Dad converts car into Ghostbusters-themed racer for movie-mad son

By Douglas Whitbread via SWNS

A father who wanted to be “the best dad in the world” has converted his sports car into a Ghostbusters-themed racer for his film-mad son.

Peter Bailey, 37, said his son Ison, 7, was “well impressed” when he picked him up from school in his Porsche Cayman, kitted out with flashing yellow lights and hazard tape.

The Ghostbusters fan took his inspiration from the “Ecto-1” Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel vehicle, which plays an important role in the four-film franchise.

And he took his son to a screening of the new film in the decked-out vehicle on Thursday, with the pair wearing matching shoes, hoodies and “proton packs."

Peter said: “I picked him up from school, and he was well impressed with the car.

“I want to be the best dad in the world – most dads probably feel like this.”

Peter, a camera operative from Warrington, said that his son had first become interested in Ghostbusters after the female-led film came out in 2016.

He said: “My son watched the girls' version that came out in 2016 when he was probably three or four years old and loved it.

“I was like, ‘You need to see the original ones,' and that was it - he was really into it, and he got me into it because we had the father-son bond going on."

Once it was confirmed that a new film would be released on November 18 - Ghostbusters: Afterlife - Peter said it was just a question of “gearing up” for it.

He said: “As soon as we heard that there was a new film coming out, that was it – it was just waiting for the new film to come out and gearing up for it.

“We knew we were going to get dressed up to go and watch it in the cinema.

He added: “Putting the stickers on the car was always an idea.

“I thought whatever I can do to ham it up a bit and make it a great experience, I would do.”

The car itself is equipped with flashing yellow lights, hazard warning tape and a Ghostbusters logo.

It also carries two “proton pack” toys, which characters use to capture and entrap ghosts in the films.

Pete said: “I got all the stickers for it last week.

“In fact, I got magnetic door signs made up, but the car doors aren’t magnetic – they’re actually made out of balsa wood and plastic, apparently.

“So last minute, I had to get the stickers made up the day before it came out.

“It’s great because we’ve been driving around, we’ve got the flashing lights that are magnetic, and we stuck them on the roof.

“When we went to watch the film, we didn’t want to go overboard, so we bought matching hoodies, matching pants and Reebok Ghostbusters trainers.

“We both got the proton packs – in the picture, I’m wearing the one you see in the boot, and my son’s got the original 1984 proton pack toy."

Peter said that his busy work schedule made him feel “guilty” about not spending more time with his children, so paying £50 ($66 USD) on the car’s stickers was the least he could do.

He said: “Because I work a hell of a lot and I always feel like I’m missing out on the kids – I suppose it’s work hard and play hard.

“I feel like a guilty dad because I work so much, but equally, I will go all-out if it means spending £50 on the stickers for the car for one day,

"You know, look at the memories we have created - it’s well worth it.

"When I get a chance to do something like this with the kids, I’ll definitely do it.”