‘Eleanor’ Ford Mustang Fastback: You Can Buy One Brand-New

Fusion Motor Co. has obtained the rights to create new versions of the special 1967 Mustang.

Few cars in the world have the same stature as the 1967 Ford Mustang that’s lovingly referred to as “Eleanor.” The muscle car played a prominent role in the film Gone in 60 Seconds back in 2000 – feel old yet? – that saw Nicolas Cage pilot the vehicle in a heroic fashion. According to reports, 11 units of the Mustangs were built for the movie, three of which were fully functional. Unfortunately, two of the machines were destroyed during filming, reducing the number down to just nine total units. With its rich history and rarity, the only survivor fetched $1 million at auction five years ago.

While Mustang fanatics are willing to pay a lot of money for a Mustang, the original Eleanor is out of everyone’s price range. Luckily, California-based Fusion Motor Company has obtained the rights to create modern editions of the classic muscle car. Thanks to Fusion Motor Co., you don’t need to be a millionaire to own an Eleanor Mustang. Unfortunately, you’ll still have to be pretty well off, as the modern version starts at $189,000, which doesn’t include the donor car.

The company takes a 1967 to 1968 Mustang Fastback and strips the car down to its shell. It then gets to work on bolting the Mustang’s body to a frame fixture, as the majority of classic Mustangs on sale have frames that are bent to heck. In addition to adding a rear X-member, the company also adds reinforcements to the body via a rotisserie setup. The work, which is reportedly completed by hand, sounds extremely extensive.

Gone in 60 Seconds fans will remember Eleanor’s gray and black exterior and noticeable front and rear spoilers, and should be happy to hear that Fusion Motor Co. are including the components on their versions, but with a twist. The company manufactures the spoilers and splitters on its own and utilizes carbon-fiber, which, reportedly, comes McLaren’s supplier. The carbon-fiber goodies are then attached onto the Mustang with the same adhesive that McLaren uses. Consumers can opt out of getting carbon-fiber parts for their car, but we don’t see why anyone would want to do that.

While the look of the Mustangs rival that of the original Eleanor’s, the vehicle does have some modern touches. LED lights are used throughout the vehicle, but look period-correct, the car features front coilover shocks, Wilwood front brakes are standard, as is a limited-slip differential. Large Nitto 275/45R 17 NT555s are standard, while larger 315/35R17 options are available.

So far, everything sounds good, and if you’re foaming at the mouth to hear about the engine options, you won’t be disappointed. There are five different Roush V8 engines available with each one being backed by a two-year/24,000-mile warranty. Standard performance comes from a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 that makes 430 horsepower. Those wanting more power can choose between three configurations for a 427 cubic-inch V8: a carbureted version making 480 hp, a 560-hp variant with a Borla eight-stack fuel injection, and a supercharged and injected model cranking out 750 hp. While the 750 hp sounds incredible, it adds an extra $19,500 to the build total. Both manual and automatic gearboxes are available.

In true Gone in 60 Seconds fashion, there’s a nitrous tank in the trunk, which can be routed to a “Go Baby Go” button on the shifter. How cool is that!? Doing so, though, apparently voids the Roush warranty for the engine.

Just like the exterior of the Mustang, Fusion Motor Co. offers numerous options on the inside. The base option are factory-style bucket seats, while Vintage Air Magnum IV air conditioning, power door locks, and a hi-fi sound system with Bluetooth is standard. Optional extras on the inside include Recaro racing seats, navigation, carbon fiber trim pieces, power windows, and keyless start. Fusion Motor Co. can even make right-hand drive versions for fans in other markets.

The popular and in true movie style paint scheme of Pepper Gray with black stripes is standard, but other colors are available as well. With the amount of work and customization that goes into every vehicle, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that it takes the company six months to build the machine. Each vehicle, though, does come with a build book with pictures throughout the entire build process. There’s also a certificate of authenticity that comes with the car.

Based off of the pictures we’ve seen of the modern Eleanors from the company, we’re going to go out on a limb and say that the machines are worth the price. To see a complete breakdown of the build sheet for the Mustangs, head over to the company’s website. While the machines are cheaper than the real thing, prices can approach the $300,000 mark fully loaded. And finding a good donor car isn’t easy or cheap. Still, this is the cheapest way to get into an Eleanor Mustang that you’d still want to drive regularly.