Archive for the ‘Eleanor Mustang’ Category

While the 1969 class movie Bullitt was the first film to leverage a Ford Mustang in a bid to capture audience interest it wasn’t the only one. Five years later Gone In 60 Seconds was released, another action packed thriller that continues to excite Mustang enthusiasts to this day.

The four-wheeled star of that movie was a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1, dubbed Eleanor, but it presented a huge problem to the people who wanted to steal it: it was not insured.

Stolen Cars

But first a little background: the plot of the movie involved a drug lord from South America who put in a $400,000 order for 48 cars ranging from the Mustang to several top of the line models provided that the cars were delivered to him within five days.

But there was one catch to stealing these cars: their ringleader, Mandrian Pace, was an insurance professional who for his own reasons insisted that each of the cars stolen be insured by their owners. As it turns out “Eleanor Mustang” was not insured and Pace insisted that it be returned and that a new Eleanor be found to replace it. Unfortunately, the police were already alerted to the theft and thus began the action.

Wrecked Cars

While Eleanor played a significant role in the movie what people remember most is the 34 minute car chase scene resulting in the wreck of 93 vehicles. Most of those cars were purchased at city auction and used for the movie.

I won’t go deeper in the plot of the movie which was remade in 2000. Likely, you’re more familiar with the updated flick, but both movies live on as classics. In the original movie two Mustangs were used: one was featured in all of race scenes while the other was used for close up “beauty” shots. That car (or cars) was later put on display and then featured in other movies including The Junkman and Deadline Auto Theft.

Eleanor Remakes

The original Eleanor Mustang included a 351 cubic inch Cleveland engine, based on the original 335 V-8 popular with Ford at that time. For the movie, Eleanor’s engine was modified and included a 24-volt electrical system, four-barrel carburetor, and electrical kill switches.

Several custom designed Eleanor models were built over the years with Denice Halicki–widow of the movie’s producer, lead actor, and stuntman H.B. Halicki—challenging those built without here authorization. As the beneficiary of Halicki’s estate—he was killed in 1989 while filming the never released Gone In 60 Seconds 2 sequel—Denice controls the licensing of the remakes, having settled a dispute with famed aftermarket Mustang guru Carroll Shelby regarding rights to building the car.

Under the most recent agreement Shelby has licensed those rights to Classic Recreations who will be building the Mustang GT500CR. No word yet when the latest iteration of the Eleanor theme will be available.