The Ecto-1 is my dream car. the car's model is a 1959 superior Catalac, right? how much is an old, beat-up one of those? Like in the Movie, i want to get an old one, and pimp it out. I want all leather interior, working sierens, with the same noise. AND, 8 replica Proton Packs both RGB era and EGB era, and some replica PKE meters, AND a mini bar. The nozles at the ends of the drink hoses would also be PKE meters. If i put away money now, would it be posable to have it redy by my 60's? i'd like to know…

Cadillac, first off.

Second: No. I highly doubt it. With all that you're looking at the cost of a house. I'd say screw it and buy the house. Sleeping in an Ecto-1 doesn't look as cool as it sounds; neither does starving.

You ask how much money you'd have to save so you'd be ready by your 60s… but how old are you now?

The 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor, which was the year and production model used for the Ecto-1, Ecto-1A and Ecto-1 at Universal Studios is not one of the more frequently produced variations as far as I'm aware (someone who is more of a Cadillac expert correct me on this if it needs correcting) and as such they retail for a heck of a lot of money, even a fixer upper as they can often need a hell of a lot of work being 49 years old.

If you're serious, you'll have to save a lot of money, like the equivilant of saving for a house but probably even more so, and that's if you can even find a Miller Meteor nearby, often people have had to get them shipped.


As for the siren, whilst the siren housing used in the film has been identified (although it itself is rare) it didn't make the sound heard in the movie, that was created by Columbia's audio effects department.


And PKE Meter nozzles for a mini bar? Adventurous but hardly practical, and practical's a thing to keep in mind with the car.

For a better idea of the work you'd be undertaking if you had bought a Miller Meteor, check out the sort of things Sean Bishop went through with the Superior he had for his first car:

Ecto Restoration

Not to mention the extent things went to just to get his newer purchase (the Miller Meteor) up to scratch before he's even added any of the Ghostbusters mods to the car:

Flickr: Ecto 1
Flickr: Jnghost1
Flickr: Ecto1
Flickr: The Ghostbusters car!!!
Flickr: Ghostbuster Car
Flickr: Bustermobile
Flickr: Who you gonna call? Marina and Gina.


It is not a project that can be taken lightly.

Yeah, it might cost a little more than $4800 :-)

I can dream, cant I? to dream is to be alive. i'm 22 btw

We're not trying to discourage you, but it is a huge undertaking and it helps to gather as much information about it so you can weigh out the pros and cons of wanting to buy a 1959 Cadillac and replicate Ecto-1.

The car can run anywhere between a few grand to the price of a new car. Then there's the cost of restoration, which is a few grand. Then modifying the car, which also runs a few grand especially considering a lot of the things need to be customized and you're dealing with 1980s parts that may be hard to find.

This is a very good question. I remember asking it over ten years ago on the original Ghostbusters Message Board.

That said, it is an incredibly hard question to answer.

Your first step is finding a suitable vehicle. With the 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor Ambulance / Hearse Combination having production numbers under 2000, this gets harder as the years go by. It's all about determination, luck, and your ability to come up with the cash. I would allocate $20,000 USD for this step, although you may find a vehicle for much less.

Your second step is the restoration. Again, there is no fix cost. Depending on the vehicle you have chosen, this can run you from $10,000 - $60,000+ USD.

This doesn't count finding the parts you need. This includes finding spare / missing parts for the vehicle, as well as parts specific to the Ecto-1 modification.

Above all, my advice is to keep your patience. If you are determined enough, you will find a way to build your dream car.

I fully expect to spend close to $80,000 USD when all is said and done with my restoration.

i'll just have to play the lottery more. lol

Don't expect it to be cheap. And winning the lottery is a very slim chance.