Have you ever wondered where the car from National Lampoon’s Vacation came from? The iconic station wagon, known as the “Family Truckster,” was a major part of the 1983 comedy film starring Chevy Chase as the bumbling Clark Griswold. But what many people don’t know is that the car was actually created specifically for the movie.
The Design
The Family Truckster was designed by George Barris, a famous customizer who also created vehicles for TV shows like The Munsters and Batman. Barris took inspiration from several real-life station wagons, including the Ford LTD Country Squire and the Chevrolet Caprice Estate. He then added his own unique touches to create a car that perfectly captured the over-the-top nature of Clark Griswold.
The Features
The Family Truckster was loaded with features that were both ridiculous and hilarious. For example, it had eight headlights instead of four, which Clark claimed was necessary for “seeing through the pitch blackness of night.” It also had a pea-green paint job with fake wood paneling and an air conditioning unit that wasn’t actually attached to anything.
Trivia:
- The horn sound effect used in the movie was actually from a 1955 Ford.
- The license plate on the car read “Wagon Queen Family Truckster,” which became one of the most memorable lines from the film.
The Legacy
Despite its absurdity, or maybe because of it, the Family Truckster became an instant classic. It’s now considered one of the most iconic movie cars of all time and has inspired countless replicas and homages over the years. In fact, when Chevy Chase reprised his role as Clark Griswold in a 2015 Super Bowl commercial, he did so behind the wheel of a new version of the Family Truckster.
So there you have it, the story behind the car from National Lampoon’s Vacation. While it may not have been a real car to begin with, it’s certainly become a beloved part of pop culture history.