Tim Shingleton, of Center Township, stands in his front yard by a Ford Taurus he made to resemble the one in “Christmas Vacation,” complete with a dug-out pine tree, on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

CENTER TWP — Although Clark Griswold is known in the “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” movie for going all-out on his Christmas decorations, a township resident’s tribute to the character and the film was “born out of laziness.”

Tim Shingleton said it took “forever” to put up and tear down decorations on a large pine tree outside his home on Holyoke Road, so he started placing less-traditional décor in his yard to commemorate the holiday season. His latest project, recreating the 1989 Ford Taurus Wagon from “Christmas Vacation,” complete with a dug-out pine tree tied to the roof, has been the biggest endeavor yet.

“I bought the car — it was blue, we tried to paint match as best we could — added the wood grain to the side, got some dirt on it,” Shingleton said, while wearing clothes reminiscent of an outfit worn by Chevy Chase in the film. “We got the tree from Fair Haven Farms up in Grove City, they plucked it out of the ground for us and set it on top.

“It was born out of laziness, and the real irony is this took way longer than decorating a normal house would have.”

The vehicle has been sitting in the front yard of the Shingletons’ home all month, and he has been taking the street-legal registered antique vehicle to Playthings Etc. on Saturdays, so more people can check out his re-creation.

Over the past few years, Shingleton has placed the Grinch outside his home, Frosty the Snowman being run over by a tractor and even a mannequin dressed like Cousin Eddie from “Christmas Vacation” — all in an effort to give passersby a laugh.

“Every year, the neighbors are waiting and asking for what he’s going to do,” said Tim’s wife Amanda Shingleton. “Cousin Eddie was outdoors ... We had complaints that there was a person close to the road, so we had to move him back like a foot.”

Tim Shingleton said the Griswold vehicle has been his favorite project yet. He said it took about a month to pull together, but the end result has been worth it.

“I drove to Ohio a couple hours away to get (the car), and it was worth every penny,” Shingleton said. “The amount of traffic that just slows down here and stops to take pictures — it’s just crazy.”

Shingleton said he will bring the car to Playthings Etc. on Saturday morning, Dec. 23, so people can look at it and take pictures.