1987 Ford Country Squire - Wagon Queen Family Truckster
Straight out of "Family Vacation" we are building a replica of the Griswold family's station wagon - the Family Truckster!!
Starting with an 87 Ford Wagon that was in great shape - no rust, runs great, AC works - everything works!! The Family Truckster had a few quirky things done to it to make it special - the rear windows were shrunk, the fuel filler was moved to the hood, the roof rack was extended, taillights doubled, and of course - the crazy headlights - 4 per side. We are working our way through all that, trying to recreate the car as it was on the big screen. Check it out...
The starting point:
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria1a6af3f204
Stripping it down prior to paint, and making changes to windows and tailgate...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria6c1f5aaa94
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria9ef9dea567
The fuel filler is added to the hood, and removed from the quarter panel - filling is now done inside the car within a toolbox built into the side of the rear cargo area..
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria906039b9c8
Roof rack is extended - doubling the capacity so there is plenty of room for Aunt Edna to ride up top...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria5177d68e88
Front end removed and being prepped for extra headlights - it takes two front ends to make one for this car...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleriab33b2392a7
Headed to bodyshop and paint....
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria8cb983d553
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria3c4c5240ac
The iconic front end being built...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria5f7de04a3f
Getting some Pea Green Metallic (a custom blend)...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria40886284c9
Custom 8-headlight front end attached...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria0dc5c507f9
Making the "crown" emblems for the hubcaps and body. Started with clay model, molded in silicone, then cast as plastic and painted. Attached to vintage Cadillac hubcaps...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria0452391496
The roof rack was extended, then raised up 2 inches to make it even more obnoxious. Period correct luggage was found via ebay searches to complete the look... almost - still missing Aunt Edna wrapped in a tarp...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleriaa700b98dbd
Custom side body vents are molded from plastic then attached, and all that woodgrain starts going on...and on....and on...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleriad5f2f67bd5
Custom Green Wall tires with crown hubcaps installed. Taillights doubled!!!!
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria14753815cf
Most difficult and time consuming part of this build is the trim that surrounds the woodgrain. None of the original pieces of trim were used as they ran the entire length of the car and the corners were all wrong. Each panel on this car has a full "picture frame" of trim - cast of plastic from custom made silicone molds, then fitted together to make a single piece for each panel. Each trim frame was then wrapped in blond oak vinyl and attached to the car. Took about a day per piece.
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria547f468a68
Front bumper is heavily modified - lower vents cut out, outer sides chopped, then rechomed. Custom grille and hood ornament built and chromed.
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleria74eb99bb1f
All put together and ready to roll to Wally World!!! What makes this replica special is the attention to details; such as: extended and raised roof rack, fuel filler door deleted from quarterpanel, front bumper cut down, correct grille and hood ornament, correct size side vents, crown emblems on sides and hubcaps, and those green-wall tires.
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/108-wagon-queen-family-truckster#sigProGalleriab9f11be732