When it comes to movie vehicles, it's hard to find anything more iconic that the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. With its classic look and siren, it's right up there with the Batmobile (take your pick on which one) and the time-traveling DeLorean. Any fan of ghost busting would be happy to get a chance inside the car, let alone to ride in it. Now a partnership between Sony and Lyft is going to make that happen for a lucky few. For a limited time, those who use the vehicle sharing service will be able to catch a ride in the Ecto-1 for no charge.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, on July 1 and 2, Lyft passengers will have the opportunity to be chauffeured around in the Ecto-1 from the new franchise. Those in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington D.C. need only to request a car through Ghost Mode on the Lyft app. The lucky few will then be picked up for a free ride to their destination by either the actual Ecto-1 used on set or a replica. If those two are in already in use, then a Toyota Highlander made to look like Ecto-1 will take its place. Passengers will also have the chance to win tickets to the Ghostbusters premiere in Los Angeles. It also comes with the shiny new hashtag #LyftGhostMode, which might mean nothing, but those who are strong in social media will probably find a way to use it to their advantage.
The Ecto-1 in the promotion will come from the 2016 movie, which is a 1980 Cadillac Fleetwood hearse done up in traditional Ghostbusters fashion. Movie and car trivia junkies may remember that the original Ecto-1 driven by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson was a 1959 Cadillac ambulance.
This is an interesting bit of street level marketing to come from the movie that made Ghostbusters-themed Twinkies and brought back the Hi-C Ecto Coolers. It would be a bummer to get picked up by the Toyota version - which is more than likely the car most people will get - but it'd have to be pretty awesome in the backseat of the Ecto-1. Maybe it comes equipped with the siren and you'll be allowed turn it on? There might be some people who won't be jumping out of their seats to ride in the 2016 version and not the classic car they know, but it's still a free ride, so is anyone really going to be losing any sleep over this?
Ghostbusters is directed by Paul Feig and stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. The reboot is scheduled to hit theaters a few short weeks away on July 15.
