SCM Analysis
Detailing
| Vehicle: | 1967 Ford Mustang “Eleanor” |
| Years Produced: | 1967 |
| Number Produced: | 11 (Cinema Vehicle Services) |
| SCM Valuation: | $326,250 |
| Tune Up Cost: | $300 |
| Chassis Number Location: | Upper flange of left front fender apron |
| Engine Number Location: | N/A (crate motor) |
| Club Info: | Mustang Club of America |
| Website: | http://www.mustang.org |
| Alternatives: | “The Fast and the Furious” 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, 1968 Ford Mustang “Bullitt,” “Smokey and the Bandit” 1977 Pontiac Trans Am |
| Investment Grade: | A (one of the original 11) |
This car, Lot 1437, sold for $385,000, including buyer’s premium, at Barrett-Jackson’s January 12–20 auction in Scottsdale, AZ.
Way back in 2000, we started the new millennium with the remake of 1974’s “Gone in 60 Seconds.” The new version starred big Hollywood names, including Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie.
It did not, however, earn critical acclaim. Surprisingly, it got no Oscar nominations. The thing it did have was cars. Lots and lots of badass cars.
An almost 10-year-old me saw this movie, and it has rumbled in my head ever since.
At that time, only one star stood out: a now-legendary 1967 Shelby GT500 fastback, known as “Eleanor.”
The car’s the real star
In my opinion — then and now — Nicolas Who Cares and Angelina Whatever just stole the screen time this car deserved. It didn’t matter that the film was cheesy and often implausible. When is the last time you saw a Mustang jump off a flatbed tow-truck, soar beautifully over cars and then land on the other side without issue?
Like me, many car folks noticed this gorgeous customized fastback. They have become so popular, in fact, that they are often referred to as a legit model, the GT500 E, and owners of these argue about who has a “real” Eleanor.
Yes, they’re arguing over a car that is not a replica — but a continuation car. A real continuation GT500 of a fake GT500 built for a movie. Oh, the irony.
But with fame comes money. Any time one of the cars built for “Gone in 60 Seconds” crosses the block, it brings a ton of real fast cash.
Big bucks for real movie cars
In 2013, Mecum sold one of the original 11 cars that Cinema Vehicle Services built for the movie. The car sold for an absurd $1,070,000.
Granted, that million-dollar Eleanor was featured in shots with Nic Cage. Another CVS-built car, much like our subject car, sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2009 for $217k. Another one sold at Mecum in 2013 for $267.5k.
At $385,000, it seems like our Eleanor has seen some appreciation over the past few years.
A fake Shelby in a real movie
I have mixed feelings about this sale. On one hand, you have a fake, highly customized Shelby, but on the other hand you have a legitimate movie star of a car with signed documentation proving its celebrity.
I also need to mention that this car sports a 351-ci Ford crate engine mated to a 3-speed auto. How disappointing.
This GT500 will not be going far in 60 seconds.
The new owner will get tons of style points and bragging rights on owning a real-deal Eleanor, but she or he will not win many races.
Ultimately, it comes down to style over substance. Which do you prefer? And how much are you willing to spend to get it?
Although this very slow car is still very cool, $385k seems too much to spend on a piece of memorabilia that looks great but has no grunt. I would rather suffer through the sub-par acting to remember Eleanor in her glory days of high-speed jumps off a ramp truck.
(Introductory description courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.)