USF Ecto-1 is NOT the real Ecto-1 from the movies...

[river_of_slime]

I thought Paul still owen the Ecto-1 replica as a few months ago

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20091011/NEWS01/910110323/1002/Who-you-gonna-call?-Try-the-man-who-owns-Ecto-1

Oh I never herd of the con that they talk about in the article.

[lordgilpin]

http://www.screamingtikicon.com/

It shows the Ecto 1 as confirmed to be at the show as well as Herbie, and the Batcoptor but I didn’t see anything about the cast of GB being there…

If Bill Murray shows his face at a Con I’ll HAVE to find my way there…

[Iggy]

Yeah, I am definately gonna be at Tiki. Have to wear my Ghostbuster and take some pics of that ecto!

[Boomerjinks]

Wow, that article is absolutely filled with misinformation.

[kingpin]

Jim is definitely padding his credentials in terms of the replica.

The car was sold by USF because they no longer had the Ghostbusters licence, not because ‘they ran out of room’, and Jim bought it from Paul (who was the guy who restored it) not straight from the park.

Bet you he has a plaque saying it’s the car used in movie.

Although the original Ecto-1 won’t be used in the latest sequel, the car will be part of the upcoming movie promotion. For now, the vehicle patiently sits in Galion.

Hah, highly laughable seeing as the real Ecto-1 is in Sony’s possession, and so perfectly likely would be used if the third film were to be made.

Edit:

I’ve just sent the writer this article, I believe it provides a rather daming case against Hedge’s claims about the car:

Dear Ms Kinton,

I wished to inform you that there appear to be a few factual errors concerning your recent story “Who you gonna call? Try the man who owns Ecto-1”.

Last year, Jim Hedges purchased the original “Ghostbusters” vehicle Ecto-1 from Universal Studios in Florida.

I do not doubt that that Jim Hedges purchased the car at some point, as it was auctioned off last October, however he did not purchase it from Universal Studios. Between 2005 and 2007 (I believe it to be the former), one Paul Francis purchased the car from Universal Studios Florida, after finding out that the park was selling it off.

“I was working with Universal Studios and they asked me if I wanted buy it,” said Hedges, whose acting experiences connected him with the production company. “They said they were running out of storage room and knew I was interested in cars, so they offered it to me.”

The car was being sold because Universal Studios Florida had not renewed the licence to feature materials related to the Ghostbusters movies in the park, it was placed into a section of the park which was not public, and had the majority of its roof equipment and decals stripped from it (so that it could be sold just as a 1959 Cadillac, not as the Ecto-1).

The vehicle, a 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor Limo/Ambulance Conversion, went straight from the Florida studio to Memory Lane, 124 Harding Way West, in Galion – a showroom for Hedges’ numerous collectibles.

Until it was sold by Paul Francis last October, it’d been residing for the better part of the time since being sold by USF in Dandridge, Tn, which is where Paul resides.

“People will see it and don’t believe it’s the real thing,”

This would be due to the fact it isn’t the real car. The vehicle used in promotion at Universal Studios Florida was a replica. The real Ecto-1, as used in the movies resided (along with the Ecto-1A) on the Sony Backlot for the better part of the past decade since filming wrapped on Ghostbusters II. Recently both cars were taken to a restoration facility in Los Angeles, and the real Ecto-1 was refurbished for use in promotion of Ghostbusters: The Video Game. The car that was used in the movies is presently in the hands of Sony, not Mr. Hedges.

Mr. Hedges has in my opinion greatly exaggerated his claims in regards to the car, he neither bought it from Universal Studios, nor restored it to its present condition. Photographic proof of Paul Francis restoring it, as well as what the car looked like when he purchased it can be seen via the following links:

http://www.theecto1.com/photos/index.php?dir=Universal%20Studios%2FPictures%20from%20Universal%20Park

http://www.theecto1.com/photos/index.php?dir=Universal%20Studios

http://www.theecto1.com/forum/index.php?topic=13.0

I felt obliged to send this information to you because of the misrepresentation Mr. Hedges appears to be propagating concerning the Ecto-1. He should not be claiming that it is the one from the movies, and he should not be taking credit for purchasing it from the theme park, or for any restoration work which was performed by another owner of the vehicle.

I hope this information is helpful.

Yours Sincerely,

Ben King

[EctoTrk]

Thank you kingpin for posting that. It was enraging to read that article

[kingpin]

No problem, I also posted the highlights of my response in the Talk Back section of the article, I’ll post any response I get.

[river_of_slime]

Thank you Ben

[kingpin]

Got a reply:

Ben,

I really appreciate your email. You certainly seem to have done your research. I will actually see Mr. Hedges tomorrow and will chat with him about this. How is it that you were so familiar with all of the car’s history?

Thanks,

Jami Kinton

I explained that the car’s history is pretty well documented because of how frequently Paul used to stop by.

I’ve also admitted that it’s possible that the auction listing may have caused some of the misleading information… but as it’s likely lost by now, we’ll never know, although I trust Paul to list it accurately.

[lordgilpin]

Awesome Kingpin…!

[river_of_slime]

@Kingpin

Got a reply:

Ben,

I really appreciate your email. You certainly seem to have done your research. I will actually see Mr. Hedges tomorrow and will chat with him about this. How is it that you were so familiar with all of the car’s history?

Thanks,

Jami Kinton

I explained that the car’s history is pretty well documented because of how frequently Paul used to stop by.

I’ve also admitted that it’s possible that the auction listing may have caused some of the misleading information… but as it’s likely lost by now, we’ll never know, although I trust Paul to list it accurately.

Sweet! You also been reading a lot about the real cars (as well I) and it shows.. I really to work on my site when I get the time and energy to do it.

Now lets hope George Barris gets wind of this to.

[kingpin]

From the article’s talkback section:

So what?? It’s still a cool car.I go to a lot of car shows and they bring out a lot of their cars.People love it.The Batmobile is really cool.I enjoy the cars.So do a lot of other people.Can’t wait to see this one!

Lovely attitude, it may not matter to some people, but it’s no skin off her nose to make sure the correct info’s out there.

[rusty_r]

kingpin thanks for busting this.. i have some movie cars …some are real some are replicas…nothing burns my but more than this kind of crap…i always tell the truth about mine..then i go to a place that claims to have the real deal and be lied to..after i spent the good money to get the real thing ..mostly in my case is the eclipse from the fast and furious…and paul is a friend that helped me out alot on my car i hate to see someone take his credit..

[Boomerjinks]

If some passerby asked if it was the real thing, I could forgive him saying “yup” just to avoid the conversation of “it’s a replica used for a stage show that was later restored and converted to be nearly identical to the real thing”. But lying to someone who really does want the whole scoop… lame.

[ChapterMasterTuShan]

Kingpin, any replies from the articles author?

[martog]

Half tempted to go give Mr. Hedges a piece of my mind personally…only lives about an hour or so from me.

[Deaditebuster]

So long story short, this guy pulled a Barris?

:sigh:

[cpu64]

Wait, wasn’t this the guy who also sold on ebay the fake “actual screen used” sign cards from GB1?? LOL

[TheRandalovic]

It was my understanding that THIS car was actually the black-primer car used when the guys first moved into the firehouse after Dr Stantz told a stunned Venkman he paid $4,800 for it. After the movie, the black car was converted into Ecto-1 for promotional use in the late 80s. Is there any truth to that?

The car was brought up to the Woodward Dream Cruise in Michigan this year. The only difference is this car doesn’t have grille strobes but it does have the hood and door vents.

[69428scj]

The car in question is the one that Barris’ company built, hence why he claims he built it. Word on the street is the primered one was turned into a promo car that if you look back a few pages, I posted a threat about that one being for sale.