Scouting locations for a photo shoot can be difficult. When it comes to privately owned cars, how far you go to find that perfect spot is often limited by the owner’s unwillingness to travel, but with a nostalgic it’s sometimes the car itself that is stubborn. On this particular day though, neither was a problem. Rather, the challenge was in finding not only a suitable distraction-free background but also one that properly captured the feel of the car we were shooting. Anonymous industrial locations are a dime a dozen and would not really help to tell the story behind Randy Hor’s Eleanor-inspired creation. We needed to find someplace special.
After about two hours driving around we came across this Gone in 60 Seconds-esque flood channel that just happened to be within a stone’s throw of Randy’s shop Ranz Motorsports in South El Monte, California. The elevated cement bike path that runs parallel to the water is not intended for cars but the route down from the street was just wide enough for the Celica. We were kind of hoping that a visit by the local constabulary would lead to a real Gone in 60 Seconds car chase with requisite pursuit helicopter and cheesy one-liners. Delroy Lindo was busy that day and the photo shoot went off without a hitch.
See the rest of our photos and read more about the Ranz Motorsports F20C-powered 1976 Toyota Celica Liftback in JNC Issue 3 available in our shop.
widescreen 1920 x 1200
standard 1600 x 1200
ah, perfection (except you forgot to delete the front license plate)
Looks like the same flood channel from the Gumball Rally!
A picture of the Celica flying down the stretch would have been perfect!
Haha, I remember this day. This awesome spot was right there all along. It would have been fun to drive down into the ditch!
“Anonymous industrial locations are a dime a dozen and would not really help to tell the story behind Randy Hor’s Eleanor-inspired creation.”
Stopped reading right there.
The 2000 film is an insult to both the classic Ford Mustangs and the original movie itself. The fact that they used CGI to replicate a jump is even more insulting when you take into account that the original used only one car (instead of 15 chopped up cars) and a design by the talentless hack that is Chip Foose and then whored out by Carroll Shelby before he found out the company he contracted to make continuation GT500E Shelby’s was doing a shitload of VIN# washing.
You’ve pretty much just ruined the article by referencing one of the most stupidest cars ever.
cesariojpn – have you read the actual article in JNC magazine? It’s all about the original Halicki version of Gone in Sixty Sec. We might be stupid, but we have taste 🙂
@burabuda – Yea, the license plate is kind of a distraction but taking it off was not an option.
@bert – I don’t think the joggers and bikers would’ve been too happy about that =D
@cesariojpn – I couldn’t agree more about the movie, hence the “cheesy lines” comment. Like most Jerry Bruckheimer productions, GI60S is overly stylized fluff with little substance. But the fact is Randy’s car was inspired by the style of Eleanor II. However, he only took certain parts from it. Notice no garish body kit or outrageous wheels. We think the inverted color scheme makes this car look absolutely sinister compared to the movie car.
No offense Ben, but when I see the image, I don’t see the original Eleanor. I see the Sh…Crap Eleanor.
Dan – Well I guess we have to agree to disagree, because he could’ve done better with the paint job and be inspired by something else instead of the (honk honk) that is the GT500E.
This was the first car I ever owned. granted it wasn’t nearly as nice as this one. But it was a great little car. I put a lot of miles on the original engine and never had any problems with it.
I guess the point I ineloquently tried to make before was that to me, a cool car is a cool car regardless of other factors. Yes, GI60S was craptastic and Eleanor II was an abomination, but that doesn’t ruin this car for me at all.
When I first laid eyes on this car I hyperventilated, and they found me twitching on the floor victim to some wicked spastic overload of awesomeness!!! I don’t care where Randy got his inspiration, this car ROCKS!
cesariojpn- Eleanor II was a pretty decent car, that gained more popularity than the original. And I thought that it was cool, even though there was some CGI work done, Nicholas Cage did all the driving and stunts in the remake, even the jumping over the ambulance(almost cost him the movie, cause insurance wouldn’t cover it!)
bert – But can Eleanor II ever claim to earn her battle scars honestly like the original Eleanor?
It can’t given 15 cars masqueraded as Eleanor.
cesariojpn- True, very true! I guess from now on I’ll just watch Bullit!
Bert – Two used, one got scrapped, the other is owned by a fucking douchebag who is letting it rot away.