The ECTO-1X began as a concept over a year ago when I first began noticing the Chevy HHR out on the roads. My intention up to that point was to develop a PT Cruiser into an Ectomobile, however the HHR quickly changed my mind. I've spent many months since then planning the construciton of the roof rack, the application of decals, the type of lightbar to buy, etc. Several people had a hand in its construction and I would like to thank them:
Patrick Creel & Ken Plant & Dawn Rawley (Tampa Bay Ghostbusters)
David Anderson
Randy Cooper
Robert Ryder
Tyler Plant
Jennifer & Casey & Javon at Fedex Office
The car is a 2008 Chevy HHR in Summit White. The roof rack is made out of PVC with a plywood base. Each piece of equipment on the top is secured seperately so that I can remove them independent from each other for repairs / modification / replacement. The different components consist of:
PC case
Stereo
VCR
Scanner
Fax / Copier
Toilet paper dispenser
Hand sanitation dispenser
The “sniffer” / “binocs” and the radome and its stand are created from PVC. The directional antenna is created from CPVC for the arrow and a clear serving bowl cut in half and bolted to a base of lexan.
The sniffer pivots at both the base and the neck. The directional antenna also pivots freely. The knobs on the side of the PC case turn as well. And the storage tube on the passenger side actually opens from either end so you can, well, store stuff. The entire rack is held on with a ratcheting luggage strap that passes through two steel eyelets on the sides, under the plywood base, and through the passenger doors. The lightbar consists of amber LEDs that plug into the cigarette lighter, have 30 different flash patterns, and mounts to the roof with 4 magnets.
Now some pictures…
Different day, different Florida sunset…
At the 2009 Light The Night walk…
This is only the beginning. Some future additions I am planning or currently working on:
White tank mounted to back of rack
Additional hosing to rack components
Black access ladder on passenger side
Red triangle going down the sides to the tail lights (either painted on or vinyl)
New “no ghost” logos from vector graphics
DOT reflective tape
Replace directional antenna with a better one
8.5 foot whip antenna
I will continue to update the thread as I update the car. Questions / suggestions / comments are welcome!