That Rusty Bus
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That Rusty Bus
rusty 2014 Fleetwood Discovery 40G diesel pusher
Underneath all that “rust” is a well-cared-for 2014 Fleetwood Discovery 40G diesel pusher.
T.J. and Heather Bedacht
FaceBook: GciDigitalImaging/
2014 Fleetwood Discovery 40G
T.J. and Heather Bedacht
FaceBook: GciDigitalImaging/
2014 Fleetwood Discovery 40G
I

t’s become something of a tradition to watch Christmas-themed movies during the holidays — and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” ranks right up there with the best of them. Especially when it comes to the travails of “Cousin Eddie” (Randy Quaid) and his much-rusted 1972 Ford Condor motorhome.

Well, here’s the contemporary version.

Granted, this isn’t an “RV renovation” in the strictest sense. Owners T.J. and Heather Bedacht have pretty much left the interior of the 2014 Fleetwood Discovery original. “It’s actually a beautiful coach underneath the skin, and was very well taken care of,” said T.J.

But oh, that skin.

T.J. is the owner of CGI Digital Imaging, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based company that specializes in printing services — big printing services. And while the company’s mobile designs — known as wraps, because they are computer-generated graphics applied to the vehicle’s exterior — usually tend to revolve around things like company vehicles and food trucks, it didn’t take much for T.J. to visualize “something different” for the Fleetwood while traveling during the just-passed holiday season.

“We bought our Fleetwood this summer and for this trip we wanted it to look different,” he explained in mid-December. “We talked about a bunch of ideas and came up with the ‘Cousin Eddie’ look because my uncle is a huge fan of the 1989 film ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.’ Originally, we planned to keep it a secret but just couldn’t hold back, so my uncle does know it’s going to pull up in front of his house sometime soon.”

So, yes, all that “rust” you see is a vinyl covering. According to an interview with the Bedachts by “The Party of 6” (youtube.com/watch?v=BK65VtoUYVA), it took three days for technicians at the company to wrap the Fleetwood.

full profile view of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation rust inspired graphics on bottom half of rv
Halfway through the three-day process, the bottom half of the Bedacht’s Fleetwood is already assuming the persona of the 1971 Ford Condor rustbucket from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
closeup of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation rust inspired graphics on bottom half of rv
Even close up, the graphics make the Fleetwood look for all the world like a misused coach left to the elements for far too long.
So, what would something like this cost to be replicated?

“Depending upon design, you’re looking at $8,000 to $15,000,” said T.J. “With the design time I have in this and the detail — there was more than 40 hours of design time in this bus — it would be $15,000, at least.”

To complete the “look,” the Bedachts also wrapped their Ford Expedition dinghy.

“We wanted something no one else has,” said T.J. “When we pull into a campground, I want it to be the talk of the campground. I don’t want to have the same unit as my buddy.”

Mission accomplished.

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