My current car has been on it’s way out for some time now and today I found out my mom might be giving me her 2007 Jeep Liberty. It would be perfect for my first Ecto only problem is it’s black. I just wanted to know how everyone feels about Ectos that aren’t white. Should I just save up and get a cheap Maaco paint job?
In the original script, Ecto was black with purple lights. If i’m not mistaken, one of the Georgia groups has a black hearse that they use as an Ecto as well. I think it would be neat as hell, If you left it black and somehow managed the purple lights. But it’s your car and your money and your decision. Either way I’m looking forward to see what you come up with.
I forgot about that. Thanks! I’m still not sure if I’m even getting the car yet. But I will definitely be on the look out for purple lights.
Just as an fyi, purple lights may be a little hard to find. They were used strictly for funerals, but the color was retired in the 70s. What you may need to do is clear lenses with the purple inserts, or have them fabricated. Good luck, yo
I found this, but it’s 4.5" tall. I don’t think that’s going to be big enough. 
Thanks for the tip sir. Time to look for clear lights.
You can always ask around the funeral home community for help when it comes to this project.
Here is a place that sells a mini-lightbar that has a purple option. I have this model in green and it’s awesome.
Clear lenses and this stuff, probably a few coats of it: http://www.locateproduct.com/products/MisterArt-com-24/Krylon-Stained-Glass-Colors-6-oz--can-purple.htm
Black Ecto’s for the win.
You should be able to get the same Whelen Edge lightbars boomerjinks has http://www.lightbars.net/whelenbars.htm, then special order the lenses from Whelen.
You can also get strobes and the like from here: http://www.strobesnmore.com/funeral-lighting.html
I did a photoshop of a black liberty with the same configuration as my rav. It was sharp, I will see if I can find it.
Always wanted to be able to have GB’s riding on the running bars in a parade swat style. And the renegade roof lightbar would be sharp.
Thanks for all the help guys! Keep it coming.
Surprisingly enough, no-one from the general public ever comments on the color. People either like it, or they ask “where’s the cadillac?”.
The one setback, it is harder to photograph at night. Hence why they went with white for the movie.
Spectre-1 was actually a very dark green but unless you saw it in the right light it looked black.
That car was totalled out and that was when I got the Magnum and started ecto-fying it.
But back on topic, purple lights are still in use in many states as funeral lights and quite a few companies make purple strobe and led bars so you shouldnt have much trouble finding em.
I’m interested to see how this turns out.
Here is a cheap alternative instead of having to go some place that may rip you off. The article is titled the 50 dollar paint job.
Did you just suggest she give her $16,000 car a $50 paint job?
SecrecyGuy, is that you?
Thanks, but I’ve decided to go with Dark Spectre’s idea. Black Ecto with purple lights sounds pretty sexy to me.
Why yes. Yes I did.
My advice is, and always has been, to build a replica that mimics the tones and appearance of the original car. If I had a fairly new car that was being given to me, I would flip it on the market and buy a less expensive car that was closer in appearance. I would then use the difference to fund the conversion.
I strongly recommend a white wagon or a white four-door SUV. My opposition to off-color Ectos is the same as my opposition to off-color Batmobiles. It isn’t anything personal, and I know it hasn’t earned me a ton of friends, but it’s an opinion I’ve seen proven successful again and again.
Generally, I see off-color replicas as an excuse. The black car is what the person already has, or the silver car is the one a person is getting, so they try to rationalize as best they can. My counterpoint is that, if given a blank slate for a replica, let’s say a half-way restored hearse that has primer on it and is ready to go, what color would you paint it?
What I am building to here is that a lot of people see an off-color Ecto (hell, even an off-model Ecto) as a sign of laziness. I’ve been here for years and every time a black car comes along, the owner always goes “well that is what the original idea for the car was going to be in the first script!” and yet I doubt anyone will ever see a black Ecto drive by and go “Oh look, that car looks just like the concept art vehicle from Ghostbusters!” With the exception of the NJ vehcile, pretty much every off-color modern Ecto has been a huge flop around here.
I can totally understand when someone has a beater jeep they don’t want to or can’t afford to repaint, or don’t want to go through the hassle of selling and then trying to find a closer vehicle because their car isn’t worth that much anyway. But you are in a unique position. You are getting a very new, relatively valuable car. It isn’t correct, and you could spend money to turn it into an Ecto, or you could sell it and use the money to build a closer replica, with nothing coming out of your pocket.
Just thought I would let you know of a cheap alternative. I don’t always hear good things of paint shops and the work in this article seems to be pretty good. Also, I didn’t know if you were wanting to paint it white or just settling for black. Good luck.
That’s understandable and your work is good. I agree with the point about the Batmobile. But to me, I like the idea of different deviations on the Ecto, just because there are so many clones to the movie that different ones are an exciting idea. Unfortunately, most people get burnt out from the labor/cost and finish it with less than stellar results.
I just hope this one turns out to be good. I think with enough planning and careful design this concept car could be very badass.