IT WAS 1984 when the Ecto-1 first came screeching through the streets of New York City.

Do you remember, it was the van that got our ghost-bustin’ heroes from A-B via Hauntsville.

It is also a commonly held misconception that the Ghostbusters van was once a hearse.

No sirree – it was in fact an old ambulance; a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor, in fact.

As the song goes: “When there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call?”

That’s right, Ghostbusters!

Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), were all trying to make their way in the ghost-hunting business, with varying degrees of success. But the team wouldn’t have been anything without the vehicle that got them to each ghostly call-out. That good old Cadillac Miller-Meteor.

As for its history, in 1959 a couple of guys from Ohio set up a car company that began producing the vans.

They were built on the chassis of Cadillacs. The ambulance models were equipped with all the necessary medical supplies in the back, including a stretcher. They also were higher in the back to account for the patients and ambulance staff.

But for Ghostbusters, most of this had to be stripped out.

In the movie, Ray (Aykroyd) says that all it needs is: “Brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end. Also new rings, mufflers, a little wiring...”

But they soon get down to work installing their ghost-catching gizmos.

After all, where else are you going to store a proton pack?

Of course, from an advertising point of view, our boys made a sound investment. Its exterior paint job and paranormal additions proved eye-catching.

And its red-and-white colour scheme was just as iconic as its ghost logo.

As for the movie itself, it scored famously, cementing the careers of its stars.

Heck, even the Ecto-1 found its own fame, with a miniature model selling millions.

CRAIG WILLIS