It’s still a surprise that the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, that slice of early 1980s automotive hell that came to fame in the film National Lampoon’s Vacation has developed the cult following that it has. Earlier this year, a solid recreation of the car sold for $100,100 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction. Keep in mind that the Family Truckster is basically a 1979-87 Ford Country Squire station wagon that got assaulted with the ugly stick with extreme prejudice in an alley late one night. There is even a better version of the full-size Ford to emulate, the Crown Victoria cruiser turned alien-modified speed machine from Men In Black. But no, everyone seems to want the Pea Green, wood paneled marvel that Clark Griswold developed seething hatred for friendly moose in. Okay…
Well, if you absolutely have to have one of your own, but you are tighter with your money than the boss around Christmastime, then we might have just had an option cross our path. The basis is exactly what you see here: 1985 County Squire, 302/AOD automatic, with the double face and four taillights out back, Samsonite luggage from 1977, the dog leash that proudly proclaims that you are capable of unspeakable horrors, and yes, even Aunt Edna’s ghastly shape in a tarp. It isn’t a perfect recreation, of course…the Wagon Queen nose cone needs to be made, as do the reshaped rear glass and Wagon Queen sail panels with the gigantic crown emblem. You could do all of that…or you could simply say that this is the basic Wagon Queen model that year.
$2,800 buys into 1980s station wagon glory. Build a companion movie car or have a ton of fun in a demo derby, it’s on you! Hell, a blower through the hood and wagon-spoke wheels on all-terrains and you can say that Cousin Eddie got himself one too!
I didn’t see the location when that ad was up – but I just saw that thing on the road this morning on my way to work!