In the original 1974 release of Gone in 60-Seconds, Eleanor was a yellow 1971 Mustang Fastback dressed up to look like a 1973 Mustang Fastback. The cars used in the movie, four total, were purchased in 1971 but it took the filmmaker another three years to secure all of the funding required before filming. Due to the delayed start, the Mustangs were modified with grilles from 1973 to make them appear newer. In the more recent 2000 release, Eleanor was a 1967 Shelby GT 500. It was the 1967 Eleanor from the latter movie that spawned an entire industry of Eleanor clones. This stalled project is neither one of those. Instead, it’s a 1968 Mustang coupe and you can find it for sale here on craigslist in Canyon Lake, Texas for $13,500.
The seller has already begun work on a lot of the exterior modifications needed to make the conversion to an Eleanor tribute. Included among them is the Shelby taillight conversion, rear deck lid with spoiler and a fiberglass hood. However, there is still a ton of bodywork left to complete this stalled project including fitting all the body panels, front grille, and valance. I see a lot of body filler and prep work in the new owner’s future.
The seller doesn’t specify what engine is in the car but claims to have invested quite a bit of money here. Perhaps it’s the original 289 cubic inch engine with some additional aftermarket performance parts to help move it down the highway. The seller is in the process of installing a new radiator and should have a running car that should help alleviate any fears potential buyers may have about the engine. There is no exhaust so the new owner will have to complete that to have a running and driving car. The car also has a rebuilt C6 transmission. No word on the chassis but it does have new wheels and tires.
The interior looks complete and serviceable. The dash, seats and door panels all look to be in place and intact. The aftermarket for Mustang parts is limitless so any missing parts should be easy to acquire. A complete interior restoration is in order to make this a true Eleanor show car. Since this is a coupe and not a Fastback like the real Eleanor that the seller wants to pay tribute to, I would probably ditch the Eleanor theme and complete the project as a nice resto-mod Mustang. If this was your project what would you do?
The Eleanor in later movies are fastbacks.
If i was to reference this as a clone it would be a “High Country Special “ or a”California Special” look….
Either way looks like an okay builder 👍👀
But price is higher than I’d want.
Fyi loose the cheesy fender flairs….
That’s all I need to bid on; someone else’s unfinished mess…….
Agreed! ….and Eleanor….. again Fastback, …..right? I am out of words.
Enough of the Eleanors. Isn’t that scene over with? Seemed rather over-hyped to me. Just like cobra replicas – way too many of them. They get ignored at car shows.
Probably best to make a stud notch back with the Shelby tail lights but a different color scheme to de-Eleanor it.
Thoughts?
I wish i would have seen a clone of THIS Eleanor.
Interesting tires …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f392vJnrv68
Never have.
See Ken Block – epic Hoonigan videos.
Sorry but those front nose pieces are fugly! Never understood the hype on the newer Eleanor Mustang.
Wonder why one side is flared and painted and the other side just bolted on the rear wheel opening. That is definitely an unfinished project!
Ahhhh, no.
So, an Eleanor clone, but it’s not a fastback, and it’s an automatic. I’ll be laughing all day.
A neighbor of mine a few years ago had one of the nicest-looking ’68 Mustangs I ever saw: Triple black, stock body, lowered suspension, and Cragar S/S wheels. Man, I lusted after that car.
This Mustang has a C4 auto trans, not a C6.
Pics of the whole cat if not what are they hiding.
I like the look, yeah I know, barf gag, but not being a fastback the whole Eleanor thing ain’t there. Coupes need a little help to be hot rods. Potential street machine is all I see.
I liked the chase in the first gone in 60 seconds, just a better chase that I could actually watch without a bunch camera tricks. The ending was great too!
Yeah, the lack of a third pedal instantly turned me away. Coupe I could deal with, not at that price though. Sucks because I live like 10 miles from the seller.
So, explain this to me:
The ad says there is no exhaust, but more than one photo shows dual exhaust. Does the seller mean that the exhaust is incomplete, or is this a new (?) practice of removing parts after you take photos of the vehicle in preparation for sale, or, is the seller mixing-matching photos from other vehicles that are noted at the end of the ad, or,
my favorite, do the inconsistent photos tell us more about the project than the seller intended?
I bought this car, in process of the restore with The Hotrod Shop in Kemah, TX, will put a link to some pictures when it’s complete! Engine is a 302 with a C6 transmission, the rest of the fiberglas was inside the car and after a clean the interior is basically brand new, was complete redone but just sat in a lot for years.
Also didn’t pay 13,500 for it and it does have a full flow master exhaust with cats, just didn’t have headers. Already installed them and the engine fired right up!