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When Gone in Sixty Seconds was released in 2000, nobody could have predicted that out of an all star cast of actors and actresses that the real star of the movie would be Eleanor, the 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang built specifically for the film. In the sixteen years since the movie debuted, no other Mustang is as recognizable as Eleanor and no movie car has been imitated more. Built by Cinema Vehicle Services in Hollywood, California, a total of eleven 1967 and 1968 Ford Mustang Fastbacks were built for the film, and although some were wrecked, a number survived filming and have since been sold. This 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback is Eleanor #3 built for the film, and has just completed a 0-mile, ground up restoration at Cinema Vehicle Services, the people who know her best. Each Eleanor was built to perform a different function in the movie and so received slightly different builds, although aesthetically they were built to look identical. This Eleanor is powered by a stroked 347ci small block Ford built by Blueprint Engines and features aluminum heads, roller cam, Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, Holley Ultra Double Pumper carburetor, MSD Pro billet distributor, MSD Blaster coil, MSD Street Fire CDI ignition, ceramic coated headers, March serpentine accessory drive system, Canton 6-quart deep sump oil pan and pickup, and a Nitrous Oxide Systems Powershot nitrous system. Backed up by a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, the drivetrain has also been built up using a Ram flywheel and clutch, QuickTime bellhousing, Wenco custom-built driveshaft, and a hydraulic clutch system by Modern Driveline. Out back, the rear end was built by Ronandrsquo;s Rear Ends in Los Angeles, California, and features a Currie rear differential housing and axles, Energy Suspension bushings, and a Posi rear diff with 3.70 gears. To keep everything under control, the Mustang features front and rear power disc brakes with a Wilwood master cylinder with Wilwood calipers, oversized cross-drilled rotors, and front lightweight hubs, while the front end features a Total Control Products power rack and pinion steering system with Total Control front suspension and coil over shocks along with a Monte Carlo brace, tower export brace, and truss brace. Throughout the car, custom stainless brake and fuel lines have been fabricated along with a custom stainless exhaust with dual Magnaflow mufflers. Inside the cabin, the interior remains mostly stock, with the exception of Total Control Products clutch and brake pedals, an Autometer Sport-Comp Monster tachometer with shift light, and a Hurst shifter with the infamous Go Baby Go shift knob along with the nitrous system arming switch while the trunk houses the nitrous bottle along with a Fuel Safe fuel cell with bladder for safety. Now, although the build itself is pretty impressive, the most alluring feature of this Mustang is that it is an authentic Eleanor. Sure, clones can be built or bought, but there are clones and then there is the real deal and this car is the real deal, nothing else comes close. Sitting behind the wheel of a car that created an entirely new genre of car builds when it was designed, this car is a piece of movie and automobile history. Like a Bullitt Mustang, or a Mad Max Interceptor, imitations come close, but nothing compares to the real thing and knowing that makes this car beyond special.
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