Mystery Machine Kustom

I’ve drawn a few different versions of the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and they’ve all been wildly popular. My first was a muscle van version, which sold from a coffee shop display. Next, I drew a lowrider version for my friend Gabe. Most recently, I’ve drawn this Mystery Machine kustom version.

I’m a fan of the wild kustom paint jobs of the 1960s and 1970s – the craftsmanship in the artwork and the vibrant in-your-face styling make me smile. One of the most prominent artists of the era was Larry Watson, who created some of the most famous kustom paint jobs and painting technologies in hot rod culture.

I started this Mystery Machine kustom by sketching a simple profile view of an early 1960s Ford Econoline panel van.

I lined the drawing with Micron 02 and 05 to give it some depth. At this point, I scanned in the drawing and shrunk it down to fit an 8×10 frame.

I finished the stamped wheels, added the Mystery Machine logo to the rear, and drew in the paint divider lines that separate the panels in the body. I used a Sharpie marker to fill in the black areas under the van and in the tires.

The Mystery Machine is a blend of blue and greens and I wanted to pay tribute to that. I kept the traditional colors but laid them out in a more Watson-esque styling. Lastly, I added a simple line box behind the van to give it a little extra depth.