# Original Ectomobile 2009 restoration mistakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Ectomobiles\ **Created:** [January 19, 2022, 7:47am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328 "2022-01-19T07:47:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2022, 7:47am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/1 "2022-01-19T07:47:03Z")
I’m well aware of many of the mistakes and errors made during the 2009 restoration of the original Ghostbusters Ectomobile, but I’ve never been able to find a single thread documenting all the errors, as the information is scattered across many years and websites. I know I’m repeating some and forgetting other, but I figured I might as well present the most obvious ones to get the ball rolling. One of the most irritating overlooked details was the incorrect front light bar and mourning bracket on [the Ectomobile](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/ectomobile): ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/e/3/e396de98110c0d3d4eeb4d79d4ed6a961f3fee3e.jpeg) This is very clearly not the lightbar or bracket that was originally on the Ectomobile in 1983 and 1984: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/b/a/ba8b9c4cfb3028d0c2ae6a790e3fd14f19fa0641.jpeg) Another mess-up on the restoration “effort” was the painting of the siren (and other originally chrome parts) with silver spray paint: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/d/1/d1dba2988bcd550641e85a37a7be08e69f5e6428.jpeg) Also missing from the sub-par job is the lens for the spinning red beacon: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/4/9/49e8d5a1265f297e308353287cbf6331b32d84ae.jpeg) In the same image is the “Sniffer”, which definitely featured a grey box back in 1983 and 1984: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/2/6/26a6d1aa0fccef3be84ad707bc0c487e63a4286e.jpeg) I believe the logo was also changed some: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/a/8/a80f04c65117d57345ddea61aa5f052cda07b2d1.jpeg) How the decal appeared in 1983 and 1984: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/b/7/b796a7bcf882dd8c30ad180e5112c4c9034110a7.jpeg) Lastly, Sony being Sony, decided to have the restoration team hack up the interior and add some garish speaker and video systems: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/d/3/d360a5fc5581d64f5791d7f460ccc4b4c4c0f5d0.jpeg) It’s unlikely these issues (as well as the barely-running engine, which I’ll admit, has historically not been a strong suit of the Ectomobile) will ever be addressed, let alone by people as passionate about the vehicle as on this forum. ---
**Author:** ![bison256](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/bison256/32/186112_2.png) [@bison256](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/bison256)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2022, 8:19am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/2 "2022-01-19T08:19:44Z")
I wonder if the original light bar and bracket were too far gone to restore. As to the engine, I’m not a mechanic, but the issue seems to be the car sitting for too long at a time. The engine was repaired and working well in 2009 but Internal combustion engines develop problems if they aren’t frequently run. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2022, 8:40am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/3 "2022-01-19T08:40:16Z")
It’s to my understanding that the front lightbar was removed from [the Ectomobile](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/ectomobile) during the 2000s for use on another production. The lightbar and bracket had been gone for years by 2009, so it’s more likely they just been lost rather than overly corroded/rendered unsalvagable. ---
**Author:** ![sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/sprprops/32/186712_2.png) [@sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sprprops)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/4 "2022-01-20T01:48:24Z")
Lots of issues with paint and hardware that was changed during the restoration. The [bumper](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/bumper) strobe bases went from gray to black and the screws went from flathead screws to bolts. The drivers side mirror was changed. ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/d/e/def661c3081ddbc3433c3b01e47932b9c8da17a8.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/8/c/8cfd1424c2cccf6aeae5cde274079a7acf799809.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/1/2/12f278439402669d4fa4110be015f092c77728d2.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/e/6/e624322912c831bc194fb8642455a9c25ed96b5a.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/2/3/23f4aa7c2ed6b68b6d85ec6909e3fac4c2d6cd42.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/sprprops/32/186712_2.png) [@sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sprprops)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 1:59am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/5 "2022-01-20T01:59:35Z")
The repercussions of the terrible restoration are still affecting the GB community. The new cars in [afterlife](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/ghostbusters-afterlife) still got the wrong front bars but they almost got the same horrible brackets as well. The car team working on Afterlife really didn’t do a thorough job on the research as evidenced by this photo and the hand painted logos. ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/6/8/68e692a621c9c85c3dea1b208f2acdf3a8b9043b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/188026_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/6 "2022-01-20T02:43:45Z")
> [@Bison256 post\_id=4965636 time=1642580384 user\_id=52149](#): > > I wonder if the original light bar and bracket were too far gone to restore. Technically they were too far gone, as in they were “too far gone” off of the lot after having been reappropriated/stolen: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/3/1/318cae6c4526720f0ca41cb23c492e7c4718ae12.jpeg) Another mistake in the restoration: The sniffer/scopes were installed facing backwards. ---
**Author:** ![BRD\_527](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@BRD\_527](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/BRD_527)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/7 "2022-01-20T14:35:02Z")
The front lightbar bugs the ■■■■ out of me too! Its the wrong model, wrong length with wrong mounting brackets that also make it sit at the wrong height at the wrong angle 😑 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/8 "2022-01-20T18:55:21Z")
The lightbar is just way too long and it looks goofy, especially compared to the rear one. It’s so unfortunate that even all the highly detailed models get big details wrong simply because they decided to study/reference [the Ectomobile](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/ectomobile) as it is currently. The [Afterlife](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/ghostbusters-afterlife) cars reflecting the restoration is just another pain in the side of the often-reocurring problem. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/9 "2022-01-20T19:48:41Z")
Interestingly enough, the [Afterlife](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/ghostbusters-afterlife) Ectomobile does seem to have the correct lightbar mount and grey sniffer: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/0/a/0a78c0d0667c77ee19aeb63c11577a11470b2251.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/6/a/6a542b9f17e8fd25b237f7bfcdd47862514bd54b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/sprprops/32/186712_2.png) [@sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sprprops)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 11:38pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/10 "2022-01-20T23:38:15Z")
> [@The Searcher](#): > > Interestingly enough, the Afterlife Ectomobile does seem to have the correct lightbar mount and grey sniffer: It does now thanks to Dr. Caron, they were fully planning on putting the wrong ones on it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2022, 8:50am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/11 "2022-01-21T08:50:41Z")
Interesting, I was unaware of this. The only models I can think of that weren’t completely referenced to the inaccurate restoration since its completion are the Blitzway and the new Lego set (which I guess doesn’t really count since it was based on the corrected [Afterlife](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/ghostbusters-afterlife) Ectomobile). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 7:30am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/12 "2022-01-24T07:30:37Z")
The rear bumper/fin chrome pieces no longer fit quite right and it seems Sony has lost the original fuel cap: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/b/c/bc2a8d981e537bd155bc0911d3050b892630ce59.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![deadderek](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/deadderek/32/98787_2.png) [@deadderek](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/deadderek)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/13 "2022-01-24T08:43:24Z")
Those restoration brackets are hideous. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/14 "2022-01-24T18:04:46Z")
Much of the paint has begun to fade, some rust is evident, the fuel cap was replaced with an incorrect one, and even the Red spinning beacon has had some of the paint removed somehow: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/6/c/6c96eba1c006e667a94ab606027afba68b888942.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/b/5/b528e69611b0f67a41738d175f7d475eb8d4d25a.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/b/2/b213de7aa1b135f0a65c6d3260fcdf98e46d84c8.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/f/e/fe2163e66fde706f54d65d72ed906ec4f61407bd.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/a/4/a4ebd5e94e94f7ed63a70f22815e70edc27ed3b2.jpeg) The front light bar appears to be broken from a relatively recent video, hopefully they junk it and replace it with a correct one? ---
**Author:** ![sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/sprprops/32/186712_2.png) [@sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sprprops)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 1:20am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/15 "2022-01-25T01:20:36Z")
Recent photos I saw show the siren just laying up there on the roof not mounted at all. But of course, photos taken right after the restoration show the mounting bolt in the pedestal missing entirely so maybe it has just been held up there with “hopes and dreams” all this time. ---
**Author:** ![sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/sprprops/32/186712_2.png) [@sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sprprops)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/16 "2022-01-25T02:47:58Z")
The CB radio was missing prior to the restoration so I wonder where the midland cb that is in the car now came from and what was originally in ecto1? ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/b/7/b72e9d295865791c95d721676f4677931385270d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 5:30am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/17 "2022-01-25T05:30:48Z")
There was definitely a Radio of some sort mounted up there during production. Was it the midland? I’m not sure. Unfortunately, the restoration added a strange, somewhat garish headunit under the steering wheel, another screen, and completely massacred the poor dummy antenna by turning it into a speaker?: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/e/4/e457fad4a288ca8fc19486fe77573a0c06d7456b.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/2/a/2a8e260506ad6b852da2b19ceb1da6871c91abe0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Searcher](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Searcher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/18 "2022-01-25T18:55:41Z")
Also missing from the restoration done to [the Ectomobile](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/ectomobile) (and forgotten on the [Afterlife](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/ghostbusters-afterlife) Wrecktomobile) were the yellow French “Attention” labels next to the [bumper](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/bumper) lights: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/1/b/1bb4e1d9d0651e790c337c6879501a2a1e415ca9.jpeg) ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/8/d/8db7674dc59a080e615ed5423f01824d3776e67c.jpeg) The right part of the bumper seems to have been bent/damaged as well. ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/188026_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/19 "2022-01-25T23:52:09Z")
> [@The Searcher](#): > > and completely massacred the poor dummy antenna by turning it into a speaker?: The Gentec’s not been butchered, that’s just the back of the device: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/0/e/0e8a91df0d17a88c0b8d02f60891cc3b57031cac.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/sprprops/32/186712_2.png) [@sprprops](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sprprops)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 3:55am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328/20 "2022-01-26T03:55:58Z")
They also painted over the caution decal on the mandrel for the radar dish. Now that is “quality” ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/9/e/9ec9332e52c1fdb0d70d61656c1604f20f5d98ea.jpeg) [Next page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/original-ectomobile-2009-restoration-mistakes/30328.md?page=2)