The Addams Family Car in Wednesday: A Tribute to Classic with a Modern Twist
In the Netflix hit Wednesday (2022), directed by Tim Burton, every visual element was carefully chosen to build a gothic yet timeless atmosphere. One detail that often escapes casual viewers is the Addams Family’s car — the one driven by their loyal butler Lurch when he comes to pick up Wednesday.
At first glance, it looks like a traditional funeral-style limousine, perfectly in line with the family’s macabre image.
But behind that faсade lies a fascinating story: the production team created a one-of-a-kind hybrid vehicle that bridges cinematic nostalgia with modern engineering.
But behind that faсade lies a fascinating story: the production team created a one-of-a-kind hybrid vehicle that bridges cinematic nostalgia with modern engineering.
a hybrid of past and present
The car wasn’t simply an antique pulled out of a garage.
Instead, the designers built a custom machine by combining the body of a 1938 Pontiac hearse with the chassis and drivetrain of a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.
This unusual fusion served two goals at once: preserving the eerie, gothic look of a pre-war car while giving the production a reliable, powerful 4×4 capable of handling rugged terrain and long shooting days.
Body: 1938 Pontiac Hearse, extensively modified with new lines, extended proportions, and a reshaped rear section.
Chassis & Engine: Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen 4×4, chosen for its durability, off-road performance, and the ability to conceal modern components beneath a vintage shell.
Instead, the designers built a custom machine by combining the body of a 1938 Pontiac hearse with the chassis and drivetrain of a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.
This unusual fusion served two goals at once: preserving the eerie, gothic look of a pre-war car while giving the production a reliable, powerful 4×4 capable of handling rugged terrain and long shooting days.
Body: 1938 Pontiac Hearse, extensively modified with new lines, extended proportions, and a reshaped rear section.
Chassis & Engine: Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen 4×4, chosen for its durability, off-road performance, and the ability to conceal modern components beneath a vintage shell.
Still from the series “Wednesday” (2022),
© Netflix
© Netflix
Key features that set it apart:
A stretched wheelbase to accommodate both the old body and the new frame.
Air suspension with adjustable ride height, letting the car sit low and menacing or rise higher for practical movement.
A rare one-piece rear glass panel, giving the car a distinct silhouette unusual for its era.
Redesigned fenders and front headlights that blend vintage cues with custom creativity.
The result is nothing short of a cinematic Frankenstein: a vehicle stitched together from different decades, old bones animated by a modern heart.
A stretched wheelbase to accommodate both the old body and the new frame.
Air suspension with adjustable ride height, letting the car sit low and menacing or rise higher for practical movement.
A rare one-piece rear glass panel, giving the car a distinct silhouette unusual for its era.
Redesigned fenders and front headlights that blend vintage cues with custom creativity.
The result is nothing short of a cinematic Frankenstein: a vehicle stitched together from different decades, old bones animated by a modern heart.
The choice of this car goes far beyond style or convenience. It’s a moving metaphor for the Addams Family itself — timeless, eccentric, and existing outside the rules of ordinary reality.
Just like the family members, the car is at once ancient and contemporary, elegant yet slightly grotesque, practical but otherworldly.
By rolling onto the screen in this unique creation, Lurch doesn’t just chauffeur Wednesday — he ushers her, and the audience, into a world where past and present collide seamlessly.
Just like the family members, the car is at once ancient and contemporary, elegant yet slightly grotesque, practical but otherworldly.
By rolling onto the screen in this unique creation, Lurch doesn’t just chauffeur Wednesday — he ushers her, and the audience, into a world where past and present collide seamlessly.
Wednesday set a historic record for Netflix.
In its very first week, the series was watched for over 341 million hours — making it the biggest debut ever for an English-language show on the platform at that time.
Later, by the end of its first month, total viewership had surpassed 1 billion hours, placing the show alongside global giants like Squid Game.
In its very first week, the series was watched for over 341 million hours — making it the biggest debut ever for an English-language show on the platform at that time.
Later, by the end of its first month, total viewership had surpassed 1 billion hours, placing the show alongside global giants like Squid Game.
