If you are a fan of the Ghostbusters franchise, then either you’re waiting with anticipation or dread for the 2016 version to hit theaters. Honestly, if you ask me personally, I was never into the series, but two things always stuck with me that I enjoyed: one was “Ecto Cooler”, a drink sold in a box when I was a kid that a friend of mine figured out the recipe for, and ECTO-1, the 1959 Cadillac/Miller-Meteor ambulance that was converted into the official vehicle for four paranormal enthusiasts wearing mechanic jumpsuits and proton packs. The two Caddy ambulances used for the 1984 and 1989 films are property of Sony Pictures Entertainment and were left derelict for years, rendering them to “barn find” status. Since the studio won’t sell or fix the cars, the move was made to create a new ECTO-1 for the reboot.
Enter the new version, based upon a 1980s Cadillac hearse. The idea is the same, which is to use a 30+ year old Cadillac wagon, but from where I sit, something is missing. Is it the huge front bumper with the quad headlights? The sky-high tail fins? Maybe it’s the overall presence of a 1959 Cadillac compared with a 1980s Cadillac…size and substance versus a shoebox. While I agree that movies overall need to look to newer vehicles for star cars, in this case I think it was a bust move. The 1959 car could have been “uncovered” in the film for what I care. But what do you think?
The -59 Caddy from the original movie is actually restored, saw a tv show about it, even Dan Akroyd was there to check it out.
Yes, he is correct. Actually both of the original Cadillac hearses were restored. One is currently sitting on Sony’s back lot right next to the new version of the Green Hornet’s Chrysler Imperial. The other one is still in Los Angeles as well. I saw both being restored, mechanically, at an old caddy specialist in Santa Monica.
I’m not particularly excited for this movie. It’s not a Ghostbusters movie without Bill Murray. Plus I think the whole ’80s movie franchise revival has run it’s course. Jurassic World was, in my opinion, one of the dumbest movies I have ever seen and Terminator: Genisys has been a flop.
As for the car, don’t particularly care. Won’t be going to see it, so they could make it a damn Prius for all it’ll matter to me.
The only thing I care less about than the ‘ new ‘ Ecto 1 is the movie remake itself . Aint it amazing that with all of Hollywood’s money and resources the best they can offer is pathetic pastiches of recycled hits from the past ?
And yet … there they are .. lemmings by the droves lining up to buy their tickets to watch absolutely nothing
And people wonder why this country’s going to hell in a hand basket ? Lemmings supporting and buying crap . Thats why !!!!
Yeah, I guess Hollywood has run out of original ideas lately. And did they really have to gender-shift the entire cast?
I was only 4 when the 2nd one came out. I loved these movies and even had the action figures of each character. I for one am excited about the new movie and I do dig this car. I think if it wasnt gong to be th 59, this one is a great choice
I haven’t been paying any attention to the reboot. But I’ve got mixed feelings about the car. On one hand, the ’59 Caddy ambulance was over the top in a way that you can’t match with much of anything modern.
On the other hand, if they’re sticking with the original script, the car makes the most sense as some random beater that the Ghostbusters could scrounge up that could carry all their gear. And a ’59 Cadillac would fetch far more money if it’s set in the present day, even in the condition they started with. So – I guess it does seem to be an appropriate car for the movie.
Meh.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
It is simple movie making math. Finding and building a dozen hearses in less than three months just so eleven can be destroyed during filming is much easier when they are 1980’s hearses instead of 1959 hearses.
If the movie itself is as unimaginative as this Ecto-1, it will be one to skip.
If the movie (that I will not watch till it’s on netflix) is set in Modern 2016, then no you don’t want to use a 1959 Hearse. If the story line is a continuation, the 1969 Ecto-1 would have been drove to the point it would need a full mechanical Restoration, not to mention the body work. It would make scene either way to have stepped up to a newer car with the 368. No that’s not a type-o no 4100 in the Z chassis in the early 80’s. Outside of the hearse lovers, the majority of us don’t care if you kill off 5000 1980’s Cadillac hearses, yet we cringe if you kill off a 1959.
This is a fail on multiple levels.
– general design principles. if you’re to make it different then make it different. they could have used a Checker (something relevant to NYC), or perhaps an old fire truck, or even a van, etc. not a lame malaise version of the same basic thing.
– why would someone put the side moldings on over the logos? Poor attention to detail, imo.
– One of the cool things about the original one is that it was unique and it had character. a ’59 caddy was popular in the mid 80’s… It just isn’t there with the malaise era version. Use something else.
– It’s not am improvement over the original. One would think a goal is to improve upon the original when remaking it. It is a fact that one of the most memorable things about the original movie is the original car. so a logical conclusion would be to make sure the new movie has a memorable car, too. Who’s going to want to buy a diecast replica of this car?
– It looks like a tribute car a fan made on a shoestring budget out of his garage that you’d see in a local parade.