The late Danny Gans' 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor replica is up for grabs at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction, and if you're a fan of the iconic Mustang and the talented singer, comedian, and actor, there's no better car out there to splurge money on.
Gans was also a well-known car collector, but his family sold most of his vintage muscle cars after his untimely death in 2009. The family kept this particular car, however. That leads us to believe it might have been his favorite.
"Danny was an icon in Las Vegas and a man of many talents," said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. "He was also known to have a real love for cars, and this vehicle he had built in 2002 is a true piece of art. Jackson also believes this car will be a big hit at the upcoming 2023 Las Vegas Auction, taking place June 22-24. Combining a highly sought-after vehicle with such provenance will fetch a tidy sum.
While plenty of Eleanor (the story of how they chose the car names is quite cool) replicas are around, the only "authentic" models were built by Cinema Vehicle Services (CVS), which built the original movie car. That's why Gans commissioned CVS to build his own in 2002, and the vehicle will be sold with a certificate of authenticity. What you see here is a replica of the car Nicolas Cage famously ramped over stationary vehicles on the Vincent Thomas Bridge in California.
This example has a 400-horsepower 351 Windsor V8 coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The engine also has a Clay Smith cam, forged pistons, a Holley 50CFM four-barrel dual-pump carburetor, and an elevated performer intake manifold.
The steering is power-assisted, and the car has modern disc brakes to make it less of a handful. It also has modern suspension components, like 620 coil springs, KYB shocks, and repositioned A-arms. Barrett-Jackson claims the setup has been tweaked for optimal geometry.
Still, we can't imagine it will take too much throttle to light up the 17×9.5-inch rear wheels.
The interior boasts Shelby-style front seats, a vintage AM/FM radio with a cassette player, and four speakers. To make driving a bit more comfortable, there is at least one modern feature. It has a Vintage Air air-conditioning unit for those warm California days.
Other enhancements include custom gauges, a Lecarra wood steering wheel with the Shelby emblem, and a floor-mounted center console.
"It's an honor to continue working with the Gans family and to have the opportunity to feature a car so connected to the great Danny Gans," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. "We look forward to sharing Danny's love of car collecting once again. This special vehicle owned by one of Vegas' greats is certain to create another memorable auction moment when it crosses the block later this month."