1967 Ford Mustang – “ELEANOR” Tribute

Finished in Pepper Gray Metallic with Black Metallic Stripes / Black Interior

Authorized Replica of the Steve Sanford Designed/Chip Foose Built Movie Car

428 Cobra Jet V8 – Rust Free Example

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OVERVIEW—THIS PARTICULAR 1967 FORD MUSTANG

The 2000 remake of the film “Gone in 60 Seconds” was made possible when Denice Haliki the widow of the original film maker licensed the rights to Disney to remake a film by the same name. This time Nicholas Cage has the starring role as the master thief Randall “Memphis“ Raines tasked with stealing 50 cars in one night. Each car was given a female name. The last car to be stolen was “Eleanor”. On this occasion a 1967 Ford Mustang depicted as a GT500 Mustang in a modern Metallic Pepper Grey and with a customized body kit and styling. The design was created by Hot Rod illustrator Steve Stanford, made a reality by custom car designer Chip Foose and listed by Hot Rod magazine as one of 100 most influential vehicles in the history of hot rodding.  The original Eleanor was actually 13 different Mustangs that were uniquely equipped for different shots throughout the movie. And while most commercial reproductions take liberty with small details that separate movie fantasy from reality; well executed cars, like the 1967 Mustang GT you see here, are case studies in authenticity from their correct custom body kits with Shelby inspired trim bits all the way to their functional mechanical accessories.

The build of this highly accurate Eleanor began with a trip to Cinema Vehicle Services, the same company that produced all the exterior pieces for the actual movie cars, where the owner purchased one of their complete, limited edition body kits. Once that kit was secured and thorough research on how to correctly build a true Eleanor movie car was complete, Johnnie Cate Hotrod and Custom in Alcoa, Tennessee began a frame-off rotisserie reconstruction which stripped the car down to bare metal, and completely restored its panels to better-than-new condition. When every panel was smoothed to perfection the car was covered in a smooth coat of correct Dupont 44490 Pepper Gray Metallic, detailed with correct Dupont 44435 Black Metallic stripes, topped in a high-gloss clearcoat shell, and buffed to a spectacular shine. Today, this top notch Eleanor is a fitting and impressive tribute to one of the most iconic muscle cars of all time!

Most muscle car enthusiasts credit Carroll Shelby with introducing some of the most recognizable and aggressive Mustangs ever created; so it’s only natural that the original Eleanor bodywork would be based on his designs. At the leading edge of this re-imagined Mustang a custom headlight panel holds a pristine billet grille between two HID driving lights and two crystal clear halogen headlights. Below that grille, a Shelby ‘R’ style front valence incorporates two correct PIAA fog lights into an enlarged and billet filled air intake which is centered between two correct PIAA driving lights. At the top of the grille, an aggressive fiberglass hood perfectly aligns two hood pins between the car’s fiberglass front fenders and fiberglass front valence; and like-new glass is bordered by straight stainless trim which looks so fresh it could’ve come right off the showroom floor. The profile of this Mustang presents a slick purpose-built race car appearance which is only interrupted by pristine chrome door handles, correct satin finished bullet style Shelby mirrors, a functional flip up fuel filler, and fender mounted “Shelby GT500” emblems. And at the back of the car, a Black Metallic rear valence, which is flanked by Shelby style extensions are sequential Mercury Cougar tail lights above a straight and show worthy body-matched bumper and chrome trimmed reverse lights.

Pull the hood pins on this Eleanor Mustang and you’ll find a 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 which has been bored .030 over and professionally rebuilt by Dwight Powell of High Performance Ford Engines in Dahlonega, Georgia. At the top of the jet-black block, a FAST EFI self-tuning fuel injection system mixes fuel from fresh stainless fuel lines with air from a finned “Cobra” branded air cleaner and sends it into a correct 428 Cobra Jet intake manifold. At the sides of that black intake manifold, correct Cobra Jet heads, which were subjected to a performance valve job and equipped with hardened valve seats, are wedged between correct “Cobra” branded valve covers and tough TRW pistons that are wrapped in high quality Moly rings.

At the front of that black intake manifold, a billet distributor is a Painless Wiring harness to fresh black plug wires with a balanced rotating assembly that includes Clevite bearings, a Cloyes double roller timing set, a Crane hydraulic camshaft and hardened push rods. Cooling is provided by a Griffin aluminum radiator which is equipped with a front mount transmission cooler, two electric fans, correct FoMoCo hoses and a billet overflow tank. Lubrication is provided by a Melling high volume oil pump. At the front of the block, a Billet Specialties Tru Trac serpentine accessory drive spins a chrome power steering pump, a polished AC compressor and a chrome Powermaster alternator behind billet aluminum pulleys. And at the sides of the block, correct cast iron exhaust manifolds send spent gases into a great sounding side pipe exhaust system. The exceptionally detailed engine bay features a smooth coat of traditional satin black paint; and everything from its chrome master cylinder and custom shock tower brace to its complete set of ARP fasteners and FoMoCo washer bag is absolutely spotless.

Behind the Ford motor is a fresh Tremec TKO 600 5-speed transmission in front of a professionally built driveline that was tweaked and finished by Street Rods by Michael in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Most of the actual movie cars were equipped with automatic transmissions, despite the chase sequence displaying a 4-speed car, and this Eleanor’s stout 5-speed does a fine job of turning the engine to it’s top speed. An aggressive yet comfortable suspension utilizes blue Chassis Works tubular control arms and Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes with drilled and slotted rotors is in place to provide the kind of driving athleticism that can outmaneuver anyone who might provide chase. At the center of the car a custom fabricated exhaust system roars through side mounted stainless tips.

At the back of the car, a stainless Aeromotive 340 Stealth Series fuel cell sends gas through fresh stainless fuel lines. And at the corners of the car, power flows to the ground through correctly finished 17-inch PS Engineering wheels which are wrapped in sticky 235/45 front and 245/45 rear Nitto NTS55 radials. Fully sorted and ready to go, everything under this slick Mustang, from the stainless chassis hardware and lightly undercoated floorpans to the correctly detailed driveline and heavy duty power rack and pinion steering, has been carefully planned and professionally executed.

Inside the car’s Pepper Gray Metallic doors you’ll find a high quality vinyl interior which would look right at home in an authentic Shelby Mustang. At the center of the car, tightly pleated bucket seats sit at three sides of a traditional Cobra branded console which holds a small adjustment panel for the cars FAST-EFI fuel injection system and Audison remote control for the audio. Below that console, new black carpet surrounds the chrome B&M Quick Shift shifter which is bordered by chrome Ford sill plates and protected by heavy duty “GT500” branded floor mats.  Above that console, a tight black headliner frames a thick, center mount roll bar. At the front of the interior, a spectacular looking black and silver dash holds Classic Instruments gauges above controls for the cars Vintage Air system and a MP3 compatible Custom Autosound stereo that rumbles through Illusion Audio speakers/sub powered by Audison amplifiers. And at the sides of the car, black and silver door panels hang fresh chrome handles and functional courtesy lamps inside of pristine stainless trim. In front of the driver, a polished aluminum and wood rimmed Lecarra steering wheel is bolted to a Flaming River tilt steering column. And behind the cockpit, a fully finished trunk houses the Aeromotive fuel cell below hardware for the cars suspension system and a Taylor aluminum battery box.

This 1967 Eleanor was created with a “Cost No Object” philosophy. With an excellent combination of classic design and professionally built performance equipment, it is a muscle car with looks to kill and the hardware to back it up. If you’re looking for an instantly recognizable classic that’s an absolute blast to own, this is a car to consider!

THE NUMBERS

The Mustang carries a VIN# of 7T02C146919 (matching on the inner front fender and driver’s side door).  It decodes as follows:

7 / T / 02 / C / 146919

7 = 1967 (Year)

T = Metuchen, NJ (Production Plant)

02 = Fastback (Body Style)

C  = 289 cubic inch V8 (Engine Size); (upgraded to a 428c.i.)

146919 (Sequential Production Number)

MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS

In addition to the initial build cost additional sorting took place in late 2014 to bring the car to the highest standard:

– $~50k invested in upgrades and enhancements including the following:

– $13,100 in parts (major components described below)

– $19,124 in labor-   Installed FAST EZ-EFI 2.0 Self-tuning fuel injection systems for carbureted intake manifold

– Installed FAST E6 Digital CD Ignition control box and coil kit, distributor and aftermarket EFI system.

– Replaced automatic transmission with Tremec TKO 600 5-speed conversion kit with “GO BABY GO” shift knob, scattershield, hi-performance clutch kit, billet flywheel, crossmember, pedals & hydraulic clutch conversion kit

– Installed Aeromotive 340 Stealth Series fuel tank with internal electric fuel pump for fuel injection; Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, 40-75 PSI; Russell cloth braided fuel line; various fuel fittings for fuel injection system.

– Wilwood billet master cylinder, power brake booster & brake system

– Interior:  replaced headliner & visors with custom material; disassembled center console to fit 5-speed

Thank you,
Classic Cars Ltd.
925-846-1451