Vans have cruised their way into the hearts of audiences through television and movies, becoming iconic symbols in their own right. From action-packed adventures to comedic road trips, these vehicles have played memorable roles. Here’s a look at some of the most famous vans in the pop culture landscape.
The A-Team (1983 GMC Vandura)
Children of the ’80s will vividly recall the action-packed series “The A-Team,” which aired 97 episodes from 1983 to 1987. Among the show’s stars were George Peppard and Laurence “Mr. T” Tureaud. Mr. T’s character, B.A. Baracus, drove his crew in a striking gray and black 1983 GMC Vandura, complete with red stripes, a spoiler, a bull bar, and an array of auxiliary lighting.
Craig Baxley, the show’s stunt coordinator, revealed that the show used at least eight vans during filming. Two served as “hero cars” for slower driving and interior shots, while the others were used for stunt sequences. Powering the A-Team vans was GM’s robust 350 cubic-inch V8 engine, which had minor performance tweaks such as an improved carburetor and a custom exhaust. The A-Team Vandura’s popularity has led to numerous fan-made replicas.
Little Miss Sunshine (1978 VW Bus)
The Volkswagen van, also known as the Type II (or Bus, Transporter, and Kombi), has left its mark on many different eras of culture, and, as highlighted in the 2006 road trip comedy “Little Miss Sunshine.” This film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and a win for Best Original Screenplay, featured a yellow VW bus in the journey of the film. The movie starred Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, and Alan Arkin.
Various sources report the bus in the film as a 1971, 1978, or 1979 model, but one thing is certain—it experienced several trials throughout the Hoover family journey, and it’s a vehicle that’s now considered one of the most famous. One of the vans later went on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
Dumb and Dumber (Mutt Cutts Van)
In the 1994 Farrelly Brothers comedy “Dumb and Dumber,” the Mutt Cutts mobile grooming center, driven by Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, was a notable presence. What began as a 1984 Ford Econoline E-150 was transformed to resemble a sheepdog, complete with tan shag carpeting covering the exterior, a tail, and a large pink tongue on the front bumper. The van reappeared in the 2014 sequel “Dumb and Dumber To.” The Mutt Cutts van has also seen its fair share of fan-made replicas.
Up in Smoke (Chevy P-10)
Before widespread cannabis legalization, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong created a series of stoner comedy films. Their first big-screen project, “Up In Smoke,” released in 1978, was a box office success. The film features Anthony “Man” Stoner (Chong) and Pedro de Pacas (Marin) in a van that –unbeknownst to them — is made entirely of cannabis. The illicit panel truck is based on a 1960s Chevrolet P-10 step van.
That ’70s Show (Kelso’s Dodge A-100)
In “That ’70s Show,” Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) receives a dilapidated 1964 Dodge A-100 van from his uncle. The vehicle meets its end in Season 3. The A-100’s journey continues when Kelso wins a brand-new Volkswagen Type II van in a radio contest. The van is a fixture for fans of the series.
Scooby-Doo (The Mystery Machine)
The Mystery Machine is, perhaps, the most famous van in TV and movie history. This brightly painted vehicle has transported Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, and the rest of the gang from mystery to mystery since the animated series “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” first aired in 1969. The van’s exact make and model remains a mystery, although it has been speculated the van is either a mid-’60s Dodge A-100 or a Chevy G-body model. The Mystery Machine, as with other memorable vans, has received numerous fan recreations.
