Images source: Mecum Auctions

Did you guess that “Eleanor” would be the number one pick on our Top Five countdown of movie cars? We thought so. We can’t ignore the two Eleanor’s in the “Gone in 60 Seconds” movies, so we need to mention both; as Eleanor is the only Ford Mustang in history to ever receive a star title credit in a motion picture – which makes them both unique and spectacular.

No. 1 – “Gone in 60 Seconds”

Up first, the original: In the 1974 movie, Eleanor was a yellow 1973 Mustang Mach I customized with a SportsRoof and a ’71-’72 hood and front valance. The budget for this film was so tight, that the independent filmmaker, H.B. “Toby” Halicki, stepped in as the stunt driver in one of the most over-the-top, excessive automotive chases ever filmed. With 93 different vehicles that crashed during the 40-minute chase scenes, we hope you can now see why Eleanor beat out Bullitt for the number one slot on our countdown!

Next, the 2000 movie remake represents glitz and glamour with the highly modified ’67 fastback Eleanor as a Shelby GT500 driven by Nicholas Cage’s character, Memphis Raines. And while both cars appeal to enthusiasts (of the make and movies) in very different ways, we cannot help but drool over the Dupont 44490 Pepper Gray Metallic painted body and stock black stripes as the true and lasting Eleanor. You are, quite simply, a stunning, curvaceous, beast of a car that we all pine for (well, at least we do).

As one of the most recognizable musclecars in the entire world, Eleanor ’67 was designed by Steve Stanford, and built by Cinema Vehicle Services. Several new fiberglass pieces were cast from molds to create a one-off vehicle; a unicorn if you will.

The Mustang required a big boost of power to wield its prowess through the streets of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California; so a 351 cubic-inch, 400 horsepower Ford V8 crate engine was mounted to a subframe body brace from Total Control Products. Inside, it is virtually unmolested, save the Autometer Sport-Comp Monster tachometer, a fire extinguisher, go-baby-go shift knob button, and a switch for activating nitrous.

It went to auction at Mecum’s 26th Spring Classic at Indianapolis in May 2013 as Lot No. S135 with VIN 7R02C179710. Although several Mustangs portrayed the famous fastback during filming, this one car was used in close-ups, posters, promotional materials, and appearances. She sold for a cool $1 million.

No one could have predicted the popularity of Eleanor ’67, but she spring-boarded a new trend in resto-modding; breathing new life into a classic, and spawning a wave of look-alikes.

The star power of this car also has spurned other industries to recreate the Eleanor craze through toys such as Legos, model kits, diecast collectibles, action figures, video games, and more. To that we say … go, baby, go!