Peter Lombardo Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 You know, it is weird sometimes how cars and ideas can hit you. I am knee deep in building the 62 T Bird custom coupe and the 60 Pontiac Bonneville custom coupe, when I see a post of a review of a resin kit of the 1967 Mustang “Eleanor†GT500. It looks pretty good and I realized that I have the AMT donor kit for that build sitting on the shelf, along with the 68, 69 and a couple of 70’s. And not being one to shy away from a little scratch building I thought why not! l thought that the “Eleanor†could be a fun modification to the stock GT350 kit, with a few personal changes to the design I could “personalize†the build. So here are a few in progress shots of where it is at now. Starting from the nose, I cut out the grill’s to be later filled with photo etched screens. The lower opening will have two lights, from the Revell Mustang SVO kit like the Eleanor has. The air dam is scratch built from styrene sheet. I drilled out two openings in the lower valance for fog lights, ala ‘06 Shelby GT500. The hood was raised and the sides filled in to clear the high rise twin 4 barrels and air cleaner. I am thinking about installing two air outlets ala ’06 Shelby GT500 with P/E grates on them on the front top part of the “Hump†in the hood. The four wheel openings were slightly increased with larger outer flares added too. I grafted on a piece of plastic sprue to the lower sides and inserted aluminum tube exhaust openings at the rear. I extended out the upper style crease from the front of the door to the rear brake air inlet then I extended out the outer portion of the air inlet to make it a little more aggressive looking. Both the side air inlets, upper and rear brake, were opened up. The doors were opened and will be hinged later in the conventional manner. At the rear, I filled in the exhaust openings of the rear pan as they are now unnecessary because of the side openings. The last body modification is the rear spoiler which I increased the height of just because I wanted to. I thought it might look good if I installed a spoiler like a race car would have. One that is adjustable in height with the slots and a bolt (bolts not yet installed) depending on the down force desired. I am installing the 427 big block from the Revell parts pack. I de-chromed most of the engine and painted it with Testers Metalizers paint, so far I have the spark plugs and boots and fuel lines in, oil and breathers lines go on later. The air filter is from the AMT ’66 Fairlane 427 kit, which when built will get the air cleaner from the Revell Parts Pack kit. This car is getting “period correct†Mag wheels and Goodyear wide and low tires. I have lowered the front wheels a scale 5 inches so the car will be sitting down in front, a little higher in the back so it will have a mean street stance. I am planning to build the rear springs from an old diet coke can strip of aluminum and working rear shocks. I have racing seats with 5 way seat belts and a roll bar for the all black interior. I am taping off the stripes with vinyl paint masks made on the computer ala ’06 Shelby GT500 style: wide pearl white stripes and either charcoal (traditional for this car) Bright near-candy Blue Pearl or Burnt Orange Pearl, I haven’t decided yet. What color do you think will work here? I am open to thoughts. I will build the ’68 to be a mate to this car with one of these colors, so which two colors work well together? Also, you will see lots of cat hair on the pictures, Dexter has been inspecting my work bench while I am at work....he is a long hair that has to get into everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juergen Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 hi peter !!! only one word - GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a very perfect scratch build you made on the gt 350. this eleanor looks sooooo great !!! greets jürgen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Awesome! I was worried when you said you were adding a "racecar style spoiler", but it came out great!!! Great scartchbuilding! Rudy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E St. Kruiser50 Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Hey Peter You seem to be in that same "Building Zone" as me. Got the "New Year Bug", and am having a blast "Carving Out" some new idea's. You're "Eleanor" has a great start. Love to watch these kinda builds. Don't stop now - dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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