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 automotive is a personality unto itself. After years of authorized battles, although, the Ninth Circuit Court docket of Appeals has dominated in any other case: Eleanor is a prop, like another, and its design cannot be copyrighted the identical means. 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 automotive actual quick, however I want you to acknowledge Eleanor for what it’s. This Chip Foose-designed bodykit is on no account higher than the 1967 Shelby GT500 on which it is primarily based. It is longer, flatter, and comes throughout extra stodgy and outdated than the aggressive strains of the inventory automotive. It is time all of us checked out Eleanor, realized it appears worse than an everyday Mustang, and moved on with our lives.
That is the automotive below all these lights
Have a look at how good that Shelby appears! Have a look at the best way the entrance juts out within the heart, the angles of the recesses across the headlights, the small and aero-function chin. Now evaluate it to no matter is occurring with the Eleanor up high, and inform me the film automotive appears higher. Inform me, stripped of every of their respective pedigrees, the grey one with much more lights is the one you’d fairly personal. I dare you. I triple-dog-dare you.
Do I realistically assume 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 to be the rubbish early-aughts-styled restomods they’re, and I beg you all to cease making them — irrespective of how authorized the Ninth Circuit decides they’re to construct.
