You’ve seen the movie. The 2000 remake of Gone in 60 Seconds is basically a love letter to a car that didn't technically exist until a production team dreamt it up. That car is the Shelby Mustang GT500 Eleanor. It’s silver. It’s mean. It has those unmistakable side-exit exhausts that look like they'd burn your shins if you weren't careful.
But here’s the thing: most of what people believe about Eleanor is a mix of Hollywood magic and a massive, decade-long legal war that only recently reached a conclusion. If you think you can just buy an "original" 1967 Shelby GT500 and call it Eleanor, you're actually kind of wrong.
What Exactly is the Shelby Mustang GT500 Eleanor?
In the context of the film, Eleanor is the "unicorn." The one car Nicolas Cage’s character, Memphis Raines, just can't seem to nab without something going sideways.
Technically, the car in the 2000 film wasn't a real Shelby at all. The production team, led by legendary designer Chip Foose and illustrator Steve Stanford, took a fleet of 1967 Ford Mustang Fastbacks and dressed them up. They weren't trying to build a factory-accurate Shelby. They were building a movie star.
They added a custom fiberglass body kit, PIAA driving lights in the center of the lower valance, and those famous Schmidt 17-inch wheels. Under the hood of the "hero" cars, they mostly used 351 Ford Motorsport crate engines. Not the 428 Cobra Jet you’d find in a factory 1967 Shelby GT500.
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The Design Specs That Changed Everything
Honestly, the design was a total departure from the classic 60s look. It was more "restomod" before that term was even popular.
- Paint: DuPont Pepper Grey 44490 with Black Metallic stripes.
- Fuel Filler: A prominent, racing-style flip-top cap on the rear pillar.
- The Button: A "Go Baby Go" nitrous switch on the Hurst shifter (which, in the movie cars, was usually non-functional).
- Exhaust: Side-exit pipes that actually required cutting into the rocker panels.
The Legal Battle You Probably Didn't Hear About
For years, the Shelby Mustang GT500 Eleanor was the center of a brutal copyright fight. Denice Halicki, the widow of H.B. Halicki (who wrote and starred in the original 1974 Gone in 60 Seconds), claimed that "Eleanor" was a character, not just a car.
She was incredibly protective. She even famously went after a YouTuber, "B is for Build," and had his project car seized because it looked too much like the movie car. It was a messy time for enthusiasts. If you built a replica and tried to sell it using the name, you were likely going to get a cease-and-desist letter.
The 2024 and 2025 Court Rulings
Everything changed recently. In late 2024 and early 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit finally weighed in. They basically said a car is a prop, not a person. To be a "character" protected by copyright—like the Batmobile or Herbie the Love Bug—it has to have "consistent, identifiable character traits" or some kind of personality.
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The court ruled that since Eleanor changed from a yellow 1971 Mustang in the original film to a grey 1967 Mustang in the remake, it wasn't a consistent character. This was a massive win for the Shelby Trust. It effectively opened the gates for builders to create licensed replicas without the constant fear of a lawsuit.
Real Shelby vs. Eleanor: Know the Difference
If you're looking at a Shelby Mustang GT500 Eleanor today, you're almost certainly looking at a "Tribute" or "Recreation."
A bone-stock 1967 Shelby GT500 is a masterpiece of 1960s engineering. It has a heavy, long fiberglass hood with a functional scoop and those wide Thunderbird tail lights. It’s worth a fortune—often north of $200,000 for a clean survivor.
The Eleanor version is a different beast entirely. It’s wider. Lower. More aggressive. Because the court cases have settled, companies like Fusion Motor Company and Classic Recreations are now the go-to for officially licensed builds. These aren't just "kit cars." They are ground-up restorations using 1967 or 1968 Mustang donor shells.
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How much does an Eleanor cost in 2026?
Expect to pay. A lot.
Prices for a high-end, licensed recreation currently start around $300,000 and can easily climb to $500,000 or more if you want modern supercar performance. Some of these builds now feature 5.0L Coyote V8s or even supercharged "Aluminator" engines pushing over 800 horsepower.
Buying or Building: The Realistic Path
If you've got the itch for a Shelby Mustang GT500 Eleanor, you have three real options.
First, you can find a "tribute" on the auction block. Sites like Bring a Trailer or Barrett-Jackson see these fairly often. Just be sure to check the paperwork. You want to see if it’s an "officially licensed" build or a garage project. The licensed ones hold their value much better.
Second, you can commission a build. This is for the person who wants a 2026-spec interior with Bluetooth and AC but the 1967 movie look. It takes a year or more.
Third, you can build your own. Now that the legal dust has settled, buying an Eleanor body kit is much easier. You’ll need a 1967/68 Fastback donor car, which isn't cheap these days. Even a rusted-out shell can cost you $30,000 before you even buy a single bolt.
Actionable Next Steps for the Aspiring Owner
- Verify the Vin: If you’re buying a "Shelby," check the Shelby American World Registry. If it’s an Eleanor, check for a licensing certificate from the Shelby Trust or the movie production estate.
- Inspect the Bodywork: Fiberglass kits can crack or fit poorly over time. Look for "waves" in the panels under bright light.
- Mechanical Reality Check: Side-exit exhausts are notoriously loud and can drone on the highway. Drive one before you buy to make sure you can actually live with the noise.
- Insurance Matters: Don't get standard car insurance. You need "Agreed Value" coverage from a specialty provider like Hagerty, or you'll be heartbroken if anything happens to the car.
The Shelby Mustang GT500 Eleanor is no longer a legal minefield. It’s a piece of cinema history that you can actually own and drive. Just remember that underneath all that Pepper Grey paint and fiberglass, it's still a 60-year-old Ford—and that's exactly why people love it.