Right you are, Steve...
"The first idea was to use a GT40 for the movie, but even in a movie with a budget of $90 million, it was to prove too expensive, and the next choice was a '67-'68 GT500 Mustang. This turned out to be a much better idea as
it was much easier to use regular Mustangs, dressed up to fit the part. However, in the wonderful world of Hollywood things are rarely as they seem ; and 'Eleanor', the film's starring '67 Mustang GT500, is in fact one of 12 different cars."
"...But the real Eleanor was the 13th. It was built for Bruckheimer himself, was never used in the movie, and was based on a real GT500 Shelby Mustang."
Read more about Cinema Vehicle Services here...
Note..
these cars have
NOTHING to do with the GT500E built by Sanderson.