Ecto-1

Ecto-1
Use:	Transportation
Appeared In:	Ghostbusters Ghostbusters II Ghost Busted (manga) IDW Comics

The Ecto-1 was the vehicle that the Ghostbusters used to travel throughout New York City busting ghosts and other entities.

History

The vehicle used for the Ecto-1 was a 1959 Cadillac professional chassis, built by the Miller-Meteor company. The ambulance/hearse combination was the end loader variety. Dr. Ray Stantz found the vehicle shortly after he mortgaged his mother's house to buy the Firehouse. Because of his mechanical skills, he was able to repair the vehicle, which he acquired for $4,800.

After repairs were completed, the vehicle had quite a unique character. It became a well-recognized symbol for the Ghostbusters franchise. The vehicle had enough room in it to store Proton Packs for all of the crew, along with Ecto Goggles', P.K.E. Meters, and a slew of Traps.

Repairs

After purchasing the vehicle in used condition, Ray had to make repairs on the following parts of the car:

• Suspension work
• Shocks
• Brakes
• Brake pads
• Lining
• Steering box
• Transmission
• Rear end
• New rings
• Mufflers
• (a little) wiring

New Incarnations

After the Ghostbusters were shut down, the Ecto-1 was used primarily for transport to and from appearances at such places as children's birthday parties. It fell into a state of disrepair, and is seen spewing smoke, and having various other mechanical problems.

Following the Ghostbusters' return to business after capturing the Scoleri Brothers, the Ecto-1 got an overhaul and was renamed Ecto-1a.

A further updated version of the Ecto-1 appears in during the Thanksgiving 1991 weekend, Ecto-1b. This version is similar to the Ecto-1a, but adds a Super Slammer Muon Trap on the roof which enables it to capture smaller ghosts much more quickly than the portable versions, as well as adding the possibility of capturing much larger ghosts.

Secondary Canon History

Animated Series

The Ecto-1 was modified during much of the cartoons run, including adding weapons a blowup raft device. To read more about the changes go here.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Stylized Versions

The Ecto-1 makes only a brief appearance in the stylized version. It should be noted that the stylized version game uses the the old name Ecto-1 and not the Ecto-1b like in the Realistic Versions.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Stylized Portable Version

The Ecto-1 is drive-able in stylized portable version. Like the standard styled version, it is referred to as the Ect0-1 and not the Ecto-1b.

Upgrades are offered to research in Egon's Lab in the firehouse.

Engine Tuning Blueprint

Engine Tuning

• Ability: Increases the Ecto-1's maximum speed.
• Research Cost: money cost: $750, slime cost: 38
  • Research Duration: 4 days

Body Reinforcement Blueprint

Body Reinforcement

• Ability: Reduces collision damage to the Ecto-1 by 10%.
• Research Cost: money cost: $1000, slime cost: 375
  • Research Duration: 4 days

Proton Acceleration Cannon Blueprint

Proton Acceleration Cannon

• Ability: Increases the Ecto-1's proton cannon effectiveness by 20%.
• Research Cost: money cost: $1250, slime cost: 300
  • Research Duration: 4 days

Engine Turbocharge Blueprint

Engine Turbocharge

• Ability: Increases the Ecto-1's maximum speed even more.
• Research Cost: money cost: $2000, slime cost: 150
  • Research Duration: 8 days

Alloy Shell Blueprint

Alloy Shell

• Ability: Reduces collision damage to the Ecto-1 by another 15%.
• Research Cost: money cost: $1500, slime cost: 750
  • Research Duration: 4 days

Megawatt Proton Cannon Blueprint

Megawatt Proton Cannon

• Ability: Increases the Ecto-1's proton cannon effectiveness by another 20%.
• Research Cost: money cost: $2000, slime cost: 600
  • Research Duration: 4 days

IDW Comics

After Fred's crew of Poltergeists killed Egon, Ray, and Winston, Fred stashed the bodies in Ecto-1. Fred then drove Ecto-1 off into the East River. It appears the Angels later hoisted Ecto from the river in the least.

Rachel Unglighter used her demonic magic to power the Ecto-1, now dubbed Ecto-10, and perform time jumps. These jumps were targeted specifically to each displaced Ghostbusters' Proton Pack, each with their own unique energy signature.

The Ecto-1 designation was used again after the Displaced Aggression event, for awhile, as evidenced by the appearance and license plate.

Behind the Scenes

• Ecto-1 and Ecto-1a are Miller-Meteor Futura Ambulance/Hearse Combination mounted on a 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood Professional Chassis.
• Steve Dane, credited as a Hardware Consultant, was the fabricator of the original Ectomobile.
• In previous drafts of the first movie, Ecto-1 was originally to be a 1975 Cadillac ambulance bought for only $600 but by the time the final script was written, the price had escalated to $1400 for an even older 1959 model. During filming, inflation increased the cost to $4800.
• Dan Aykroyd's original Ecto-1 was an all-black, rather sinister-looking machine with flashing white and purple strobe lights that gave it a strange, ultraviolet aura. While going through the script, the cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs first pointed out the black design would be a problem since part of the movie would be shot at night.
• $4800 was a rather large sum at the time for a used vehicle in such disrepair - but is comparable to about $10,686.44 in 2012 dollars
• Ecto-1 was promoting the 1984 film shortly after it was released in theaters. It drove around New York City with one of the Ghostbusters driving it in costume. Ecto-1 caused many accidents because other drivers lost control when they spotted the now-famous car. ^{[citation needed]}
• In a deleted scene of the first movie, there was encounter between a policeman and the Ecto-1. It was the only scene in the final shooting script that suggested the vehicle had some extranormal powers carried over from Aykroyd's initial draft. It was removed because it slowed down the montage.
• In Ghostbusters II, Ecto-1 was backfiring and spewing smoke. This was not done by special effects as the Cadillac truly was in a poor state of repair. It finally "died" on the Brooklyn Bridge. The NYPD fined the filmmakers because the Brooklyn Bridge does not have breakdown lanes and Ecto-1 was blocking traffic.
• Before Ghostbusters: The Video Game was released, the original (and now rusty and literally falling apart) Ecto-1 was restored to promote the game. Dan Aykroyd was shocked at the high quality of the restoration.
• There had been 3 Miller-Meteor Ambulances to portray the 2 vehicles, the pre-Ecto-1 which was never transformed, Ecto-1 which was originally a gold ambulance and Ecto-1a.

Appearances

• Ghostbusters
• Ghostbusters II

Secondary Canon Appearances

• Ghost Busted (manga)
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 6
• IDW Comics
  • "The Other Side 1"
  • "The Other Side 2"
  • "Displaced Aggression 1"
  • "Displaced Aggression 2"
  • "Displaced Aggression 3"
  • "Displaced Aggression 4"
    • "Working Overtime"
  • "Past, Present, and Future"
  • "Tainted Love"
  • "What in Samhain Just Happened?"
  • "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
  • "Ghostbusters: Infestation 1"
  • "Ghostbusters: Infestation 2"
  • "Times Scare!"

Gallery

Primary Canon

The Cadillac before restoration

Ecto 03.jpg

The boys in grey respond to their first call in style

Secondary Canon

As seen in Ghost Busted (manga) Chapter 3

The Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Stylized Versions)

As seen in "The Other Side 1"

Ecto-10 in Displaced Aggression

As seen in Times Scare!