You never know what you’ll find during the SEMA Show in Vegas. Over-the-top show cars and trucks are everywhere. However, since we grew up at a time when Scooby-Doo and the gang was popular, we found a machine that tugged at our heartstrings. The Mystery Machine we came across might not have been an exact likeness, but, since it does get its motivation from a 6.0-liter Power Stroke engine and a 5R110 transmission. we can overlook that stipulation.

We reached out to Fourway Motors and talked to Leonard about his super-rad, ’61 Econoline Van, and to say it comes with quite the story and goody list is an understatement. “The van came to me in 1996 as a communications vehicle for the Northwest Territories government surveillance,” Leonard says. “A local guy to me worked for them and he was told to scrap it. Instead, he headed north with it having plans to someday restore it. Unfortunately, he passed away before that could happen.”

Leonard has been involved with SEMA with other builds, but he and the mystery machine are here together for the first time. “I was approached to do the International RATical Rod Build-Off” for the 2020 year and decided we would take it on. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out that way and it was delayed until this year,” Leonard explains. “We wanted to do something no one has seen before and be more handmade than normal. The more engineered parts the better.”

Per FourWay Motors Instagram, The RATical Rod Build challenge he talked about is a drive-off competition. Competing against other builders across the globe, Leonard was challenged to build a drivable RATical hot rod. Once complete, teams were to meet in Lincoln, Nebraska. From there, they had to drive 1,400 miles to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Leonard and his team used a 2006 E-450 as a donor vehicle to power this hot rod. “We ended up pulling and using the 6.0-liter Power Stroke engine, the 5R110 transmission, and the Dana 70 axle,” he says. “We outfitted the engine with the necessary equipment needed to survive day-to-day operations and then some. It was then that we got the support from BD Diesel.”

Leonard went on to explain that BD had supplied head studs, a Screamer II turbocharger, exhaust manifolds and up-pipes, and 90-horsepower injectors. Evolution Powertrain, a transmission company in Leonard’s area, fixed up the 5R110 to handle the abuse that was imminent. That includes hardened shafts, drums, upgraded clutch packs, billet torque converter, etc.

Other upgrades include heavy-duty axles and parts from Yukon Gear and Hublow inside the shortened differentials. As for wheels and tires, the mystery machine features Rockstar wheels supplied by Wheel Pros and a set of 50-series duals on the rear. Warren Diesel built the engine harness for the 6.0-liter and wrote several of the tunes Leonard uses on his SCT tuner.

“Right now, as is, the 6.0 liter is making approximately 400 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque. With everything on kill, I think we’re capable of 600 horsepower and 1,100 lb-ft of torque,” he explains. “We have turned quite a few heads at the show this year. We’re excited to have it here.”