Eleanor' sells for $1 Million

A "hero car" from the movie and something of a star in its own right, the Shelby GT 500 clone was originally constructed by Cinema Vehicle Services, and used for the bulk of the movie close-ups, as well as being photographed for posters and other promotional materials. Since the Touchstone Pictures production was released in 2000, the car revered by Nicholas Cage's Memphis Raines character has spawned innumerable copies.

Sold in "movie used" condition with minor repairs, the car featured a 351 Ford V8 rated at 400 hp, a four-speed manual trans four-wheel disc brakes, a lowered coilover suspension, PIAA driving lights, a non-functional nitrous oxide system, and distinctive - and much copied - fiberglass body kit sketched by designer Steve Stanford.

The progenitor of the Eleanor revolution was relatively untouched inside, with the exception of an Autometer Sport Comp Monster tach, fire extinguisher, 'Go-Baby-Go' shift knob button for Line Lock and a switch for activating the (non-functional) nitrous injection system.

Reportedly part of the collection of Cinema Vehicle Services since the movie's completion, the Eleanor was one of only two cars from the Mecum auction to sell for a seven figure sum.

The top seller, coincidentally, was another Mustang, a one-off 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake, which sold for a staggering US$1.3 million (AU$1.32 million). The price realized at Indy for the restored GT40 427 V8-powered Super Snake has set a new record for a Mustang sold at a public auction.

Vehicles from the Ford family featured prominently in the top ten sales from Indy, with a '65 Shelby Cobra roadster selling for US$320,000, a one-of-15 factory race-spec 1957 Thunderbird achieving US$320,000, an ex-Don Nicholson Mercury Comet drag car reaching US$410,000, and a pair of 1969 Boss Mustangs each selling for over $220,000 each.

Full results and further details from this auction at www.mecum.com

Images: courtesy of Mecum auctions