Pitching a script: The top 5 most iconic campervans in film and TV

From the small screen, all the way to Hollywood, campervans have a habit of pitching up throughout pop-culture media. 

Whether making on-screen appearances in road trips, action scenes, or even hunting for clues, plucky little campers often play their part in driving the plot forwards.

Be warned, we are limiting this list to campervans and van conversions only, so don’t expect to see Walt and Jessie’s faded yellow Fleetwood Bounder lab from Breaking Bad, or Dale's Winnebago Chieftain zombie haven from The Walking Dead here. 

Many of today’s most luxurious campervan conversions feature TVs, but here is our list of vans which have made it onto the screen themselves. 

Scooby Doo — The Mystery Machine.

Where else to begin but with the Mystery Machine? Now, there is a common misconception that the original 1969 ‘Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!’ cartoon van is based on the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter. However, fans have split up to look for clues, and revealed that the first iteration of the psychedelic flower power mobile was likely based on either a Dodge A100, or a 1960s ‘Chevy Van’.

But zoinks! It isn’t as simple as that. Like the show’s villains, the van model hasn’t remained consistent. Further fan investigation unmasked the ‘90s direct-to-video ‘Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island’, Mystery Machine as either a Chevrolet Astro or a GMC Safari.

Then, ruh-roh raggy, it switched up again for the memorable 2002 live-action film, with a 1972 Bedford CF stepping in to take a turn carrying the gang to the scene of the crime. And they would have gotten away with all these changes if it hadn't been for you meddling… campervan spotters?

The A-Team — GMC Vandura.

We love it when a plan comes together, and no conversion list is complete without the black and metallic grey paintjob, red accents and hubcaps, and the (very aerodynamic) rooftop spoiler of the A-Team’s van — a true pop culture icon.

This modified GMC Vandura, a model known for its boxy and durable design, was pushed to the limit jumping through numerous memorable stunts and explosions. Although when the going got too tough, colour matched Ford Econolines did step in as stunt vans (not always surviving to tell the tale). Either way, only one man was allowed behind the wheel: B.A. Baracus (Mr. T) — "Are you crazy? Nobody drives my van but me!"

While there were no beds spotted in the back of the A-Team’s squad carrier during its on-screen appearances, we still reckon it counts as a conversion. The van’s spacious interior was choc-a-bloc with a constant array of weaponry, Hannibal’s many disguises, and even surveillance and printing press gadgets from time-to-time — and who’s to say we didn’t just miss the hammock accessory?

Little Miss Sunshine — Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter.

For a film revolved around a beauty pageant, it was only right they picked, in our opinion, one of the most stylish vehicles ever made: the late 70s Volkswagen Transporter. With a more minimalist appearance than earlier models, dropping the apron but keeping the distinctive front badge, bug eye-like headlights, and two-tone color scheme, we love this little VW Bus.

The plot follows a dysfunctional family, and, dare we say, a slightly dysfunctional camper which encounters some mechanical hiccups during their 800-mile road trip together across America. From a horn which won’t quit honking (as if a bright yellow T2 won’t already turn enough heads), to a non-starting engine which requires everyone to band together and push, both the van and the family always persevere to get back to their feet. Indeed, as Little Miss Sunshine’s dad, Richard says, “winners don’t give up”.

We think the van itself poses as the perfect nostalgic setting, tugging on some sentimental heartstrings, while the cramped interior literally brings the family closer together.

Dumb and Dumber — Mutt Cutts.

A furry 1984 Ford Econoline hidden under a full dog faceplate, complete with dangling tongue and floppy ears, a tail, and even a leg which required lifting for refueling purposes (and refueling purposes only). It can only be one thing: Harry’s van from Dumb and Dumber.

Known for its rugged (or in this case, rug’d) nature, the Ford Econoline became a popular choice for commercial use as well as conversions. Yes, again, this isn’t technically a campervan, but it’s a conversion so we’ll have this cult classic on our list too.

Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) poured his life savings into this dog grooming-mobile, before inadvertently loading it up with a suitcase of ransom money and comedically road tripping to Colorado — and with it carpeted inside and out, we reckon you could catch some Zzzs in the back.

While you’d expect faithful fan homages for previous entries, you may be surprised about the number of impractical Mutt Cutts recreations which have taken to the road. To anyone who owns one of these hairy haulers, we hope sunny skies follow wherever you go. There’s nothing worse than the smell of wet dog.

The French Dispatch - Citroën Type H.

And finally, one of our favourite van conversion options which was recently teased with a concept homage. It’s the hippest, squarest cult-classic around: the Citroën Type H.

Fitting in perfectly with Wes Anderson's signature vintage aesthetic in The French Dispatch, the grey corrugated carrier is here used to deliver newspapers in the fictional French city of Ennui-sur-Blasé.

The most recent entry on our list, we reckon this van’s standout appearance among the film’s whimsical intertwined storylines can only have contributed to the increased contemporary interest in this French cargo icon. This may have been the fictional newspapers final issue, but we have a feeling the Type H will be on our screens for years to come.

And that’s a wrap. We’d like to give honorable mentions to Fillmore from Cars, the VW Bus where Loius Gara meets his demise in Jackie Brown, the poor old Splittie which Dirty Harry wipes out in Magnum Force, and the baddie toting camper in Back to the Future… Believe us, we could go on. 

But what do you think, are there any iconic appearances we’ve missed?

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