You don’t mess with Eleanor. You don’t make eye contact with her. You don’t spend too much time around her. Unless you want to get that virus that is impossible to treat. And that’s addiction. Because yes, looking at this 1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor replica is addictive indeed.
Eleanor started out as a customized 1971 Ford Mustang Sportsroof in Gone in 60 Seconds back in 1974. Almost three decades later, it came as a Shelby Mustang GT500 in the remake, driven by master auto thief Randall “Memphis” Raines, played by Nicholas Cage.
Two cars were bought for the 1974 movie. Both had been manufactured in 1971. But director H.B. "Toby" Halicki, who was also to star in the movie, needed time to raise money in order to start filming.
The two 1971 Ford Mustangs had to undergo facelift
By the time he was able to do it, the cars were already outdated. So he asked for a “facelift.” The radiator grille was replaced with a 1973 one, but the bumpers kept their ground. Changing them would have required to change the fenders as well. There was no money, and there was no time for that kind of plastic surgery.
Photo: Screenshot | Gone in 60 Seconds
The cars also got a unique blackout treatment to the standard hood. None of the production models driving out of the factory back then had it.
The two Mustangs used in the movie are not painted in Ford’s Medium Yellow Gold everyone thought. Halicki admitted to having painted them in "generic school bus yellow," just to save money.
Halicki kept one of the Mustangs pretty much stock. But the other one went through trials and tribulations. It was labeled as the stunt car on the set, so it had to deal with all the hazards while filming.
250 hours were necessary for the mods before it was ready to star in the movie. The team removed all body panels in order to install a roll cage through the unibody. They worked on the transmission as well.
Halicki was rendered unconcious on the set
The stunt car survives to this day, despite serious crashes on the set, including a rough nose landing, an incident which forced the team to halt production for a week. Halicki was rendered unconscious. When he came regained consciousness, his first words were: "Did we get coverage?" They did.
Photo: Screenshot | Gone in 60 Seconds
The director claims that the other Mustang in the movie, the one that never sustained any damages during shooting, was eventually crushed.
Almost half a century later, and people are still daydreaming of Eleanor. Thousands of replicas have seen the light of day over these years. Some were good to scrap, others were good for beauty pageants.
1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor replica is very nice to stare at
The one we have right here is one that deserves a crown. The 1968 Ford Mustang Licensed Eleanor Tribute Edition made by Vanguard sports a pepper grey metallic paintwork with black center stripes, just like the car that Nicholas Cage drove in the 2000 blockbuster.
Photo: Vanguard Motor Sales
Furthermore, the resto-modded Mustang is officially licensed through the Gone in 60 Seconds LLC and comes with a tag showing the certification.
Even though it comes with various new body panels, everything seems to have clicked in place.
There is this retro vibe on board the Mustang. There is a wood three-spoke Shelby steering wheel, the aftermarket Velocity gauges do not erase the vintage styling and – the cherry on top – the “Go-Baby-Go” button is on the gear shifter.
The driver and the one keeping them company (it probably won’t be Angelina Jolie) will sit in custom TMU seats, and they will be kept safe thanks to a custom painted roll cage. Vanguard also installed an A/C system and a Retrosound radio. The odometer only shows 30 miles since modifications cut in.
Photo: Vanguard Motor Sales
And this Eleanor right here is a drama queen. Once you put your foot down, you remember that nothing sounds like a Coyote. It is powered by a first-generation 5.0-liter 420-horsepower V8 Coyote engine, mated to a Tremec TKX five-speed manual. It’s got all the right specs now, doesn’t it?
A button in the engine compartment switches on the red underglow lights that can also light up from under the hood to enhance that wow factor.
The Mustang got a new front and rear Ridetech suspension and Wildwood disc brakes on all four corners. And going back to that spectacular soundtrack that comes right out of the Coyote V8: there is a 2.5” exhaust on both sides of the car.
It can be delivered anywhere in the world. But there is one thing you should know before you start clicking around to take this baby home. Make sure you’re sitting down through these lines. The car costs $449,900. Vanguard also offers a financing program, just in case. That would be $3,748 per month, thank you very much.
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