Are you a fan of the classic holiday movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? If so, you’ve probably wondered where the iconic RV that carried the Griswold family on their wild Christmas adventure is today.
Well, wonder no more! In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the whereabouts of the Christmas Vacation RV.
What Happened to the Original Christmas Vacation RV?
The original RV used in the filming of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was a 1983 Ford Condor II. However, it’s important to note that there were actually three different RVs used during filming.
So, what happened to these famous vehicles after filming wrapped up? Two of them were sold off and are reportedly still out there somewhere. However, it’s unclear who currently owns them or what condition they’re in.
The third and most well-known RV was donated to a museum. Specifically, it was donated to Motorama Auto Museum in Aniwa, Wisconsin in 2005 by John Brady – a collector and restorer of movie cars. The museum has since closed down and its contents were auctioned off in 2018.
The Fate of the Christmas Vacation RV
So where is the Christmas Vacation RV now? Well, it turns out that it was purchased at auction by a man named Mark Kehoe. Kehoe is a car collector and owner of Route 66 Movie Theater Museum in Webb City, Missouri.
Kehoe reportedly paid $100,000 for the iconic vehicle and has since had it restored to its former glory. He displays it proudly at his museum alongside other famous movie cars such as Bumblebee from Transformers and Herbie from The Love Bug.
The Legacy of the Christmas Vacation RV
The Christmas Vacation RV may be just another movie prop to some people, but for fans of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, it’s a beloved piece of pop culture history. Its appearance in the film helped make it an instant classic and has led to countless references and parodies over the years.
If you’re ever in Webb City, Missouri, be sure to stop by the Route 66 Movie Theater Museum and take a look at the Christmas Vacation RV for yourself. It’s a true testament to the enduring legacy of this beloved holiday movie.
- Fun Fact: The Christmas Vacation RV was actually too tall to fit inside the Warner Bros. studio where most of the movie was filmed. As a result, many scenes featuring the RV were shot on location.
- Another Fun Fact: The license plate on the Christmas Vacation RV reads “WALLEYE”. This is a nod to director Jeremiah S. Chechik’s hometown of Ottawa, Canada – which is known for its walleye fishing.
In Conclusion
The Christmas Vacation RV may have been just another prop on set, but it has since become an important piece of movie history. Thanks to collectors like Mark Kehoe, fans can still appreciate this iconic vehicle today. So next time you watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, keep an eye out for that famous RV – and remember that it’s still out there somewhere!