" National Lampoon's Vacation " 308 GTS found

Wanted to share this story about finding the 308 GTS used in National Lampoons Vacation... enjoy :

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://www.driveexperience.it/california-luv-me-una-ferrari-308-gts-ex-stella-del-cinema-da-salvare/&prev=search

if the link about doesn't work, here is the original in Italian:

https://www.driveexperience.it/california-luv-me-una-ferrari-308-gts-ex-stella-del-cinema-da-salvare/

Love it:

 

WOW!

that's awesome. Great find, and thanks for sharing. Cult classics with Chevy, love it.

 

I wonder if the car will be put back to it's original spec of one (awful looking to me) American spec door mirror, instead of the far better looking Euro mirrors that have been fitted later on?

 

So do we know where the Mondial is from the sequel?

 

I desperately want to believe that story but something seems a little off.

 

Same for me. Apart from the rear view mirrors, the car looks to be in the same scheme: US version with body-colored front grilles, but...we are lacking the "smoking gun" of a definite clue. It MIGHT be that car; it might...
Rgds

 

I noticed the mirrors too.

I need a little more proof than someone simply said this was the one AND it is in the same state it was filmed in about 36 years ago

 

on reflection, I think I agree.. plus if I lent my car for Christie Brinkley to drive I would be on set and have the photos to prove it!

 

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I have my doubts that this is the same car.

 

The car that was used in the film was once sold by Steve Harris Imports (Authorized Ferrari dealer in Salt Lake City, Utah). It was sold to a man in Provo, Utah. The car came with documentation to back up the use if it in the film. I remember it being offered for sale by the man in Provo, Utah in 1987. Sorry, I never wrote down the VIN#

 

Thank you very much, Michael. That's a bit more substancial, even without a VIN or chassis number. Now, if I do remember my younger days at school, Colorado borders Utah to the East, so the car that is today in Colorado might actually well be the one, except:
- that the one in Colorado is supposed to have always be there, and the one used in the film resided in Utah during the eighties at least...
-and furthermore, the car used in the movie has this documented; and nothing as such is mentionned in the story from the original post...
Beware: if it seems to goo to be true...
Rgds

 

Yes, Colorado borders Utah to the East. And yes, the actual car definitely lived in Utah from 83’ until at least 87’

 

Agreed.

BTW, I hope it is the car. I love unearthing these little treasures form my childhood. I just am not convinced.

 

Yet

 

Thanks Michael. I plan to check that Colorado and Utah do indeed have a common border, like in my schoolboy books, this september, on board the "California zephyr".
I'm like Dr Tommy: I would love that the car posted at the beginning of the thread was the one. But I'm not convinced...yet.
Rgds

 

Exactly the same feeling here.
Rgds

 

I see that this thread is a year old. I don't know if this is the car from the movie, but at one time, I owned the car from the movie. I have a letter from Ferrari of North America that verifies that my car was the one. It was serial number 40285 and was a 1982 GTSi. I owned it in the early 90's.

 

That isn’t the car

 

Still have the letter or did it go with the car?

 

I still have the letter. I contacted Ferrari after I bought the car and they verified that the car was the one from the movie. It came with a license plate holder that read "National Lampoon's Vacation". I sold the car to a dealer in Detroit in 1992. The car was in showroom condition at that time. The previous owner had the wheels polished, which was a nice touch.

 

How did you find it and how long did you keep it?

Can you post a copy of that letter? I love stuff like this. I have the Mercedes 300CE that Tom Cruise drove in The Firm. I have the letters etc from Mercedes as well.

(I even double checked before I bought the car. I have a friend at the dealer here in town and he has access to computer data that we civilians don't get to see. We pulled the VIN and looked at the history.)

 

I got the car trading a broker my '86 Lamborghini Jalpa for the 308 and 1 '80 Lotus Esprit. He had a customer that wanted my car. I only kept it a couple of years. It was just way to pristine to use. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I love it!!!

 

It's damn sure not pristine anymore.

I hate that