Awesome Movie Mustangs – 1973 ‘Eleanor’ Ford Mustang from “Gone in 60 Seconds”
No other leading lady in film history gave so much of herself, withstood such brutal treatment and required 250 man-hours to prepare for cameras. For more than makeup was needed to get “Eleanor” ready for her starring role.
Her body skin was removed so that roll cages could be placed around her frame, through her fenders, inside her trunk, under her roof and behind her seats. Her transmission was chained in and an adjustable camera mounted in her back seat to give the “Drivers point of view”.
For this “Eleanor” …the 1973 Mach 1 Ford Mustang, a true lady both beautiful and tough, who is the star of “Gone in sixty seconds.”
Her measurements are:
Stock Ford 351 cubic inch Windsor Four-barrel carburetor with Cruisamatic transmission H-D-7 in wheels Goodyear rally GT tries 24-volt electrical system Fire extinguisher and first-aid kit Electrical kill switches Individual locking rear brakes Fish plating of the undercarriage 3″ x 3/8″ steel Removable bullet plating
Toby Halicki, teamed up with “Eleanor” and put through”…. the most hair-raising chase scene ever filmed”… said Car Craft Magazine.
Every precaution was taken to safeguard Toby’s life before he put “Eleanor” through her paces …from heavy duty double strength Simpson shoulder harness and seat belt to deadbolt door locks. In spite of careful planning and technical expertise, “Eleanor” nearly upstaged her driver, Toby, when another driver overshot his mark, clipped “Eleanor” in the rear and sent her and Halicki careening into a light standard in excess of 100 mph. Both “Eleanor” and Toby kept their cool and, after two hours of frantic repairs, continued the filming. Toby, although injured, had to wait to hurt later.
And again, in an unbelievable 128-foot jump, over 30 feet in the air, “Eleanor” survived and drove away from the scene. However, Halicki wasn¹t as fortunate …he received a compressed spine upon impact.
Not satisfied with just being the star in the most ambitious and incredible auto-chase film ever produced, “Eleanor” is furthering her career by making personal appearances in theater lobbies, car shows, fairs, auto races, shopping centers, TV stations, and television news shows across the country. Her body shows the scars of the movie endeavor, but her motor¹s still running and upon request, has known to exhibit some of her many stunts, much to the delight of her fans everywhere…
“Eleanor” still runs and was last seen on the set of the New Gone In 60 Seconds..
As any Cincinnati criminal defense attorney can tell you, grand theft auto is the felony crime of stealing a car or other vehicle. Car thieves like the ones portrayed in Gone in 60 Seconds know the risks if they are convicted in a court of law.
