Zoinks! Burlington’s very own “Shaggy” sells his Mystery Machine
The classic cartoon car is moving to Florida where a new owner will keep it on the road
The man behind the Mystery Machine
Kevin Alan Coombs collects and fixes up cars as a hobby. Of all the cars the Burlington resident has repaired over the years, one stands out: Coombs’ very own “Scooby Doo” Mystery Machine.
“You go to Walmart, or Lowe's or anywhere like that, don't expect it to be a five to a 10-minute trip,” Coombs said. “Because even going to Walmart just to pick up a bottle of water is going to take you a couple of hours to get out of the parking lot.”
The 1966 Ford Econoline E100 was painted like the iconic van from the CBS show “Scooby Doo” by its original owner in 1969. The original owner sold the van at age 92 because he couldn’t drive it anymore due to arthritis in his knees. Coombs purchased it in 2003, and now, he’s passing it on once again.
Coombs is better known as “Shaggy” to his family and friends because of his beard and how he used to dress.
“I drove it as an everyday vehicle,” Coombs said. “It wasn't parked for any amount of time. It was on the road constantly.”
Coombs said he had people follow him as far as 30 miles to ask questions about the van, and one time, nine state troopers pulled him over in his home state of Texas — just to take a picture with the van.
Kevin Alan Coombs has owned 20 to 30 cars throughout his lifetime. His hobby of fixing cars is what led him to the Mystery Machine.
Kevin Alan Coombs has owned 20 to 30 cars throughout his lifetime. His hobby of fixing cars is what led him to the Mystery Machine.
After serving 18 months in Iraq and Kuwait, the van was a project to help him cope with post traumatic stress disorder, Coombs said.
After serving 18 months in Iraq and Kuwait, the van was a project to help him cope with post traumatic stress disorder, Coombs said.
Parting with the van after 20 years of memories was not something Coombs wanted to do. He calls the van his pride and joy and said it’s a great conversation piece.
Parting with the van after 20 years of memories was not something Coombs wanted to do. He calls the van his pride and joy and said it’s a great conversation piece.
Before it was pulled out of the garage on Feb. 5, the Mystery Machine sat for nearly three years, Coombs said.
Before it was pulled out of the garage on Feb. 5, the Mystery Machine sat for nearly three years, Coombs said.
The inside of the Mystery Machine is outfitted in green shag carpet, complete with multiple nods to the beloved children’s program “Scooby Doo.”
The inside of the Mystery Machine is outfitted in green shag carpet, complete with multiple nods to the beloved children’s program “Scooby Doo.”
Starting a new journey
Parting with the van after 20 years of memories was not something Coombs wanted to do. He calls the van his pride and joy and said it’s a great conversation piece. It was originally purchased for $1,200, but Coombs now listed it with an asking price of $10,000.
Coombs sold the van because he can no longer drive it due to his chronic illnesses, but he originally intended to pass it on to his daughters. After serving 18 months in Iraq and Kuwait, the van was a project to help him cope with post traumatic stress disorder, Coombs said.
“When I bought the van, my daughters would ride my lap and drive. I would run the gas and the clutch and everything, but they would drive the van, and we drove around in a circle driveway all day long,” Coombs said. “So yeah, both my daughters know how to drive three speed on the go.”
The 1966 Ford Econoline E100 was painted like the iconic van from the CBS show “Scooby Doo” by its original owner in 1969.
Kyle Raymond, the new owner of the Mystery Machine, drove from Florida to North Carolina to pick up the van.
Before Raymond brings the Mystery Machine back to Florida, he will need to repair portions of the vehicle.
From North Carolina to Florida
Because Coombs can no longer drive the van, it’s been sitting in his garage for three years. The Mystery Machine is now making its way to its new home in Florida. It was purchased by Kyle Raymond, who drove up to Burlington on Feb. 5 to inspect and help repair the van.
Coombs said there was a lot of interest in the van from potential buyers as far away as Arizona, but there wasn’t much local interest, which was surprising to him.
Raymond and his business partner, Jason Pickett, worked in telecommunications together for many years before embarking on their latest business venture, Lovely Suds, an eco-friendly, handmade soap company.
Planning for the future
Raymond said a friend sent him the Facebook Marketplace post as a joke, but Raymond’s intention to purchase the car was entirely serious.
“I saw it was still available so I messaged at 1:54 a.m. like a crazy person, and the exact same minute that I sent it, at 1:54, his wife replied and said it's available,” Raymond said.
Coombs said there was a lot of interest in the van from potential buyers as far away as Arizona, but there wasn’t much local interest, which was surprising to him. But now that someone has finally purchased it, he’s thrilled that the van will be taken care of and running on the road for years to come.
Raymond’s first plan for the van is to “get it back to its former glory” by making minor cosmetic repairs.
“One of the things Kevin didn't want to do is change that originality,” Raymond said. “So it's cracked, it's rusted, you know, everything since 1969. So we'll go over that and try and see what we can do, try and fix some things, repair some things.”
He plans on using the van as a promotional tool for his soap company, and he wants to register the vehicle with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for anyone who comes up with a wish that kids want to do that involves the Mystery Machine.
“I only see up from here, maybe add some new shag [carpet] but other than that, Kevin did a great job maintaining what this is and what it was,” Raymond said. “Hopefully what it will be, you know, will just live up to the reputation that it's had since 1969 when the original owner painted it this way.”
As the van made its way out of the garage for the first time in years, Coombs said he was happy there was someone new to take care of it.
“I've had a lot of fun with the van and have seen a lot of joy and a lot of people have fun with the van, or will come just to see how you know people react to it.”
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