1967 Shelby Cobra GT 500 Mustang ("Eleanor")

I saw a couple of the movie cars go for about $95,000. What cracks me up is all of you "purists" hucking rocks at the most popular Mustang ever. I'm dead serious. Before slamming the Eleanor cars and those who like them, look in your own back yard. Chepsk8's building a Cobra replica, now there's a seldomly cloned car. Yet it's what he likes, so more power to him. Hearne's got a Ranger if I remember right, and although I'm sure his Mustang felt stout back in the old days, a modern 4.6 GT would mop up the street with it. This guy was kind of "testing the waters" of classic Mustangs, and rather than indulge him, some of you chose to belittle his dream car, why? My advice is build or buy what you like, and if you can't find something complimentary to say about someone elses choices...well you get the picture

chepsk8 said:

The Elenwhores start at over $80K complete, and all it is is a gussied up Mustang

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What exactly is a "real" GT 500? A gussied up Mustang. After all they were never raced, nor were they all that impressive compared to big block Camaros, Chevelles and Mopars were they? They were simply Mustangs, saddled with a lot of scoops and stripes, and a big block. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be building a clone if I didn't love the looks, but the Sanderson cars are at least twice as functional as any Shelby (yes ANY shelby) Mustang ever built. Thirty Five years of technology will do that to a car. I think we all put too much emphasis on what badass cars they built then. The truth is they WERE bad boys then, but with what WE as builders and hot rodders have at our fingertips now, we should be able to build cars better, faster and stronger, right? Don't get so hung up on all things Ford that you lose sight of reality. Building a fast Ford is tough, and something to be proud of, but they did not come from the factory that way. My wife's '69 427 Corvette is a good example. It's a low mileage, pretty much original car that we rebuilt the engine in a few years back. It feels very fast, and compared to the musclecars of it's era, I'm sure it was. But it's not something I'd want to be racing a modern GT (or Camaro for that matter) for pink slips in! OK, enough of my rant...

Zoo-

Many good points! Kudos to you.

As for me, yup, I'm building the most commonly copied car on the planet. Happily, I will always call it a replica, and will not be offended as such! I am building it to my taste, paint plans are unique as well. I even found some guys on a Kit cobra site fretting over the correct decal style and placement as an original! I suggested they stop worrying as much, as no two originals are alike, and that's the beauty of the original cars!

Yes, sanderson's cars perform superior to the originals in all facets. I'm just PO'ed about the old Grump giving them his blessing, and giving them Shelby status. That's my beef.

To each thier own.

Not at all, zoo!



(now what was this thread about again....?)

Chepsk8, I was a bit bent out of shape at first over the cars getting "real" status also. But after reading the interview in Mustang Monthly, and reading that Shelby said that, no they aren't real Shelbys, but rather a (quality) Shelby product. Besides, I most likely won't ever own either, so why worry about it? It's akin to me worrying about the high cost of nitromethane, I don't see myself owning a funny car, so why bitch? Anyway, hope I didn't offend either you or Hearne, just stating an opinion...

Personal feelings aside, the only thing that truly bothers me as a Ford guy is that they are using real mustangs to build these hot rods from and basically that changes it from being the every joe backyard mechanic car we all know and hopefully love. At least the hot rod community learned their lesson a while back and started to use glass repro bodies for the entire car, not buying every last 32 something ford out there they can get their hands on and making people who still have them asking outrageous prices for buckets of crap. Since many of the Shelby mods are glass anyway, what would have been the hard part in making an entire body out of glass instead and building it on a custom chasis? It certainly would be more worth the money they ask in my book and you wouldn't loose a high tech performance thing on them, win/win. I'm sorry, but rich boy toys is not what this hobby is about to me, and if that is the direction this hobby takes, then I just may have to find myself a new one then continue to be a part of it.

zookeeper said:

Chepsk8, I was a bit bent out of shape at first over the cars getting "real" status also. But after reading the interview in Mustang Monthly, and reading that Shelby said that, no they aren't real Shelbys, but rather a (quality) Shelby product. Besides, I most likely won't ever own either, so why worry about it? It's akin to me worrying about the high cost of nitromethane, I don't see myself owning a funny car, so why bitch? Anyway, hope I didn't offend either you or Hearne, just stating an opinion...

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You didn't offend me , but I do take issue with the thing about a 4.6 Stang keeping up with my old 427 Stang. Sure, it didn't tear up the strip due to the 2.50's out back, but a 1 hour "chunk" swap would have fixed that. The top-end was out of this world though. 4000 rpms was "only" 140mph. About the only 4.6 that could possibly keep up would be a supercharged DOHC Stang. As for the Ranger, let me get the 331 in place and we'll see about the newer Stangs

A "real" Eleanor clone is a 1973 Mach 1 with a 351w (not sure why they didn't use a Cleveland)? The movie remake clones tend to be a fad among the younger kids, maybe its the body kits. I am building a clone though, a 1971 BOSS 351 clone, the only thing I really have to change though is the front fender decal, everything else was the same with the mach 1 besides the solid lift cam and pop up pistons on the 351c 4v. The movie remake car was a nice car but IM more of a stock appearance kind of guy since I really like the style and graphics already on most of the cars from that era. If I had 80k to spend on a car i'd buy a few cars.

Jim

Let's face it....we all have dream cars that may be unattainable..for me....it is any of the BOSS'es....(ie 302, 351, 429) But cloning is the cheapest way to get what you want. So if you want an original....you better pull the hunks of gold you got the car propped up on....Or you can spend less to clone it in every way you can. The choice is yours.

You know, all this has inclined me to tell the guy "Go Mopar." I mean simple question, simple answer. I know everyone has an opinion, but come on!

Geez... someone dug this thread up??? WTF for??? Just to be a schmoe? Sigh....