Wikia

Ecto-1
	Transportation
	<img alt="Ecto 02" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIABAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAEALAAAAAABAAEAQAICTAEAOw%3D%3D" width="225" height="94" data-image-name="Ecto 02.jpg" data-image-key="Ecto_02.jpg" data-src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110720124911/ghostbusters/images/thumb/2/2c/Ecto_02.jpg/225px-Ecto_02.jpg" class="lzy lzyPlcHld" onload="if(typeof ImgLzy=="object"){ImgLzy.load(this)}" /><noscript><img alt="Ecto 02" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110720124911/ghostbusters/images/thumb/2/2c/Ecto_02.jpg/225px-Ecto_02.jpg" width="225" height="94" data-image-name="Ecto 02.jpg" data-image-key="Ecto_02.jpg" />
Appeared in	Ghostbusters; Ghostbusters II; 88MPH Studios; Ghost Busted (manga); Stylized Version; Stylized Portable Versions; IDW Comics

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

HistoryEdit

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.^[1]

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.

RepairsEdit

After purchasing the vehicle in used condition, Ray had to make repairs on the following parts of the car:^[2]^[3]

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

New IncarnationsEdit

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 HistoryEdit

Animated SeriesEdit

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 VersionsEdit

The Ecto-1 makes only brief appearances in the Stylized Version. It should be noted that the Stylized Version game uses the old name Ecto-1 and not the Ecto-1b like in the Realistic Versions.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Stylized Portable VersionEdit

The Ecto-1 is drive-able in Stylized Portable Version. Like the standard Stylized Version, it is referred to as the Ecto-1 and not the Ecto-1b.

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

Engine Tuning

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

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

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

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

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

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 ComicsEdit

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 ScenesEdit

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,^[4] 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.^[5]
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.^[6]
$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 ^[7]
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.^[8]
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.

ReferencesEdit

↑ Ray Stantz (2005). Ghostbusters (1984) (DVD ts. 20:46). Columbia Pictures. Ray says: "Only 4800."
↑ Ray Stantz (2005). Ghostbusters (1984) (DVD ts. 20:36-45). Columbia Pictures. Ray says: "Everybody can relax, I found the car. Needs some suspension work and shocks... and brakes, brake pads, linings, steering box, transmission, rear end."
↑ Ray Stantz (2005). Ghostbusters (1984) (DVD ts. 20:46-20:49). Columbia Pictures. Ray says: "Only 4800. Maybe new rings, also mufflers, a little wiring."
↑ Ghostbusters Credits
↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 50. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.
↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 67. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.
↑ CPI Inflation Calculator
↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 95. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.