Is the Eleanor Shelby GT500 Really Worth $2 Million?
YouTuber Supercar Blondie gets seat time in one of the 11 Eleanor GT500s used on the set of Gone in 60 Seconds.
We’ve all seen the movie, and we all know the car. Eleanor, the specially built 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 that Nicolas Cage drove away with at the end of a big heist in Gone in 60 Seconds. While it was in fact a remake of the first film from the ’70s, it didn’t devalue the incredible ingenuity behind the car. In fact, the Mustang was so popular and mesmerizing, Eleanor’s unique styling is the most copied style of any movie car.
However, the car in Supercar Blondie’s video, was no kit car. This was the real deal. Alex, the blondie behind the name Supercar Blondie, was lucky enough to sit in the same driver’s seat Cage sat in.
“For the movie there were 11 of these car for all of the shots. But, only three were used for the driving scenes,” says Alex from the driver’s seat. “These are so-called ‘hero’ cars… This is one of those cars.”
Now onto the real question: why is a slightly modified 1967 GT500 worth $2 Million when another hero car was sold for only $1 Million?
Well according to Chris, it’s because it’s in the same exact condition it was in when it was featured in the films. “No major services, no restoration or anything – it’s being sold as is. Therefore, it makes it worth more. Theoretically, there’s still some remnants of Cage on the seat, steering wheel and shifter. And to say you’ve touched a Mustang that Cage has touched many times is worth a lot more than $2 million, I think.”
Knowing how easy it would be for anyone to point fingers and claim the prized Mustang to be just another kit car, Alex brought an expert on board to discuss the defining features that distinguish the real thing from the imposters. Chris, an employee and self-described “Eleanor geek” from Germany’s Chrome Cars served as that expert.
Before Chris is behind the camera, Alex points out a few things she knew herself. For instance, the air vents on the back of the car that look as though they’re meant to blow air onto the rear rotors? Totally fake – there’s no function to them at all. Additionally, the iconic exhaust tips that peek out from the rear passenger side aren’t functional, either. The exhaust (and the notable Eleanor sound) actually came from the rear.
“When the movie was over, Hollywood wanted to sell these cars. In order to do that, they had to make the exhaust actually work,” says Alex. “So, they were sent back to Cinema Vehicle Services where they were made, and the exhaust was specially made to come out the side like this.”
Now came Chris, the expert, to bring more information to the table. One of the better ways to tell what’s real and what’s not is to take a look at the shape and design of hood.
“When you see a replica, the hood and the scoop are very edgy, and very straight,” says Chris. “The real thing fits very nicely. The reason for this is that they use an original Shelby hood and shape it a little to make it unique.”
Alex chimes in to add that the hood scoop that came on the original Shelby hoods were closed off for the movies, and they way Cinema Vehicle Services achieved that was special and careful fabrication. Replicas have a hard time getting this right, and have a tendency to get it all wrong.
The other distinguishing factor is the VIN, like most cars. Instead of being in the normal places on cars, like the engine or on the dash, it’s stamped onto the metal frame for the hood. Aside from that, all three original hero cars came with suspension parts from Total Control. So, to an untrained eye or uncertified movie maven, a kit car would be hard to discern from the real thing.
Photos: Screenshots
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