A replica of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster crossing the block at Barrett-Jacksons Palm Beach event in April 2019.Barrett-Jackson A replica of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster from National Lampoon’s Family Vacation netted more than US$100,000 at auction (after fees) this past weekend in Florida, far exceeding what many expected it to sell for. Pre-event estimates may have been tempered by the fact one of the actual vehicles from the film did not sell in 2013, running up to a US$35,000 high bid. Chalk it up to a classic car market sweetening on Hollywood nostalgia or to the clever marketing by Barrett-Jackson – the car crossed the block with a bunch of suitcases and Aunt Edna lashed to the roof – but this well-done clone almost tripled that, hammering at US$91,000, before auction fees. Based off of a 1981 Ford Country Squire wagon, unlike the movie car’s 1979 donor, this Family Truckster is painted “Metallic Pea,” and doesn’t come with the Rally Fun Pack that Clark ordered. What it does come with, though, is a 5.0-litre V8 and a four-speed. A 1947 Buick 8 Custom Convertible restomod by Don Gasiunas of Toronto, sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach event April 2019. Barrett-Jackson The top-selling lot at the Palm Beach event was a 1947 Buick Super 8 convertible, highly modified with a supercharged LSA V8 by Don Gasiunas of Toronto, Ontario. It traded hands for a full US$412,500 after fees, and led three other US$250,000-plus classic customs in the top 10. It suggests the market may be switching its attention from original, factory-stock vehicles to hot rods and restomods. Late ’80s and early ’90s cars also showed growth at the Barrett-Jackson sale, buoyed by the swelling of Millennials and Gen X-ers flooding into the classic car market. In total, 632 vehicles were sold for a cumulative US$30.18
Origin: ‘National Lampoon’ station wagon clone clears US$100,000 at auction