In the Christmas movie "Help, It's Christmas Time!" we follow the Griswald family as they organize a wild Christmas celebration for the entire extended family. Then a vehicle appears that has piqued the interest of many.
Cousin Eddie
Everything seems to go wrong for the family man. Clark Griswold, played by Chevy chase. It doesn't get any better when Cousin Eddie shows up with the whole family in a tired "Motorhome" or "RV" (Recreational Vehicle) as they call it. Eventually, the whole family ends up living in the vehicle permanently as Eddie has had to sell his farm and land. Of course, they get room and heart at the Griswolds', - and in return, Cousin Eddie makes sure that Clark gets what he wants most for Christmas.
We only get a few glimpses of Eddie's motorhome. It's a 1972 (or 1973) Ford Condor II—marketed as a luxury motorhome at the time. In 1989, when the film premiered, the car was no more than 17 years old—and would hardly look as worn as the film makes it seem. It was supposedly in good condition when the film crew bought it, so they had to work on it to add rust, dirt, and dents. After the film, it was sold to a couple for $7.500 and driven from Arizona to Georgia, where it occasionally shows up at motor shows with a Christmas wreath on the front and the "Shitter'n" hose hanging from the side of the outlet.
Ford Transit Connect
This is another Ford Condor that was sold in 2020 for $32.500. It previously belonged to the chairman of the board of directors of McLaren Engines and was once used for hospitality during the races. When the car was sold, it was a so-called rolling project. It is equipped with the standard engine which was a 390 ci V8 with Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission.
The Ford Condor II was built on a chassis taken from Ford's P-series, which was used for distribution vehicles in various size classes. The Condor II is described as a very heavy vehicle. Whether this is in real kilograms or that the car's superstructure is heavy for the chassis, is not known, - but the V8 engine has to work hard on the slopes.
It may not be a car you'd want to take up Trollstigen, but it's sure to attract attention when you arrive at a campsite. Regardless, it's important not to empty your shit into the overflow basin. It can create an explosion hazard. That's what happened when Eddie did it.
Merry Christmas!
