This is still a work in progress. I haven’t added the roof gear or text yet. If anyone could find me a good, clear side shot of an Ectomobile (or preferable, the Subaru Ectomobile, as it’d probably fit better), I can go ahead and add it. As for the text, if anyone here is fluent in German, then please let me know. I want to basically translate the stuff that was on the side of the GB2 Ectomobile into German, but I don’t want to use a translator site because they aren’t always accurate.
Anyway, this is what I have so far;
The vehicle is a Volkswagen Type 3 (also known as the 1500) Squareback. I’ve been into aircooled Volkswagens for many years now, and I thought that perhaps I could combine two of my interests with this project. Plus, they actually have used Type 3 Squarebacks as ambulances in some parts of Europe. For the front of the car, I’d get one of those fake euro-style plates, with “ECTO 1” or “ECTOEINER” written on it.
I don’t have the money to actually build this thing now, but I could see myself doing so in the future, and showing it in VW events. I’d probably mount the roof gear to a removable rack so that I wouldn’t have to cut holes into the vintage sheetmetal, and the graphics would be magnetic. I’d be able to remove everything and just take the car out in “plain clothes” so to speak, minus the red stripes.
In case you were wondering, “einer” is German for the number 1.
I intentionally left the original background intact because I thought it kind of fit. It’s a city scene, complete with a manhole, which reminded me of Ghostbuster’s New York setting.
As for the logo, keep in mind that the Squareback is not a Miller Meteor: there’s a lot less room to work with. I either had to ditch the yellow and black bar or make the logo smaller, and I didn’t want to do either. I think it looks cooler this way, anyway.
Besides, the whole concept here is not to create an exact replica of any existing Ecto from GB media, it’s my vision of what a team of Ghostbusters (or rather Geistbusters) in Germany might drive.
Anyway, thanks for the link.
Actually, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a Squareback with filled in windows in a recent Hot VW’s. I’ll look through the last few issues and see if I can’t find a picture to scan for you.
I know. Like I said, I’ve been into these cars for many years. I’m well aware of what they’re worth.
And as I also said, these modifications would be easily removable (roof gear would be attached to a removable rack, graphics would be magnetic, even that blue hose would clip on and off of the engine vents), so that I could drive it around without everybody staring at me. If I were to sell it somewhere along the line, and the new owner wanted to restore it to stock, the only thing he’d have to do is paint over the red stripes.
Anyway, I’ve added the rack. The proportions aren’t perfect, but I think they’re close enough for now. The lighting is also kind of messed up (the image that I took the roof gear from was shot in the evening), but this is just a conceptual image, to give one an idea as to what the car might look like.
