Yes, There is an Audi RS6 Avant Family Truckster Tribute
There plenty of great tributes to the hero car from National Lampoon’s Vacation, but this Audi RS6 Avant takes the cake.
It’s been nearly four decades since the Griswolds embarked on their ill-fated trip from Chicago to California’s Walley World, but National Lampoon’s Vacation has stood the test of time. The flick remains a touchstone for anyone who’s ever spent too much in the car with their family, and gearheads will remember that a key supporting role was played by the clan’s wood-paneled hero car, the Family Truckster.
Since the film’s release, there has been no shortage of Family Truckster tribute cars, including this incredibly faithful replica built by a man named — not coincidentally — Griswold. But while movie car was built from the bones of a Ford Country Squire, over the years, fans of the film have given plenty of other vehicles the Truckster treatment. Which brings us to this modified Audi RS6 Avant.
Unfortunately, I can’t find any way to properly attribute the photos, but you can see them in the YouTube video below.
Now, while it might not be my favorite Audi-based tribute car ever, I cracked up when I first saw pictures of this baby, and I’d love to buy the owner a beer. Or ten. Eagled-eyed folks will notice that some of the fictitious car’s details — notably the double-stacked headlights — are missing from the Four Rings version, though I think the pea-green paint and wood paneling, along with the Truckster crown on the fender, make it pretty clear what the owner is going for.
There’s precious little info on this build, so I’m going to have to speculate here. Since it looks like this Kermit-esque shade of green isn’t available from the factory, I’m going to guess this is a wrap. That said, it looks like the owner was pretty committed to the trim, because while the woodgrain is most likely a sticker, the surrounding edges are obviously three dimensional. Given the wicked performance of the weapons-grade people mover, exactly how long those bits will remain in place is anyone’s guess. But something tells me this isn’t this machine’s final form anyway.
Obviously, I’d love to know more about this hilarious RS6 Avant, so if you happen to know anything about who commissioned it, where it lives, and — most importantly — why it exists, let me know!
Photos: Audi