the mystery
Machine

Once I got it home
and sat it in the garage for a
year or so, My oldest son
made a comment about it
looking like the Mystery
Machine. Really, now how
can you argue with that.

I decided to spray
bomb the van in the garage to
see how the graphics would
line up and liked what it
looked like.

This is how the van
looked when I bought it a few
years ago. Lots of clutter and
only running on 4 cylinders. Dave
Davis promptly diagnosed the
problem as a bent distributor
shaft. The van is in the shop now
awaiting fuel system repairs and
new shifter bushings. It will not
shift into 2nd gear.

I looked up the previous
owners of this van and it was last
registered in 1971 by a funeral
home. It was used for the
transport of flowers to grave sites.
What a fitting start for a van to
become "The Mystery Machine."
All of the other owners have sat
and parked it for eventual repairs
that never occurred. I believe that
I am the fourth owner.

Once I saved enough
money I had the van painted.
The gentleman who did the
painting had never heard of the
Mystery Machine, so I had to
bring videos, children books,
matchbox cars and a host of
other memorabilia. When the
van was returned I was
pleasantly shocked in how it
turned out. It was just what we
were looking for.

Unfortunately she
still has some engine,
transmission and wiring
problems but they are being
addressed at a shop now.
Besides what is a Mystery
Machine without engine
problems. The Mystery
Machine has been a great
deal of fun in the
neighborhood also. When
the garage door is open
there is always a host of
people wanting to get
pictures with it, or wanting a
ride in it. Great exposure for
the Corvair in general.

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