped recreational vehicle stars throughout the first three series – and reappears in flashbacks in seasons five and six.

Walt and Jesse's home from home is a 1986 Fleetwood Bounder – one of the oldest models of this long-lasting line, which was designed for much more sedate activities and is the best-selling RV model of all time. 

8. The Lady in the Van

Alan Bennett's poignant true story focuses on Miss Mary Shepherd, a homeless woman who lived in her van on his driveway for more than a decade.

During the 2015 feature film, lead actress Dame Maggie Smith actually hand-painted the van yellow on camera. It was later auctioned off with her paintwork listed as one of its special features.

The van the lady lived in was an early split-screen example of the Bedford CA – a light delivery van built on a separate chassis. This unusual design meant that specialist bodywork like Dormobile or camper van conversions could also be fitted.

The sought-after line was produced from 1952 to 1969. The big-screen version is a 1957 model.

9. Orange is the New Black

This gripping, heart-warming female-led prison drama was a smash hit for Netflix when it launched in 2013. It features an extraordinary ensemble cast playing the inmates of Litchfield Prison.

Throughout the show, the inmates are brought in and out of prison using a third-generation Chrysler Dodge Ram (B-series) passenger van. These vans look pretty smart when they're new – but you wouldn't know it based on the show's dirty, battered example.

Metro Vehicle Hire offers an iconic range of Ford, Peugeot, Vauxhall and VW vans for hire in Newcastle. Any questions? Feel free to get in touch.