Autoblog

Barrett-Jackson 2013: Odds and Ends from Friday's Festivities

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Specialty, Luxury

While the big-ticket items sold at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale usually hit the block on Saturday, Friday often brings with it a few interesting finds. This year was no different. With an assortment of vehicles ranging from an original 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO with a 427-cubic-inch V8 and four-speed manual transmission to a 1929 Ford AA Custom Popcorn truck, you never can tell what's going to show up at Barrett-Jackson.

It's impossible to miss a bright tangerine Willy's Roadster, and we could hardly pass up the opportunity to watch one of the infamous Unique Performance Eleanor replica cars cross the auction block. Really, we just pointed our lenses at whatever happened to catch our eye.

Check out the fruits of our labors in the high-res image gallery of live photos above. Each of the cars you'll see is captioned with the its appropriate make and model, plus the amount it finally sold for. Enjoy!

Barrett-Jackson 2013: Odds and Ends from Friday's Festivities originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Jan 2013 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indian tuner turns Chevy Optra into Mustang 'Eleanor' replica

George Kennedy — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Chevrolet, Ford, India, Humor, Daewoo

If you are a big fan of automotive oddities, this may come as a little treat. If you are a Shelby or Mustang diehard, prepare to have your sensibilities violated.

The master fabricators at BigDaddyCustoms are the minds behind what you see above. At first, it appears to be a slightly misshapen custom Mustang, modeled after "Eleanor" from Gone In 60 Seconds, but upon further examination, something appears to be amiss. In fact, the custom shop, based in India, has created an Eleanor replica grafted upon a lowly Chevrolet Optra. While it may take a second for the Optra to ring a bell, you should recognize its badge-engineered sibling, the Daewoo Lacetti, used on Top Gear.

We don't know what star would opt for the Reasonably Priced Car in Shelby's clothing, but it's clearly someone more concerned with the aesthetic than the performance credentials of this automotive mash-up.

This is not BigDaddyCustoms' first foray into aping a well-known automobile. The shop recently gained notoriety for constructing a Range Rover Evoque based on a Tata Safari. It's called the Moon Rover, and we're sure has the same all-looks/no-go formula as the "Eleanor" project.

Indian tuner turns Chevy Optra into Mustang 'Eleanor' replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Cervini's brings some Eleanor flavor to the Ford Mustang GT

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Ford

The 2010 Ford Mustang is a good looking car, but the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 from Gone in 60 Seconds is a beautiful car. If you own a 2010 Mustang, first of all, sorry about the 2011, but secondly, there's a way to try and capture some of that Eleanor styling for your modern Ford pony car.

Cervini's has released images of its upcoming kit for new 'Stangs, and the urethane kit includes a hood, front bumper, side skirts, side scoops, a rear valence, a ducktail spoiler, upper and lower billet grilles, a set of fog lights and a side-exiting exhaust system. The image above makes the kit come off a bit over the top, but we'll reserve final judgement until we see it in person at this year's SEMA show.

Currently, only the hood and side scoops are available for purchase, while the rest of the kit should be available within two months. Pricing hasn't been announced, but the full C500 kit for 2005-2009 Ford Mustangs is available for $26,155 and in addition to the body mods, it includes go-fast/stop-fast parts that raises the power output to 535 horsepower.

Of course, there is another option if you can't wait any longer and only have $600, you could always settle for a LIL-C500.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Mustang GT

[Source: Cervinis]

SEMA Preview: Cervini's brings some Eleanor flavor to the Ford Mustang GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Classic Recreations under investigation for VIN swapping *UPDATE

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Government/Legal, Ford, Specialty

Classic Recreations Ford Mustang GT500CR - Click above for high-res image gallery

The crew from Classic Recreations, LLC is in hot water. The shop has been cranking out amazingly clean reproductions of the Gone in 60 Seconds "Eleanor" Ford Mustang and other sharp ponies for years now, but according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the company may also be guilty of VIN fraud. According to the city's KOCO TV station, officials are charging that the shop has been pulling VIN numbers from older cars and then attaching them to new chassis. That process is illegal to begin with, but investigators claim that Classic Recreations then presented the new cars as the original articles - something that amounts to fraud.

The owner of the shop denies all wrong doing. Either way, the OSBI has begun towing certain vehicles from the shop in order to discern which ones are shady. No one has been arrested just yet, but we're guessing it won't be too long before charges, civil or otherwise, are filed against the company.

Classic Recreations has been turning plain fastback Mustangs into updated versions of their most high-strung iterations for a good while and charging heady figures for the work - up to $200,000 in some instances.

UPDATE: Classic Recreations has issued a press release concerning the allegations. Owner Jason Engel said,

"The quote attributed to Jason Engel in a single local Oklahoma news report is second hand information that was misquoted by the local media outlet. Classic Recreations denies any and all wrongdoing. Like thousands of other restoration shops and hobbyists across the country, Classic Recreations builds vintage cars with original and aftermarket parts - the restoration marketplace should pay attention to what is happening here. The shop has built a reputation for building the highest quality vehicles and delivering unrivaled customer satisfaction and will continue to do so in the future."

Click past the jump to see the full text.

Gallery: Classic Recreations Shelby G.T.500CR

[Source: KOCO]

Continue reading Report: Classic Recreations under investigation for VIN swapping *UPDATE

Report: Classic Recreations under investigation for VIN swapping *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Supra comes to TAS dressed in 1967 Mustang duds

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Ford, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon

Here's one that's sure to set "teh internets" on fire. A group of students from Saitama University in Japan showed up to the Tokyo Auto Salon with a 2JZ-GE powered MkIV Toyota Supra dressed up like Nick Cage's Eleanor from the very bad to watch Gone in 60 Seconds remake. Not familiar with Eleanor? Aside from being far and away the best part of the film, Eleanor is a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 that's been gone over with an epic-tooth comb.

But let's not get to far afield. This car is not a Ford, nor is it a Mustang. It's a Toyota with a mighty straight-six (no word if the 2JZ-GE is in fact the brawny turbo-fied version, the 2JZ-GTE) cut to look like a classic Shelby 'Stang. Before you unload to harshly in the comments, just remember students built the dang thing, students... Also, are we nuts or is anyone else seeing a whole lot of Mustang II in this particular angle?

[Source: Carscoop]

Toyota Supra comes to TAS dressed in 1967 Mustang duds originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang is the real movie deal

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Celebrities, New Car Reviews

1967 "Eleanor" Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

H. B. Halicki was a used car salesman who wanted to make a movie. With a little money, one big idea, and a 1971 Mustang Mach 1, he made Gone in 60 Seconds. And in that particular way that movies, especially '70s movies, can be, it wasn't all that good, but it was awesome. Fast forward to Michael Bay's remake in 2000, and the Mach 1 was replaced by a 1967 Shelby GT500. When we got a call offering us the actual car from that movie for the weekend, we felt obliged to say yes... and then drive it like we stole it. The verdict: Eleanor is the hottest piece of car we've spent a weekend with in quite some time.

Gallery: Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang

Continue reading Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang is the real movie deal

Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang is the real movie deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby okays production of "continuation" cars for former Unique Performance customers

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Government/Legal, Ford, Shelby, Specialty

Remember Unique Performance? Of course, how could we forget the sordid tale of a company building licensed replicas of the Shelby GT500 Eleanor featured in Gone in 60 Seconds, only to be shut down by the police after its shady business practices were uncovered before most cars were delivered. More than a few ex-customers that lost out on their prized vehicles surely haven't forgotten about the deposits they put down on the cars, and last year, a group sued Carroll Shelby in an attempt to recoup their investments.

To help smooth things over, Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. has agreed to a new licensing agreement with two auto shops in Texas so that the series of continuation GT500SE and GT350SR cars can be completed. Each finished vehicle will get an official serial number from Shelby along with inclusion into the Shelby Worldwide Registry. While the offer is being made royalty free, customers will still be required to pay for the completion of the cars.

[Source: Carroll Shelby Licensing]

Continue reading Shelby okays production of "continuation" cars for former Unique Performance customers

Shelby okays production of "continuation" cars for former Unique Performance customers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson 2009: Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor Movie Car

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Ford

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Eleanor movie car at Barrett-Jackson

What's the price of fame? When the subject turns towards famous movie cars, a vehicle's presence on the silver screen invariably adds some intrinsic value to the vehicle's worth, and there are few movie cars in recent memory more recognizable as Eleanor, the 1967 Ford Mustang fastback from Gone in 60 Seconds. According to the studio, a total of eleven Eleanors were created for the flick, and only three of those machines made it through filming unscathed. The car you see here is one of those machines, used for close-ups with Nicholas Cage. In this case, the car's sundry list of components isn't all that important, but for those that care, there's a 351 cubic-inch Ford V8 underhood, mated to an automatic transmission. The gavel fell, fees were tallied and the car's new owner was exactly $216,700 poorer after Saturday night's bidding was finished.

Don't forget to check out this past weekend's complete coverage of the 2009 Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale by clicking here.

Gallery: Barrett-Jackson 2009: Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor Movie Car

Barrett-Jackson 2009: Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor Movie Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the market for something Unique? Check out their auction online

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, Ford

We've covered the scandal involving Unique Performance from the very beginning, and it now looks as if this sordid tale finally might get a bookend. If the idea of scraping off 13 gallons of bondo doesn't scare you, maybe you'd be interested in bidding on one (or more) of the 44 leftover Mustang body shells that are available for viewing here. Mustang not your thing? Prefer the Camaro? How 'bout the Chevelle? Even if you're not interested in any of its cars, Unique Performance owned plenty of other stuff, too. Take a look at these automotive lifts, for instance. There is some good stuff here, and you'll be helping to pay off the company's assorted debts in the process.

If you find yourself interested in anything on the Unique Performance ~~fire sale~~ auction list, you can inspect the works on Tuesday, March 25 from 9AM to 4PM. Lets hope that these classics end up in better hands than they were in at this company. Thanks for the tip, Cam!

[Source: Rosen Systems / 67 Mustang Blog]

In the market for something Unique? Check out their auction online originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some things just shouldn't be combined, like a Smart and Eleanor

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Ford, Smart

Mashups are a really cool idea, when you take two disparate things and blend them together to create something new and interesting like Danger Mouse's Grey Album or Reese's peanut butter cups. However, sometimes, no matter how much you might want it to happen, things just don't mix, like oil and water.

Into the latter category falls the smartinor created by THALONDESIGN. Smartinor is the evil spawn of a Smart ForTwo and an Eleanor Mustang. Wearing all kinds of fake scoops, strakes, lights and a rocker panel stripe with the name "GT50%", the smartinor is one of those things that may have seemed like a cool idea, but should have been abandoned long before it ever saw the light of day.

[Source: THALONDESIGN via CarScoop]

Some things just shouldn't be combined, like a Smart and Eleanor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2007 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale: OCC Eleanor Mustangs Bring $210/$235K

Chris Tutor — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:24:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Ford

Click on the image for a regrettably meager gallery of high-res images of these vehicles

Like the Teutuls but not into MOPAR or Chevy? Up for some fierce Fords? On a 2004 American Chopper episode, OCC built a bike for Unique Performance and Carroll Shelby that mimicked the styling of the "Eleanor" GT500E from "Gone in 60 Seconds." In return, the Teutuls were given two custom Mustangs.

Paul Sr. got this screamin' yellow 1967 GT500E Fastback with a 725hp Shelby 427. It's one of only 75 Super Snakes built and was only driven 19 miles. You should be ashamed, Mr. Teutul! It fetched $210,000.

Paul Jr.'s Unique Performance GT500E is even more special. It's got the same performance specs as his dad's, but it's the only Super Snake designed by Chip Foose, who gave the car a signature two-tone paint job, 19-inch Foose wheels and an adjustable rear suspension. Junior at least drove his 75 miles before auctioning it. Junior's much nicer looking car sold for $235,000.

And, if you wanted the bike that goes along with the cars, it was here too. The well-heeled bidder taking it home can brag about having the only Shelby Chopper in the world. His logos are all over the bike, including on the Shelby-inspired wheels and embroidered into the leather seat. With 131hp, it'll also keep up with either Jr. or Sr's cars.

[Source: Frank Filipponio via Barrett-Jackson]

Gallery: 2007 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale: OCC "Eleanor" Mustangs

2007 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale: OCC Eleanor Mustangs Bring $210/$235K originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mustang fans: Eleanor is looking for a home

Stuart Waterman — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Ford

One of the most famous of all old-school Mustangs is up for sale - "Eleanor," the star of the 2000 movie remake "Gone in Sixty Seconds." (Sure, there were people in the movie, but Eleanor was the real star.)

Actually a replica of its '67 Shelby GT500 namesake, the movie car is up for sale at The Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The car is one of 12 built for the movie, two of which were destroyed during filming.

Eleanor is powered by a Ford Racing 351 crate engine, and looks to be very well equipped. More details and pics at the Auto Collections site here.

[Source: Auto Collections]

Mustang fans: Eleanor is looking for a home originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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