Man, I’ve always been a huge fan of classic cars, and the Mustang 67 GT500 Eleanor? That’s like the holy grail. So, I decided, why not try to build one myself? It was a wild ride, let me tell you.
First things first, I needed to find a donor car. This took forever. I spent weeks checking online listings, local classifieds, junkyards, you name it. Finally, I found a beat-up ’67 Mustang fastback. It was in rough shape, but the bones were good. The guy sold it to me on cheap. I hauled that thing back to my garage and got to work.
Stripping Down
The first big step was stripping the car down to its bare frame. Every nut, bolt, and panel came off. I labeled everything and took tons of pictures so I’d know how to put it back together. It was like a giant, greasy jigsaw puzzle.
- Removed the engine and transmission.
- Took out all the interior – seats, dashboard, carpet, you get the idea.
- Detached all the body panels – fenders, hood, doors, trunk lid.
- Even pulled out the wiring harness and all the glass.
With the car stripped, I started the bodywork. Oh boy, this was a job and a half. I had rust holes to patch, dents to pull, and panels to straighten. I became best friends with my angle grinder and my welder. It was messy, it was noisy, but slowly, the car started to take shape. After fixing all that stuff, I had to sand and sand and sand some more to make sure everything was smooth and aligned, it was a total pain.
Prepping and Painting
Next, it was time for primer. I sprayed the entire body with a high-build primer and then blocked it all out by hand. This means sanding it with long blocks to make sure it’s perfectly flat. I repeated this a few times to make sure it was perfect. Then came the iconic Pepper Gray Metallic paint. I rented a paint booth and sprayed the car myself. It was nerve-wracking, but seeing that color on the car for the first time was amazing.
After the paint, I sprayed multiple layers of clear coat, then color sanded and buffed it to a mirror shine. I also painted the black stripes, making sure they were straight and aligned just like in the movie. I added the side scoops and the side-exit exhaust. It was all these little details that really made it an Eleanor.
Putting It All Back Together
Then came the fun part – putting it all back together. I installed a brand new, powerful V8 engine and a beefy transmission. I upgraded the suspension, brakes, and steering to make sure it could handle all that power. Then came all new wiring, hoses, and lines. I really wanted the car to be reliable, not just good-looking.
For the interior, I went with custom leather seats, a new dashboard with modern gauges, and a killer sound system. I wanted it to be comfortable and have all the modern conveniences, but still look like it belonged in a ’67 Mustang. I installed new carpets and door panels. I even added air conditioning because, hey, why not?
Finally, after what felt like forever, I installed those last few bits and pieces – the iconic taillights, the Eleanor-style grille, and those gorgeous wheels. Seeing it all come together was an incredible feeling.
The First Drive
The first time I fired it up and took it for a drive, it was pure magic. That engine roared, and the car felt like a beast. All those months of hard work, all the sweat, and busted knuckles – it was all worth it. I was behind the wheel and enjoyed my own custom-built Mustang 67 GT500 Eleanor.
This project was a huge undertaking, no doubt. There were times I wanted to give up, times I thought I’d never finish. But I kept at it, and now I have a car that I’m incredibly proud of. It’s not just a car, it’s a dream come true. And you know what? I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
