Zuul-searching: Ecto-1 replica

Ghostbusters was hardly a film short on big-screen names. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver had little trouble packing the crowds into Eighties cinemas, but a quarter-century after the original film's release and with it firmly cemented into pop culture and about to enjoy something of a revival courtesy a Blu-ray release and brand new computer game, it's not the actors that spring to mind when recalling the Zuul-zapping comedy classic.

Among others, the Ecto-1 remains the stand-out star, especially for petrolheads. For those who can't remember, Ecto-1 was the shambolically appropriate mode of transport for the Ghostbusters team as they traversed New York in search of ghostly goings-on.

Its classic Fifties styling complete with tail fins, its massive proportions and the ridiculous way it lolloped and screeched around the big-screen made it the perfect comedy vehicle for the perfect comedy film.

And that was before it was liveried and topped with a selection of home-made ghostbusting equipment.

Only a fool would turn down the opportunity to drive one of the greatest movie vehicles of all time, which is how I wound up behind the thigh-scrapingly enormous wheel of Ecto-1.

Well, not exactly Ecto-1, but as close to the real thing as you're likely to find without jumping the fence at a Sony Pictures studio backlot.

To celebrate the launch of Ghostbusters: The Video Game, voiced by the original actors and with the action set in Manhattan, Sony has tracked down the enormous replica and sent it to the historic remains of the Brooklands motor racing circuit and airfield - a venue supposedly not short of the odd ghost itself.

The sight of the big Caddy and the blow-up Proton packs concealed in the boot are enough to prevent Dottie, the old lady ghost who supposedly hangs around the toilets, and Percy Lambert, the first man to cover 100 miles in an hour and whose ghost supposedly haunts the track on which he died, from making an appearance.

Fortunately, there's something strange in the neighbourhood to fill the void. Worth around £80,000 (over Dh491,000), this Ecto-1, like the original, is a rare dual-purpose ambulance or hearse conversion of a 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood, coach built by Miller-Meteor.

According to Milton, the man charged with looking after the behemoth on behalf of Dream Cars and as a result possibly the luckiest man in the world, only 500 or so were ever made. This one was found rotting in a barn in Europe before being restored to ghostbusting form.

Powered by a 6.4-litre V8, the Caddy is surprisingly quiet as it fires up. The distinctive V8 burble is muted by swathes of metal.

A barking hearse or ambulance is hardly the done thing - but the fact that the exhaust exits about 20 feet away from the driver also helps. Either way, there's little chance of it waking the dead.

Apply a little throttle and Ecto-1 drifts lazily into action. Responsive it is not. Like tilling a barge, any manoeuvre requires a degree of forward planning.

Nevertheless, once the steering has caught up, the turning circle is pretty impressive and with a head of steam built up, there's more than enough grunt to give the cross-ply tyres something to worry about - hence the charismatic Fifties squeal.

Resisting the temptation to shout "don't cross the streams" is hard. To take my mind off it, Milton switches on the flashing lights and fires up the loud speakers to play the unusual, wailing Ghostbusters siren.

Inside, sprawled across the front bench seat, I'm starting to feel an affinity with Ecto-1. Despite its ridiculous size, lethargic approach to making progress and desire to go in a straight line regardless of which way the steering wheel is pointing, it's a surprisingly easy car to drive.

Weighing more than three tonnes, it quickly becomes apparent that a forceful approach is a waste of time. Instead, it requires a more laid-back and comedic approach; aim for something along the lines of Bill Murray's character, parapsychologist Dr Peter Venkman.

The massively over-assisted power steering encourages a one-handed driving style, the thankfully up-rated brakes will make the car lurch like a bathtub full of ectoplasm if applied too vigorously and the vehicle accelerates at the same steady pace regardless of how hard you plant your right foot.

Everything about it is pure comedy. Something you're reminded of when you step out of the plush interior and take a look at the exterior.

Faithfully recreated decals and a roof boasting some of the finest replica ghostbusting equipment known to man, it's truly a sight for sore eyes.

Let's face it: even without the paraphernalia the big Caddy would turn heads. The model was chosen for the movie role because of its quirky styling, rarity and immediate appeal even to US audiences who were used to big cars with big engines making a big noise on their big roads.

Ghostbusters folklore states that the original idea was to have a black Cadillac with purple flashing strobes to create a ghostly aura. White stood out better during the night shoots, however, and a legend was born.

Every bit as impressive in the flesh as it is on screen, Ecto-1 finally puts to bed the old adage, "never meet your heroes".