Action films are always better when the star is a beloved muscle car- just take “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Bullitt” and “Mad Max” for example. But few movie cars have the following and appeal like Eleanor, the 1967 Shelby GT500 remade for the 2000 hit film “Gone in 60 Seconds.” While Eleanor was no longer portrayed by a 1973 Mach 1 like in the 1974 version of the film, Eleanor stole hearts like no other movie car to date. But what makes this GT500 so special? Well, Mike Musto takes a look at a real life Eleanor remake to find out on this week’s Big Muscle episode. Check it out above.

While the purists may scoff at the idea that recreating the 1967 GT500 for the movie “Gone in 60 Seconds” was a bold and exciting move on the part of movie directors, many people would agree that Eleanor brought a certain essence to the movie that a stock GT500 couldn’t. While the factory version of this car is downright amazing, Eleanor brought a little bit more and certainly converted non-Mustang people into believers in the model.

So what was done to make Eleanor so different from her factory relative? Well, many things. In addition to some obvious additions like the ducts molded into the B-pillars and a second set of driving lights, prop designers added some more subtle touches to the car, including a molded rear duck tail spoiler and flush rear bumpers. Of course, the car wouldn’t be complete without it’s modified grill that did away with a portion of the bumper or the extended nose cone either.

Loved as a feature film car, Eleanor is no longer just a movie car, however. Now, thanks to some dedicated companies, you can get your very own Eleanor like this one owned by Jeff Sachs, for the right price of course.

This Eleanor has everything that a muscle car fan could want in addition to some creature comforts that make driving a bit more enjoyable.

Under the hood of Sachs’ Eleanor, you’ll find a Ford Racing 392ci engine capable of producing around 475hp before the 200 shot of nitrous. The car also features a five-speed transmission, power steering, a coilover front suspension system, Ford 9-inch rearend with custom leaf springs and Bilstein shocks and even air conditioning. All of these features add to the car in a way that doesn’t take away from any of the raw muscle car essence of the GT500, however.

There are some people out there that like remaking movie cars but when it comes to Eleanor from the remake of “Gone in 60 Seconds,” this car is more than just a feature film star. It’s a redesign of a classic not soon to be forgotten by muscle car and Mustang fans alike.