Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - This "Scooby-Doo" original Mystery Machine van was once in a museum. It's now making a rare appearance at Grand Rapids Comic Con.
Michigan's second largest pop culture event runs through Sunday, November 10, 2019 at DeVos Place.
Here's the story behind the van which was actually once owned by Hanna-Barbera Studios.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
This is the one and only Mystery Machine the studios once owned. Robbin Terry of Auburn, IL now owns it.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
Terry says Hanna-Barbera used to drive this van around to promote the "Scooby-Doo" cartoon series.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
The van is a 1966 Dodge A100.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLiv
The van only has 24,000 miles on it. Terry uses it for charity events and says he doesn't drive it around town much.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
"Sometimes gas stops will be 45 minutes long. When you get there, everybody keeps asking to take a picture," Terry told MLive.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
"Going down the highways is an experience, too because people are driving with one hand and taking a picture with the other."
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
Terry uses the van to raise money for the Lost Limbs Foundation of Atlanta, Indiana.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
Lost Limbs Foundation helps families of amputee children who are in need of medical and prosthetic assistance.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
Inside is brown shag carpet.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
Actor Tony Todd ("Candyman") is a guest at Grand Rapids Comic Con 2019. He stopped by to take a picture with the Mystery Machine.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
So did cosplayers Alex (left) from Grant, MI (Daphne) and Kaitlyn from Walker (Velma).
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
Terry almost never bought the van because someone else purchased it on eBay before him.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
"I was talking to the owner on the phone about the van and someone actually bought it at the same time," said Terry.
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
"So he cancelled the purchase because he said he'd rather sell it to me because of my interest in it and what I wanted to do with it."
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
"The guy I bought it from purchased it from Volo Museum in Chicago. He had it shipped to his home in Washington state, but then decided he didn't want it."
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
Terry says George Barris actually worked on this van. Barris is a designer and builder of many famous Hollywood custom cars. including the Munster Koach and 1966 Batmobile.
Terry and the Mystery Machine will be at Grand Rapids Comic Con all weekend.
CLICK HERE to see COSPLAYERS from day 1 of Grand Rapids Comic Con
Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
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