Meet the new ECTO-6
Ghostbusters North updated its fleet recently with a new to us 2015 Ford Flex!
The new vehicle will carry the original vehicle moniker of “ECTO-6” over from the previous vehicle, a 2010 Ford Edge. The previous vessel had over 220,000 miles on it which helped the group serve the Midwest since it’s original inception to a paranormal eliminator wagon in 2015. The group will reserve the retired unit for a future call sign and need.
The new vehicle offers seating capacity of 8 as it has third row seating. While this may not seem like a comfortable option, the ability to carry more proton packs is a must as the group often found it troublesome to haul gear around to events.
On the outside, the livery of the Flex sports various Easter eggs and nods to the history of both the film, Ghostbusters, as well as the group’s history. On both front door panels is a bold logo representation of the film’s branding as well as the iconic red fins that used to adorn the ancestral 1959 Meteor Miller Cadillac ambulance. The group opted to add some fun aspects to the back side windows as green slime oozes out of the tops.
“Our mission is kid focused and I cannot think of anything kids, over the generations, have loved more than slime,” said Adam. “From Ghostbusters to Nickelodeon, slime has been a mainstay for kids since the late 70s, which first saw Mattel introduce playable slime. I think kids really like the vibrant colors and the idea of slime being a part of our ride.”
Underneath the slime, the marketing for the club is featured with a redirect to their website.
The theme of slime moves to the back hatch as well as pink slime drips down the back panel. This is a nod to not only Ghostbusters 2 from 1989 but also a credit to Adam’s daughter, Harper, whose favorite colors are pink and purple. (The pink slime has a drop shadow of purple underneath it.)
“She is the reason that we raise money for the Ronald McDonald’s House of the Upper Midwest for kids like her,” stated Adam. “For any Ghostbusters fan, I think it’s obvious about the pink slime but it goes deeper than just a film trope. It’s something that she can look at and feel pride in as well knowing that she is a part of this. I do love the sequel film and in it, pink slime represents good vibes so I like to think that we have that pour out of our car as well.”
The front quarter panels of the car took the “We Believe You” graphics from the original ECTO-1A from Ghostbusters 2. The script used in that font calls back to the “Call Us” graphic. The numerical value underneath this graphic is an Easter egg that redirects callers to the Ghostbusters North voicemail line at 481-8489. That number itself is a deep cut with the last four representing the years that the original film and its sequel released.
The back bumper showcases the Ghostbusters North logo and our new logo of “With love, all appearances benefit RMHC” that is also seen on our website.
The graphics were designed and installed by Statt Wraps of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
“The car is a lot of fun. The last one was fairly basic and I was unable to do lights on top due to a glass roof. I hope to install some things on top come the summer time as Minnesota winters are the wrong time to be wiring and sealing things on a vehicle,” said Adam.
“I did love the last one as it resembled a sneaker. It was sporty and fun. A lot of good memories and stories came out of that vehicle and I am looking forward to what this one brings. Much like the progress from Ghostbusters to Ghostbusters 2, we added color, more graphics, and a little more oomph to our presence.”
