For many years, the Eleanor Mustang from the Nic Cage remake of “Gone In 60 Seconds” has been copyrighted — its visage owned and managed by the extremely litigious Denise Halicki, widow of the author/director/producer/star of the unique 1974 movie, and later by Shelby — below the reasoning that the automobile is a personality unto itself. After years of authorized battles, although, the Ninth Circuit Courtroom of Appeals has dominated in any other case: Eleanor is a prop, like some other, and its design cannot be copyrighted the identical method. Anybody is now free to free to make their very own Eleanor replicas, which brings me to my plea: Please do not.
I do know you favored the film the place Nic Cage listened to Low Rider and drove a automobile actual quick, however I want you to acknowledge Eleanor for what it’s. This Chip Foose-designed bodykit is by no means higher than the 1967 Shelby GT500 on which it is based mostly. It is longer, flatter, and comes throughout extra stodgy and previous than the aggressive traces of the inventory automobile. It is time all of us checked out Eleanor, realized it appears to be like worse than an everyday Mustang, and moved on with our lives.
That is the automobile below all these lights
Have a look at how good that Shelby appears to be like! Have a look at the way in which the entrance juts out within the heart, the angles of the recesses across the headlights, the small and aero-function chin. Now examine it to no matter is occurring with the Eleanor up high, and inform me the film automobile appears to be like higher. Inform me, stripped of every of their respective pedigrees, the grey one with much more lights is the one you’d slightly personal. I dare you. I triple-dog-dare you.
Do I realistically suppose we’re all going to recover from the entire Eleanor factor and transfer on? Effectively, Ford retains making Bullitt Mustangs, so I would say likelihood is slim. That is why this is not a prediction in regards to the automotive world, however a determined plea. Eleanors appear like the rubbish early-aughts-styled restomods they’re, and I beg you all to cease making them — regardless of how authorized the Ninth Circuit decides they’re to construct.