Eleanor Mustang GT500E For Sale

$270,000 in price tag... and in value?

Eleanor has a special meaning to most young Mustang fans. Where the name comes from is a bit of a larger story.

1971 Ford Mustang "Eleanor" from Gone in 60 Seconds
Photo Source: Streetmusclemag.com

Origins

The name originally comes from an odd place in movie history. There was a 1974 movie – Gone in 60 Seconds – about thieves collecting a list of classic cars (a basic, yet true description). The last and most troublesome car was named Eleanor.

The above “gold-ish” car is a 1971 Ford Mustang that has been fitted with a 1973 grille and other pieces. This car is a stock Mustang at heart, but the car was fitted with suspension upgrades, roll-bars, and much more. With all the above, this would not be a fast car in any way but was filmed as such.

What transpires would be a ridiculous car chase that is longer than just about any film and is a mess of poor camera work. Still, it had become a cult classic and the name stuck with being a “special” Mustang.

1967 Eleanor Mustang from 2000 Gone in 60 Seconds
Photo Source: silodrome.com

Take Two

Enter the 2000 movie remake of Gone in 60 Seconds.

Like the 1974 movie, Nicholas Cage is part of a crew to steal a list of amazing cars – with the above Mustang as the star of the show. The 1967 Mustang has been completely modernized and reworked into a masterpiece.

There was 11 total used for the movie and 5 were destroyed. The above was recently for sale on the Mecum Auctions website and sold for $852,500. This rare pony carries a 351 V8 with 125+ NOS system, and a stacked list of upgrades. It also carries the movie trademark and that is worth any amount of coin…, I guess?

1967 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500E Super Snake "Eleanor"
Photo Source: motorcarclassics.com

The GT500E

Here we are with this non-Gone-in-60-Seconds Eleanor made by Unique Performance. This continuation project car is only 1 of 42 made by U.P. and is a real Shelby. Total build for this amazing car was over $180k in 2004 and since then has had another $75k in upgrades done.

So, what do you get for the almost $275,000 price tag? Well, you get a Mustang that is admired and recognized by almost every gearhead on the planet. You get a car that has been worked by master techs from Unique performance and one with only 2,466 miles.

1967 Ford GT500E Super Snake Eleanor
Photo Source: motorcarclassics.com

High Points

  • 427ci Shelby Performance aluminum FE engine with Vortech Supercharger – 725hp
  • Tremec TKO 5-speed transmission
  • Black leather bucket seats
  • GForce 5-point harness
  • Shelby gauges
  • LeCarra wooden 15″ steering wheel
  • Tilton hydraulic clutch
  • DVD/CD
  • GPS/Alarm
  • PSE Shelby wheels
  • 2½in aluminum side exhaust
  • GT500E light package
1967 GT500E 427 Vortech Supercharged V8
Photo Source: motorcarclassics.com

Pictures also show a trunk-stored battery next to a NOS bottle of unknown strength. Not sure if it helps make above the 725hp or if it is 725 total.

More Goodness

1967 Super Snake Eleanor GT500E interior
Photo Source: motorcarclassics.com

This Shelby comes with more than just an impressive look and powertrain. The interior is showroom new and carries Shelby-inspired touches. Gauges, emblems, signatures, and more adorn this amazing black interior.

More than the cockpit, the outside has all the right beauty fixes. The GT350/500 taillights, front aftermarket grille and bumper, custom hood with Eleanor bulge, Shelby rims, side exhaust, and amazing paint. You could search for a good long while and not see one this gorgeous and also a true Shelby.

Final Thoughts

Worth $270,000? That is the question.

For those who have money to burn, the question is superfluous. This car would make any collector happy.

For those with a bit less money to throw at the wind, the answer is an unequivocal “no”. 700hp is something that you can get brand new nowadays for 40% of this car’s listing price. You could also take any one of a million Mustangs and add a supercharger to it – for even less.

The speed isn’t other-worldly; the look is somewhat of a Frankenstein’s monster (since it came from a 20-year-old movie and not from the factory), and this car is suffering from a catastrophic list of tech stuff missing vs. cars built nowadays – including numerous safety features.

On the other hand, the car is a heck of an investment, gets more looks than Chris Hemsworth, and goes like almost nothing on the road. Maybe $200k isn’t that much after all?

You can find the listing here: www.motorclassics.com