Whenever I break down or get new mods, my dad teaches me how to fix whatever is broken or goes through the install process with me so that I understand how the car works and can do things myself when necessary. He also believes that because technology is always so rapidly evolving, fewer and fewer people will be able to work on them because the knowledge and hands-on experience will be lost.
His desire to preserve the knowledge and skills it takes to work on cars has been passed down to me, and as a result, I’m passionate and supportive of programs that work with millennials to restore and preserve cars.
What I like the most about the Pick of the Day, a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback made to look like “Eleanor” from the Gone in 60 Seconds films is that it was built by students of Washtenaw Community College located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as part of the college’s Custom Cars and Concepts Program.
The listing on ClassicCars.com includes a link to the college’s documentation of the build and shows students performing every step of the process, from bodywork, to paint, to engine install, even mounting and balancing the tires.
According to the listing, the Mustang consists of a Dynacorn fastback shell with an “Eleanor” body kit from Mustangs to Fear and notes the students worked with the shell and body kit to ensure the car is straight and that the hood, doors and trunk open and close properly. The seller adds that many of the body parts were painted off the car and painted on both sides with a metallic Pepper Gray by BASF. Additionally, the students painted on the black racing stripe.
This car features the Eleanor gas cap placement on the rear quarter panel of the car, rather than the stock location, between the taillights. According to the seller, when the cap location is changed, typically the tank location is moved or fuel cells added, however the filler on this car has been designed to allow gas to flow into the tank, residing in factory placement. Other notable exterior features include new glass around the car, chrome Cobra mirrors, correctly placed GT500 emblems, reflective headlights paired with PIAA fog lights and sequential tail lights.
Powering the fastback is a Ford Racing 347-cubic-inch “Boss Block” V8, rated at 450 horsepower, mated to a Ford Racing 5-speed manual transmission. The engine has been fitted with a Nitrous Express wet kit set to deliver a 200 horsepower shot of nitrous oxide. The listing notes that while the NOS is installed, it has never been used. Power is placed on the ground by a Ford 9-inch rear end provided by Johns Industries featuring a Moser 31 Spline with 3.70 gears.
To support the engine and power output, subframe connectors were added to the center of the car’s unibody, according to the listing,. The front suspension consists of a complete Mustang II setup while the rear is a four link configuration with RideTech adjustable coil overs. The seller notes that the car came to them with air suspension, but it was removed because they did not want to “worry about the air compressor or shocks leaking.” The suspension was saved and the seller left the wiring left in place as well as the air tank so that future owners could reinstall if they wished.
The interior of the car has also been made to match Eleanor while Dynamat lines the interior, covered with black carpet and new headliner with matching sun visors. The aluminum dash includes brushed finish gauges from Classic Instruments to measure temperature, speed, fuel, RPM, and oil pressure. Adjustable Black leather bucket seats are used with pro-series G-Force seat belts connected to the cars roll-cage and a Steeda Tri-Ax Billet shifter is seen with the “go-baby-go” button.
The student built Eleanor Mustang is offered for $129,900 by a dealer located in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
To see this vehicle listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
