Eleanor, the modified 1967 Mustang GT500 who starred in “Gone in 60 Seconds,” is up for grabs.
She was the one – the ultimate dream ride for actor Nicholas Cage’s Gone in 60 Seconds character, Memphis. Now, she’s headed to the auction block.
In the 2000 film starring Cage, Angelina Jolie, Robert Duval and Giovanni Ribisi, Memphis (Cage), a retired master car thief, is unwillingly jolted back into the industry. To save his brother’s life, he and his crew are tasked with stealing 50 cars in one night. Among them is the gorgeous Eleanor – a sleek, silver 1967 Mustang GT500. But were it not for budget constraints, she might have been a much different lady.
While one would think that a $90 million budget could get producer Jerry Bruckheimer any ride he wanted, word on the street is that his first choice to play Eleanor was a Ford GT40. But the famed producer suffered a bit of sticker shock when the numbers came in. Turns out, the fleet of Ford GT40s needed to collectively portray Eleanor was too much.
Meanwhile, the Mustang GT500 also was in the running despite concerns over whether a ‘Stang could hang with the Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins already confirmed for the film. Fortunately, Bruckheimer decided to cast the GT500, but ordered a Hollywood-worthy makeover. The result was the Chip Foose-designed icon with a modified fiberglass appearance, PIAA driving lights, larger fender flares, side skirts, aggressive scoops, a 400-hp upgraded V-8 engine, side-exit exhausts and a monstrous nitrous kit, fired by a button reading “Go Baby Go.”
We here at E3 Spark Plugs couldn’t imagine Eleanor any other way. If you’re as big an Eleanor fan as we are, head to the Mecum’s Spring Classic auction in Indianapolis on May 18, where Eleanor (serial number 7R02C179710) will be sold to the highest bidder. Owned by Cinema Vehicle Services, she’s expected to go for around $300,000.
