[Jack_Downs85]

So I’m trying to gather pictures or any info about what the screen used Ecto-1 during the 90s and early 00s pre restoration? I know the Ecto-1a was at Universal Studios Florida but what about the Ecto-1??

[prodestrian]

There's some info on the GBFans Wiki:
http://www.gbfans.com/wiki/Category:Ectomobile

Both Ectomobiles were on the verge of being sent to the crusher when Keith Hargrove suggested that both cars be restored for the premiere of the upcoming release of the Ghostbusters video game. The first attempt at a restoration of the Ecto-1 included painting most of the chrome silver, new paint on certain roof rack pieces and a freshening up of the graphics. The car was moved to the back lot to around 2005 for inclusion on a tour. After about 2 years, the Ecto-1 and 1A then moved to Cinema Vehicle Services where true restorations began.

I'm not sure the exact date that all the pre-restoration backlot photos were taken, I assume somewhere between 2000-2007:
https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/Sony_Backlo ... _Reference
(edit: Maybe taken in 2005?)

https://web.archive.org/web/20090216214 ... hereectos/

https://www.gbfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=560#p560


Also this:
https://www.gbfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2603

Which includes this video:


As for what happened between 1989-2005, not sure...
It sounds like the car was left out in the elements on the Sony backlot tour, similar to what Universal did to the hero Deloreans.

[Jack_Downs85]

I can’t believe they were going to be crushed!! That’s unbelievable! If that would’ve happened how would they get another one to build for afterlife or whatever. The cars themselves are rare. What a shame. Cinema vehicle services “refurbished” the ecto 1 poorly so it’s a bad situation all together. I wish they would’ve been restored by the fans like the Delorean. Thanks for the info!!!

[Ecto-1Builder]

I can’t believe they were going to be crushed!! That’s unbelievable! If that would’ve happened how would they get another one to build for afterlife or whatever. The cars themselves are rare. What a shame. Cinema vehicle services “refurbished” the ecto 1 poorly so it’s a bad situation all together. I wish they would’ve been restored by the fans like the Delorean. Thanks for the info!!!

It's sad that studios really don't care about props. Especially to insanely popular movies. To them it was used for it's intended purpose and then can get hauled to the scrap heap.

And it's also a shame that the restoration company did an absolutely horrendous job on restoring the car. They just did so many unnecessary things. Like the front lightbar bracket. And painting the chromed pieces, silver??? I find it sad that builders like me, we can get closer to the original car than these guys.

And have you seen the car, currently? It is in total disrepair. The wood on the roof rack is rotting and caving in, the paint has faded. It's an absolute tragedy that all that money was spend to "restore" it, and it is in need of a total restoration, once again.

[Jack_Downs85]

I know right!! I sadly haven’t seen it at all. They just leave it outside and stuff and it’s so infuriating. Do you remember the Ecto 1a petition? Why did Sony suddenly decided to care about it once we wanted to restored. Now it’s a rusty ecto 1 replica instead of the 1a. What’s going to become of it now??!

[Kingpin]

A rusty Ecto-1 replica is better than an actually rusty, broken-down Ecto-1A. It's not ideal, but at least this way the car gets to have a second life and get to appear on-screen, with rumour suggesting it'll be appearing in the upcoming movie.

[prodestrian]

...at least this way the car gets to have a second life...

You could say it got to have an Afterlife.


...I'll show myself out.

[Kingpin]

You could say it got to have an Afterlife.

I was tempted to say that, but I opted not to... Too easy.

[Jack_Downs85]

Lmfao!!! So is the Ecto 1a confirmed for the Ghostbusters 4?? I remember jason reitman saying that there’s reason why the ecto 1a wasn’t in afterlife?

[Kingpin]

Lmfao!!! So is the Ecto 1a confirmed for the Ghostbusters 4??

Not yet.

[gamera1968]

@Kingpin - This in-depth video explains which Ectos (including 1-A) were used in "Afterlife".