1968 Eleanor Mustang Fastback Has Punishing 904 Horsepower
This absolutely gorgeous restomod Eleanor Mustang could fetch $250,000 at the Mecum’s auction in Monterey, California, August 23-25.
We’ve plenty of classic muscle cars get a pro street build, and at first glance, this 1968 Mustang fastback is no exception. But that would do it a disservice. Because this is one clean custom. And this week, it’s up for auction. Offered by Mecum, this wild Eleanor Mustang is such a gorgeous pony to gawk at.
Right off the bat, two things jump right out: There isn’t much left stock on this Eleanor Mustang, and the work is done to an impressively high standard. According to Mecum, over 6,000 hours of work went into the car. Dubbed the “Black Mamba,” this Eleanor-inspired fastback has been reimagined from the ground up, and now runs in supercar territory.
Under the hood (a custom carbon fiber piece), there’s an all-aluminum Shelby 427 cubic inch V8 that’s been bored and stroked to 490 cubic inches. It’s good for 704 naturally-aspirated horsepower. If that isn’t enough, you the onboard NOS system bumps power to an incredible 954 horses. A Tremec five-speed manual transmission sends it all to the rear wheels.
While we’d love to see what this thing can do in the quarter-mile, we doubt it’s going to the strip anytime soon. That could potentially mar the flawless PPG base-clear black paint with Candy Apple Red stripes. The Mamba’s incredible bodywork has attracted attention from the likes of Hot Rod, Street Machines, American Muscle, and Modified Mustangs and Fords. We doubt the next owner will let the unique stretched and channeled body get in harm’s way.
Inside, the interior is completely custom. Deep black leather bucket seats have Carroll Shelby’s signature sewn into the headrests. Up front, there are white face Shelby gauges, and of course, the prerequisite Shelby-signed dash. Five-point racing harnesses and an integrated roll cage complete the look. Altogether, it’s more of a vintage-inspired cockpit than a time capsule. We love it.
So it’s beautiful, fast, and one-of-a-kind. But it still begs the question: will the Black Mamba trade hands for a quarter-million dollars? It’s a beautiful custom build. But at this point, it seems more like automotive sculpture than a daily driver, and certainly not a racer. Still, we hope some Mustang-loving maniac with more money than common sense buys it and adds plenty of miles.
Join the Mustang Forums now!
