‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ Mustang Gone in $852,500
The Mecum auction sold the car for $300,000 more than expected.
Whether you like the remake or prefer the original, Gone in 60 Seconds is one of the most iconic Mustang movies of all time. Every car collector and their brother wanted to get their hands on one of the cars featured in these movies, but the creme-de-la-creme of this collection is Eleanor — the one car that Randall ‘Memphis’ Raines, portrayed in the 2000 remake by Nicholas Cage, can’t live without. One of these recreations was recently in the news, selling for an astonishing $852,000, according to Fox. What sets this particular Eleanor apart from other Mustangs and other Eleanor Mustangs?
A GT500 Clone
Eleanor, in the 2000 remake, was based on a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500. While it has spawned a number of different reproductions and clones, but the original designers — Cinema Vehicle Services — only made eleven identical models and, of those, only three are still knocking around.
The minds behind Cinema Vehicle Services, Steve Stanford and Chip Foose, recently restored one of those three remaining Eleanors, adding things like nitrous oxide injectors, a 5-speed manual transmission, and a 351 V8 with an Edlebrock intake, things that were featured on the original Eleanor but that you wouldn’t find on a regular GT500.
They weren’t just refurbishing this clone because it needed a bit of spit and polish. They were getting it ready for the auction block. It was on sale at a recent Mecum event, and while other Eleanors have sold for considerably more, this one ended up in the hands of an anonymous buyer who paid $852,500 for the privilege of adding this Eleanor to their collection.
A Piece of Automotive History
Whether you’re a fan of the Nicholas Cage remake or not, having one of these Eleanor clones isn’t just a collector’s item — it’s also a piece of automotive history. It’s something that should be preserved so that car lovers everywhere can enjoy the sight of Eleanor driving down the highway, instead of just from the comfort of their television screen.
If you don’t have the cash to invest in a collector’s item like this newly-refurbished Eleanor, there are still plenty of ways that you can enjoy automotive history. Check out local car shows in your area, or make a trip to one of the country’s many amazing automotive museums. If you’re near the birthplace of the Mustang, check out the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation which features everything from the oldest surviving car — an 1865 Roper — to modern cars and ones that have been featured in television and movies like Gone in 60 Seconds.
Looking Forward
You might not be able to get your hands on Eleanor — with only three of them left in the world — but you can still enjoy more than 100 years of automotive history by heading to car museums, shows, and even auctions if you’re of the mind to add a new piece to your collection. Plan your next trip, or just browse the potential options online while you’re figuring out where you want to go next. There’s a century and a half worth of history for you to explore, after all, and you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy it.
Photos: Mecum
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