Sure "Eleanor" is a given name a person might use. But once it's associated with a thing of value, a car in this case, when used in reference to that car or a replica or version, the name absolutely should be copyrighted/copyrightable. If Mustang wasn't copyrighted any dufus could make a car and a call it a Mustang or a Camaro or a LeSabre or LS1 or [insert any identifiable name].
Dude should have known better. He was clearly trying to profit off a known brand without paying for the right to do so to the brand owner.
No different than my casting up pliers and calling/selling them as Channel Locks. Names can have value. Manufacturers/creators have the right to make money of the product and the name is part of the product.