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Watch the ad for the Tartan Prancer, Vacation's ridiculous fake van

Watch the ad for the Tartan Prancer, Vacation's ridiculous fake van

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One of the highlights of the original National Lampoon's Vacation was the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, a ridiculous — and utterly hideous — fictional station wagon driven by the Griswolds poking fun at the era's auto industry. (It was designed and built by legendary Hollywood car guy George Barris, who was responsible for the Batmobile from the '60s TV series, among many other classics.)

The new Vacation, which opened this weekend, is getting pretty grim reviews — but one notable highlight is that they've kept the spirit of the Family Truckster alive. The film prominently stars the Tartan Prancer, a bright blue van-like object that has two front ends, two charging ports, four side view mirrors, and the aerodynamic qualities of a two-by-four.

The fake ad that Warner Brothers made for the Prancer is delightfully absurd. My favorite feature is the headrest, which conveniently tips forward on command for maximum comfort:

Tartan Prancer

The Prancer is billed as a "perennial heavy weight in the Mid Range Family Mini Van Sedan Crossover Segment," a nice shot at the dozens of made-up vehicle categories automakers are always racing to fill. (I like to think it's a swipe at the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE in particular.)

At any rate, even if you don't see the movie, the ad is definitely worth your time.