You think you hate it now, but wait 'til you drive it.
Honestly, that’s the greatest sales pitch in cinematic history. It’s the moment Eugene Levy, playing the sleaziest car salesman in 1983’s National Lampoon’s Vacation, convinces Clark Griswold to accept the keys to a hideous, pea-green monstrosity. We all know the car. It’s the clark griswold station wagon, officially known as the Wagon Queen Family Truckster.
It wasn't supposed to be that car. Clark ordered the "Antarctic Blue Super Sports Wagon with the optional Rally Fun Pack." Instead, he got a Metallic Pea boat with eight headlights and enough fake wood to panel a basement in 1974.
The Birth of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster
Most people assume the Truckster was just a stock car with a bad paint job. It wasn't. It was a deliberate, surgical strike against the American automotive industry of the late 70s.
The car was actually a heavily modified 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire. While there is a long-standing legend that legendary customizer George Barris (the man behind the Batmobile) designed it, the truth is a bit more corporate. The Truckster was actually handled by the Warner Brothers in-house transportation department. They took five identical Fords and turned them into a parody of every bad design choice ever made in Detroit.
Design Overload
The creators didn't just add wood; they added layers of wood. They didn't just add lights; they stacked them. Here is how they actually built that "beauty":
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- The Headlights: They didn't just double them; they created a stacked quad-look with eight individual lamps that made the car look like a giant insect.
- The Color: "Metallic Pea." It’s a shade that doesn't exist in nature for a reason.
- The Badging: Huge "Wagon Queen" crowns were plastered on the sides and the hubcaps.
- The Fuel Door: For some reason, they put a fake gas cap on the hood. This led to one of the movie's best visual gags when Clark can't figure out how to fill the tank.
What Happened to the Original Movie Cars?
This is where things get a bit murky. In the world of movie car collecting, "original" is a tricky word. There were five Trucksters built for the production.
Why five? Because the movie is a linear descent into chaos. One car had to be pristine for the "Lou Glutz Motors" pickup scene. Another had to be rigged for the massive desert jump (where Clark loses the hubcaps and nearly his mind). Another was modified for the scenes in the desert where the car is literally falling apart, held together by wire and prayer.
The Survivors
Most of the original five didn't make it. Jump stunts and "vandalism" scenes tend to kill cars permanently. However, one of the survivors was reportedly sold at a Mecum auction in 2013 for about $35,000. It wasn't in great shape.
The reality today? Most of what you see at car shows or in museums are high-end replicas. In fact, a 1981 Ford LTD modified to look like the Truckster sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction for a staggering $100,100 back in 2019. That is a lot of money for a car that was designed to be the punchline of a joke.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With This Green Disaster
There is something deeply relatable about the clark griswold station wagon. It represents the gap between the "perfect vacation" we plan and the "disaster" we actually live through.
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We’ve all been there. You plan the Antarctic Blue life, but you end up with the Metallic Pea reality.
The Truckster wasn't just a prop; it was a character. It survived being vandalized in St. Louis, leaping 50 feet into the desert, and having a dead relative (Aunt Edna) strapped to the roof. It’s the ultimate symbol of American persistence. It’s ugly, it’s slow, it’s falling apart—but it’s going to get you to Walley World if it kills you.
Performance Specs (Or Lack Thereof)
Underneath all that fake wood was a standard 5.0-liter V8. Now, today we think of a 5.0 as a Mustang engine. In 1979, strangled by early emissions tech, that engine put out a pathetic 130 horsepower.
Think about that. You have a 4,000-pound car, plus four people, plus luggage, plus Aunt Edna, powered by 130 horses. No wonder Clark was losing his mind. The thing probably did 0-60 in... eventually.
How to Spot a "Real" Fake
If you're at a car show and see a clark griswold station wagon, here is how you check the "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of the builder:
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- The Dog Leash: A truly dedicated replica builder will have a frayed dog leash hanging from the rear bumper. RIP Dinky.
- The Gas Cap: Check the hood. If there isn't a circular cap right there on the front fender/hood line, they didn't do their homework.
- The Interior: Most people forget the interior. The movie car had the headrests removed so the cameras could see the kids in the back seat.
- The Luggage: It needs the specific blue hardshell suitcases strapped to the top with yellow bungee cords.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to own a piece of this history, don't go looking for the original 1983 movie cars—you likely won't find them, and if you do, they’ll be priced like Ferraris. Instead, follow the path of the modern enthusiast:
- Build Your Own: Find a 1979-1991 Ford LTD Country Squire or a Mercury Colony Park. The "Panther platform" is incredibly hardy and easy to work on.
- The Paint Code: There is no official "Metallic Pea" paint code from 1983. Most builders use a custom mix or a 1970s "Lime Gold" to get that nauseating effect.
- Join the Community: Groups like Star Car Central or specialized Facebook groups for movie car replicas are great resources for finding the specific 8-headlight housing molds.
The clark griswold station wagon reminds us that the journey is usually a mess, the car is usually a lemon, and the destination might be closed for repairs when you get there. But you'll have a hell of a story to tell.
If you are planning a road trip this summer, maybe check your luggage rack twice. And whatever you do, don't let the salesman talk you into the Metallic Pea.
Next Steps for Your Inner Griswold:
If you're serious about the Truckster life, your first move is sourcing the base car. Look for 1979-1987 Ford LTD Country Squires on sites like Bring a Trailer or Hemmings. Be prepared to spend between $8,000 and $15,000 for a clean base model before the "pea" transformation even begins.