The year is 2000. The movie? Gone in 60 Seconds. And from behind the wheel of a ’67 muscled-up Ford Mustang, dubbed ‘Eleanor’, Nicholas Cage and cast inspire a new generation of muscle car fans thanks to one very special Ford.
And now you can own it. Crossing the block at Mecum’s Austin 2014 auction, December 12th and 13th, will be one of three original ‘Eleanor’ Mustang hero cars, specially built for the 2000 remake by Hollywood’s Cinema Vehicle Services.
Penned by renowned hotrod designer Steve Stanford, CVS got down to work by mocking up the car’s aggressive features using clay and wood. Fiberglass molds were then made to flesh-out the Mustang’s stylized front end, bulging fender flares, hood, side skirts and scoops, and the rear trunk lid. Though undeniably cool, the side exit exhausts were reportedly added after filming.
Inside, the ‘Eleanor’ resembles your typical top end pro-touring Mustang, complemented by a period-accurate ’67 dash, gauges, steering wheel, and enhanced of course by the ‘Go-Baby-Go’ shift knob.
Underneath, it houses a 351 (5.7-liter) V8 engine under its bulging hood, with a Holley 700 CFM four-barrel carburetor and high-volume fuel pump along for the ride. The motor’s power is transferred to the road via a 4-speed manual, which uses a Positraction rear end to keep the car going straight. Which it almost never does in the film.
The car also wears 4-wheel disc brakes, air conditioning, a trick Lecarra steering wheel and a huge tachometer above the steering wheel.
Although it’s designated as the seventh of 11 ‘Eleanor’ Mustangs built for filming, this fine example and its two sister hero cars were the only ones used in scenes involving the star-studded cast.
Cage’s film career may be far removed from his “Put the bunny back in the box” glory days, but he is an avid car collector. You may just see the bird–haired actor at the Mecum auction, hoping to buy his ride back.
Or, he could just steal it. We hear he’s good at stealing things.
Considering the provenance of Gone in 60 Seconds and the fact that another ‘Eleanor’ Mustang hero car sold through Mecum last year for an astounding $1 million, we ought to see some big money thrown around for this one.
