…though that would depend on one’s definition of art. Do playful decals count as art? Does Ghostbusters? Well, WilliamRubano might argue that they do, and I wouldn’t disagree. And where better than New York (where he takes most of his pictures) to turn this white SUV into an homage to that ’80s legend?
It would appear the owner of this Pathfinder isn’t the only person so inspired. One google search and you’ll find a number of replicas of the famous Cadillac ambulance used in the 1984 blockbuster, some obviously better than others. This Citroen DS, oddly enough, is the best I’ve found so far, having both an ambulance body and bechromed late ’50s style.
This Sable wagon is more Ghostbusters 2 inspired and with its rims, somewhat inappropriate for the role. Some dogdishes from a police package Taurus would be better.
This Caprice’s wheels on the other hand, are much better suited for chasing the paranormal through New York’s streets, as is the entire car, in its full-framed GM glory. The other mods, like the air intake in the hood and the Impala SS grille, are much less charming.
With the lack of popular station wagons made in recent years, a Ghostbusters made today would either feature an SUV (as above) or a Subaru like the one pictured here. This doesn’t really have the same impact as the Caddy, but you have to give credit where it’s due.
…and here we have Paul’s version (just kidding!). There are so many more results that turned up which I won’t bother sharing; it’ll be easy to do a search of your own and see how widely the Ghostbusters car has inspired nerds everywhere. What famous movie vehicle would you want to copy?
Better any of these getting the Ecto-1 treatment (except maybe the B-body wagon) than yet another rare and irreplaceable Miller-Meteor, S&S or Superior. Too many of them have already been turned into Ecto replicas or gothmobiles.
Ghostbusters was 30 years ago? Aaaak!
It is my recollection that part of the mystique of the original GB vehicle was that it was maximum ostentaion yet was almost completely worthless in the early 80s. I wonder what an appropriate analog would be today? I would argue one of those awful late 80s stretch limos.
> Ghostbusters was 30 years ago? Aaaak!
The Terminator also came out in 1984, and BTTF in 1985. Don’t forget Star Trek The Motion Picture (1979) and Star Wars (1977, over 35 years ago).
If all that doesn’t make you feel old, follow this link.
http://xkcd.com/891/
… or this one.
http://xkcd.com/893/
Ppl like to talk about how shitty the ’70s were, but you know, all that disillusionment brought about some excellent comedy, horror and action flicks by the end of that decade and into the ’80s (i.e. Ghostbusters). Yours might be one of the first generations that youth overwhelmingly envy!
And yes, a Panther or Fleetwood Brougham limo would be wonderful, and appropriately blingy to represent the past thirty years of tackiness.
For the same purpose?
I would reckon that a big commercial glass 1993-1996 Fleetwood hearse would make a great modern Ecto-1, it’s almost even the right age.
Quite a progression in ghost busting service vehicles. Impressive how much the technology has advanced since 1984.
Used Ford Police Interceptors come up for sale now and then. Still, I don’t think they have quite the style of the original Bluesmobile. I can’t really imagine Elwood saying “it’s got cop tires, cop shocks and a 4.6 litre plant…”. Besides, a number of those old Dodge cruisers were likely trashed making the Blues Brothers. How about an old International Travelall as the new Ecto? Tough as nails, and a 4-wheel drive model would take you anywhere in any weather and get you back to Ghostbusters HQ.
A Hemi powered Charger pursuit car would be a worthy bluesmobile. 345 cubic inch Hemi plant sounds a lot more badass than 4.6L fo sho!
I would like to copy the “Death Mobile” from Animal House. Cutting up a Lincoln “Connie” now days would be a sin though.
This one would be still doable with a later 80’s Town Car.
I know that some people will take just about any vehicle, paint it bright orange, paint “01” on the doors and a Confederate flag on the roof. But I didn’t know that people were doing bastardized Ecto-1 conversions.
IMO, a modern take on the Ecto-1 should be made from an Escalade.
My favorite 01 car that I spotted around me was an early-90’s Dodge Colt 3-door. I guess it was technically a Dodge.
Several years ago I saw an old Dodge Aries with a “Yeah, it’s got a Hemi in it” sticker affixed the bumper.
If it had the Mitsu 2.6, they weren’t lying. But you already knew that…
I did learn that from you, but it hadn’t sprung to mind. I guess I should feel bad for laughing.
Ben Jones used to own a bar on US-211 in Sperryville, Va. He, of course, had a General Lee replica parked by the side of the road to draw attention to his bar. Somehow Cooter’s own 01 replica seemed less tacky than all the others.
(The drive from there up and back down the Blue Ridge into Luray is among my favorite twisty mountain roads.)
One of my cars is an old pursuit vehicle that has only slight modifications, such as a Hurst stick with 3-speed, chrome engine dress-up kit, but all original other than that. It’s a nice car, but doesn’t win in shows featuring all original restored antiques.
The Chevy Caprice 9C6 from that 1998 Godzilla movie or perhaps the Plymouth Voyager from War of the Worlds.
What to copy? Easy decision: The E-Type hearse from Harold & Maude. The original was destroyed when they launched it off the cliff when the filming the final scene.
I forget because I haven’t seen the movie in years, was the original Jag a roadster or a coupe before he turned it into a hearse?
In the movie it looks like the took a roadster and added the hearse “topper” over the body to create the Jag hearse.
Ugh. “I know, let’s take a car that looks NOTHING like a 1959 Cadillac ambulance and turn it into Ecto 1!” I know, I know, it’s all in good fun, but it just grinds my gears.
This happens with Bluesmobiles too. The dumbest one I saw was on eBay last year. It was an R-body New Yorker Fifth Avenue, complete with hidden headlights. Dumb!
Even in the film itself several of the CPD cars destroyed in the final chase scene were civilian Royal Monacos with covered headlights.
Chrysler did offer the police package on the ’76-’77 Royal Monaco, (and the real CPD had a bunch of them), but IIRC the headlight covers were either deleted or at least deactivated at the factory.
I’m going to turn my old Saab into the Bluesmobile! Or maybe I’ll trade it for a microphone…
NO
There is no Saab……only ZUUL!
Ecto clones are invariably crap. I hate the bad ones built on incorrect Professional Car Chassis with a passion. The ones built on a non- Pro Car chassis only indicate the builders basic inhumanity. Ironically, a friend of mine has a picture of what he believes to be the the original car in it’s “before” condition. What do you think ?
Yes, a lot of these clones are garbage.
not ALL of them. This actually makes sense as a ‘logical upgrade’…and it looks cool to boot
That is in fact the car that is shown on the movie painted in black and gray primer. I owned the car when Columbia Pictures rented it from me. At the time I bought it had the markings “486 Fire Protection District.” The word Belmont was sprayed over but it was red and white until Columbia did their thing to make it look like a real beater.
I could go for a nice Rockford Firebird.
There are tons of movie vehicles Id like to copy, or do my own ‘updated’ version of. The Dodge Magnum Ecto-1 is what I envision every time I see that car in white. If youre going for modern and attainable yet still makes sense, then that’s about the best choice I can think of for a newer Ecto. A sport utility (classic hardass 4×4 not the soccer mom SUVs of today) would be cool too: Landrover Defender 110, Toyota FJ-55 or FJ Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited….any of these would be sweet, but my top choice would be a rhino-grilled Jeep Wagoneer.
I know its pretty lazy, but one of my dream cars is a solid white Dodge Challenger, Kowalski style. I don’t care if its the original or the LX based one.
If I had more money than brains, Id have an entire fleet of Mad Max roadwarrior type vehicles.
And I might be digging into obscurity here–especially for non Gen-Xers–but I loved Twisted Metal 2….the monster truck HammerHead was my favorite:
http://www.igcd.net/vehicle.php?id=7035&PHPSESSID=c18ff1&width=1518
A Dodge Ramcharger would look sweet done up like that, or better yet an old Willys panel truck!
No votes for a Vanishing Point Challenger? But there’s reason to believe it’s supercharged, people! Supercharged!
Kowalski lives!
It seems my photo just doesn’t want to attach, so have this video of the original theatrical trailer instead:
Thanks for the compliments guys!
Here’s the build thread for the truck. I wish i had 100k+ laying around to make a real ecto, unfortunately i do not. I did however invest countless hours designing this vehicle so it wouldn’t have that “man this dude must like ghostbusters” vibe. So please take the time and look through the thread and understand my vision that i was trying to achieve, or just say something witty and be on your way.
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=31073
That is in fact the car that is shown on the movie painted in black and gray primer. I owned the car when Columbia Pictures rented it from me. At the time I bought it had the markings “486 Fire Protection District.” The word Belmont was sprayed over but it was red and white until Columbia did their thing to make it look like a real beater.