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if you had one chance


Dave

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I'm not being pedantic. A real GT500 looks nothing like the Eleanor car in the film. Eleanor is a complete custom car based on the 67 and 68 '289' fastbacks. The only thing it has in common with the Shelby cars is the side scoops on the rear quater windows and the rear lights from the GT500.

 

OMG you know what we mean. Sexy as hell fast fastback...:)

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I'm not being pedantic. A real GT500 looks nothing like the Eleanor car in the film. Eleanor is a complete custom car based on the 67 and 68 '289' fastbacks. The only thing it has in common with the Shelby cars is the side scoops on the rear quater windows and the rear lights from the GT500.

 

I may have been down the pub for the last few hours, but I'm confused on the whole GT500 thing. I was under the impression that Eleanor was a GT500. I know very little about the cars TBH, but I also thought that the rear quarter window side scoops were a standard fitting on the GT500? The Hamster has a GT350 doesn't he? I've seen one of those on TV recently and it definitely isn't Eleanor.

 

And how do the 67 and 68 fastbacks fit into the whole 350-500 discussion? Apologies for the numptiness, but I'm intrigued. When I saw the thread title I thought "GT500 as per GI60S", but now I'm plain confuzzed.

 

I'll settle for an original AC Cobra or a Dodge Viper.

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I may have been down the pub for the last few hours, but I'm confused on the whole GT500 thing. I was under the impression that Eleanor was a GT500. I know very little about the cars TBH, but I also thought that the rear quarter window side scoops were a standard fitting on the GT500? The Hamster has a GT350 doesn't he? I've seen one of those on TV recently and it definitely isn't Eleanor.

 

And how do the 67 and 68 fastbacks fit into the whole 350-500 discussion? Apologies for the numptiness, but I'm intrigued. When I saw the thread title I thought "GT500 as per GI60S", but now I'm plain confuzzed.

 

Okay, here goes ... :D

 

There are numerous Mustang models during the period the "Eleanor" bodied cars were made. There were two basic bodysyles availble.

 

During 1964.5 and 1966 there were 3 main models made:

- 6cyl 250ci

- 8cyl 289ci

- 8cyl 390ci (big block)

- the "special" Shelby GT350 (big block)

 

From 1967-68 there were:

- 6cyl 250ci

- 8cyl 289ci

- 8cyl 390ci (big block)

- the "special" Shelby GT500 and GT500KR (big block)

 

These were all available in coupe, cabriolet and fastback models with a 3spd auto or 4spd manual, though the Shelby specials were fastback and cabriolet only.

 

The Hamster has a 67/68 390ci 4spd fastback. A very rare a sought after model. Little known fact - my folks until last year lived a few doors away from Richard, he is a genuine nice bloke and is no different IRL to his TV persona. He loves his classic US muscle cars too :D

 

The "Eleanor" model was never produced by Ford or Shelby, it's a modern recreation of the 67/68 fastback model. In fact there were 9 cars made for the movie, all of which were based either on the 289 or 390ci models, though all contained either stock 289 motors or (for the chase scenes) modern 350ci engines.

 

The Eleanor models had a custom body kit comprising of fibreglass rear bumper, front bumper, side skirts, rear boot lid, rear quarter window vents, side vents, modified hood, modified rear lights. Only the rear lights and quarter window scoops were loosely based on the Shelby models.

 

They also had complete redesigned suspension (available from Total Control Products) which converted the front and rear suspension to a modern independent design with coilovers on all corners, plus massive chassis bracing and of course a big brake conversion. The wheels were also 18inch Halibrand replicas - anything bigger than 15inch was unheard of in the 60's!

 

The exhaust system was also redesigned to have 'cobra' style side exists, though these were fake in the film cars.

 

In fact, all the engine sounds in the film are faked, they were all from a very high spec big block mustang drag car and not from the film car.

 

If you have a 67/68 fastback stang, the entire kit can be purchased from the states. The conversion cost is around £30k for the parts alone. Not including the motor and other bits.

 

And there you go, a brief history of Eleanor :D

 

A few pics are below (hover over the image for the file name)

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Hands up if anyone thinks daryl knows far too much about 'that' car :wave:

 

 

:p

 

 

Seriously though... didn't realise you were a american muscle fan... I can see the straight six having to move over for a big block V8 growler some day soon :(

 

 

 

Oh and my dream car for a day would probably be a Cerbera Speed 12 (or a Veyron to stop me getting bored whilst the TVR was being repaired every ten mins :p)

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I only watched the film last night for the first time in about 2 years!!

 

Love that film....;) Was sad enough to point out the 98 Supra on the board with the black bulb pen on it!!

 

H.

 

I went mental when i saw that... had to rewind and pause.. really wound my missus up :D

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