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From Bullitt To Eleanor: Hollywood’s Most Iconic Movie Mustangs

Vukasin Herbez June 27, 2023

Cars and movies go hand in hand nearly since the first motion picture graced the silver screen. Over the decades, hit movies have featured countless car chases and stunts. But one car stands out as the most popular movie machine – the Ford Mustang. Since the Mustang’s 1964 introduction, this model was featured in hundreds (if not more) of movies and TV series. If you’re a car fan, you probably have a few of your favorite movie Mustangs.

And movie Mustangs weren’t only found in American-produced films but in a lot of foreign movies as well. It’s safe to say that the Mustang is most likely the ultimate movie car. Indeed, most movies featuring cars made in the last half of the century had at least one pony car featured or in the background. That’s led to some truly iconic movie Mustangs, so we looked at the best ones that made an impact on many hit movies. Enjoy our list of the most iconic movie Mustangs here.

Back into the Future II

The exciting thing about the Mustangs featured in this movie is that they were artistic visions of future models, not regular production cars. Since Marty and Doc travel in time, they encounter future cars and, in this case, a red Fox-body Mustang GT convertible with strange add-ons (via Futuropedia).

By the late ’80s, the venerable 5.0-liter V8 engine was pumping 225 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, translating to quite competent 0 to 60 mph times. The Mustang was once again an affordable performance car with cool styling, lots of options, and enough power to spin the rear wheels in any gear. That is why we consider the 1988 to 1993 Mustang 5.0 GT as one of the best ’80 muscle cars. This car marked a return to the roots with a strong V8 engine and exciting performance.

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John Wick

When retired professional killer John Wick refuses to sell his prized 1969 Mustang Sportsroof, all hell breaks loose. That is, in short, the plot of an action blockbuster starring Keanu Reeves. However, Mustang fans can all relate to John Wick and understand that he just wanted to keep his beautiful Mustang (via Top Gear).

It looks like Wick’s car is the original Mustang Mach I. It was introduced as an affordable performance version of the Mustang Sportsroof in 1969 and featured a long list of options and three engines. The base engine was the 302 V8 but it also came with the 351 V8, and finally, the top-of-the-line 428 Cobra Jet. Despite the fact that Ford built over 20,000 Mach Is in 1969, only a small number had the Cobra Jet engine, and it was the definitive option to have.

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Transformers

Even though Transformers movies are mainly about the “Bumble Bee” Camaros, the Mustang also had a pretty cool role in the form of a police car named “Barricade”. The Saleen S281 Extreme came in full police spec complete with a machine gun and looked extremely cool (via Motor Trend).

The S281 Extreme has a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 engine. The power output varies depending on the specific model year and generation, but it typically ranges from 550 to 750 horsepower. The engine is mated to a manual transmission for precise control. It has a unique body kit and aerodynamic enhancements designed by Saleen. These include a revised front fascia, side skirts, rear spoiler, and a custom rear bumper with integrated exhaust outlets.

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I Am Legend

Will Smith tries to survive in a zombie-like apocalypse while alone in this eerie sci-fi flick. The doomsday scenario is creepy enough, but a cool part of the flick was that he gets to drive a beautiful red Shelby GT500 as fast as he wants through deserted boulevards of the big city (via The Drive).

Automotive fans were stoked when the 2007 GT 500 appeared since it was the first time since 1970 that Ford used that name for a series of super-fast Mustangs. This car is perfect for the end-of-the-world scenario with a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 and 500 HP on tap.

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Gone In 60 Seconds (Original)

The original “Gone in 60 Seconds” was released in 1974 and is a B-production masterpiece full of cool cars with an epic half-hour car chase at the end. The car in question is the 1973 Mustang Mach I which gets almost totally destroyed. However, before that, it earned its place among Movie Mustangs in history (via IMDB).

For decades, the original “Gone in 60 Seconds” was forgotten. But when the movie became available on DVD, its popularity exploded. Even though the chase scene is long and charmingly low-tech, the fact that the main actor did most of the stunts himself, including the crashes, is fascinating.

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The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

The third installment of the popular movie series was set in Japan and logically is full of JDM cars. However, one ’67 Mustang Fastback made an appearance in a slightly controversial form. The green fastback has a Nissan engine under the hood, which many Mustang fans consider blasphemy. However, even with the RB26DETT motor under the hood, the Mustang still performed its driving scenes perfectly (via Road and Track).

1967 marked the first restyling for the Mustang range. The car was slightly wider and longer and was ready to accommodate more engines and provide more performance to its owners. The GT models were in the lineup, and Ford offered a new engine (390 cid from Thunderbird) but also discontinued the 289 HiPo during the 1967 model year.

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Death Race

“Death Race” is a crazy, post-apocalyptical movie with some insane driving action. Even though it came out 15 years ago, it is still exciting and features aggressive hero cars equipped with machine guns, protection panels, and overly powerful engines. The Mustang A80 is the definitive model from the movie, and it used the standard 2005 Mustang GT S197. We love “Mad Max” style vehicles and apocalyptic designs, but a Mustang with machine guns, twisted panels, and ready-for-battle is next-level cool. This is precisely why the Death Race Mustang “Frankenstein” car is on this list (via Motor Trend).

The world was stunned when Ford introduced the fifth generation of Mustang in late 2004 as a 2005 model. The retro-futuristic design was perfect for the times. It captured the essence of the legendary first generation and presented a very elegant, sporty, and modern shape, even 15 years after the unveiling. With a 4.6-liter 300 HP V8 engine at first and a 5.0-liter 425 HP V8 engine from the 2011-2014 model year, the GT was a very capable car with exceptional road manners.

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Starman

The Mustang II (1974-1977) wasn’t the favorite generation, and lots of people still call them a disgrace compared to the previous or later models. That is why those cars are rarely on the silver screen. However, one of the few times Mustang II was cool was when it was in “Starman” with Jeff Bridges, who played an alien who drives a copper-colored Mustang Cobra II (via IMCDB).

The downsizing of the whole Mustang range meant the introduction of economical four-cylinder engines. Ford also did some part-sharing with other Ford models. This helped the model survive the recession of the ’70s as well as the death of the muscle car movement.

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Goldfinger

Legendary British secret agent James Bond encountered Ford Mustangs several times in his career. The first time 007 saw the Ford Mustang was in the movie “Goldfinger” when his Aston Martin DB5 raced a 1964 Mustang convertible in the Swiss mountains. The chase scene proved to be very popular, and the movie world was introduced to the magic of the Mustang (via James Bond Lifestyle).

“Goldfinger” is the second movie in history to feature the all-new Mustang. In 1964 and 1965, the Mustang was the only American car, except the Corvette, which had a sporty appeal but compact dimensions, ideal for European buyers. And, of course, powerful V8 engines and exciting performance.

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Charlie’s Angels

The other time when the Mustang II made an appearance in a movie was on the legendary “Charlie’s Angels” TV series. This cool-looking Mustang Cobra II came in white with racing stripes and was driven by one of the hottest actors of the era in Farrah Fawcett. We know that Charlie’s Angels was a TV series that only became a movie in the 2000s, but we still have to feature it on this list (via Motor Biscuit).

Ford knew their 5.0 V8 engine delivered only 140 HP in the Mustang II, making its performance terrible. But they also knew by dressing up the car, they could attract some buyers. The Mustang II was slow, but it was good-looking.

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Diamonds Are Forever

The second James Bond movie to feature a Mustang was “Diamonds Are Forever” in early ’70. The part of the movie is in Las Vegas, and what is better to drive than red hot Mustang Mach I? In fact, this car entered movie history for its famously flawed stunt scene when it entered the narrow alley on two wheels only to exit the same alley, tilted on the other side and driving on the other two wheels (via Auto Express).

The 1971 Mach I was the star of this scene. It was a completely stock model with the most powerful engine available, standard graphics, and a flame-red paint job. Even though the car is used for just a couple of scenes, it’s still legendary for this mixup in the alley.

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Knight Rider

Although “Knight Rider” is well-known TV series from the ’80s featuring the Pontiac Trans Am as K.I.T.T., in 2008, it was adapted into a movie that was received with mixed reactions. However, its Shelby GT 500 was a very cool and memorable car, fitted with all the typical K.I.T.T. equipment, weapons, and chameleon paint (via Motor 1).

There is a reason why the Shelby GT was in the film. The 2007 Shelby GT 500 was something else. It looked mean, had an aggressive design with multiple upgrades, and sounded terrifying thanks to the new 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine with 500 HP and 480 lb.-ft of torque. This was the first production Mustang that broke the 500 HP barrier and was the most powerful muscle car at the moment.

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Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez

The legend says the first movie to feature the new 1964 Mustang was not ‘Goldfinger,’ but the French comedy “Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez.” Whatever the truth, this movie helped establish the popularity of the Mustang in Europe. Where it was as respected and sought-after as in the States. The movie itself is an amazing, charming flick and the red 1964 Mustang Convertible fits perfectly (via Wiki).

Most of the market was fascinated when they first saw the Mustang in 1964. Compact and sporty looks, long hood and short deck, and a very affordable price seemed unreal. But there was a small portion of knowledgeable car enthusiasts that were kind of disappointed. The reason was the technology and engine choices. The Mustang shared modest underpinnings with the economy Falcon, and the engine lineup included pretty mild versions of six and small V8 units. Put this great car on Cote d’Azur, and you have an instant movie legend.

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Bull Durham

Although it’s kind of a forgotten baseball movie from the ’80s, Bull Durham is still a solid film with a good selection of actors. However, it is cool for automotive fans because it features a beat-up 1968 Shelby GT350 Convertible driven by Kevin Costner. This is one of the rare times when you see a prized classic like Shelby in not-so-great condition as a daily driver (via Gold Eagle).

The 1968 Shelby GT350 is the entry-level Shelby model for that year. It featured an almost stock 302 V8 engine, a few performance add-ons, and characteristic Shelby front and rear-end treatment. It was also a rare car, with only 404 made.

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Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)

The modern remake of ‘Gone In 60 Seconds’ starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie proved to be a box-office success and a cool movie for car fans everywhere. Of course, as in the original film, the leading role is, in fact, a special Mustang. In this case, it is Shelby GT 500 E. The car proved to be so popular that thousands of replicas appeared. The original one used for the movie recently sold for a cool million dollars (via Robb Report).

Despite an all-star cast, the only real star was the highly modified 1967 Shelby GT500 with the nickname “E,” for Eleanor. Although they used several cars used for the shooting, “E” was the “hero car” for close-ups and promotional purposes. After the movie, Eleanor soon became extremely popular. Lots of companies produced and sold replicas with various drivetrains. Purists protested because they made several Eleanors using the real 1967 Fastback, which many considered blasphemy.

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Bullitt

In 1968, the legendary actor Steve McQueen starred in a detective movie called, “Bullitt.” He played a detective who drove a mean-looking ’68 GT390 Fastback. The movie was more or less a standard crime drama typical for the period. But the car and the car chase with the 1968 Dodge Charger was something else. It was so revolutionary, intense, and dynamic that it became a legend of the movie world and launched Highland Green Mustang into stardom. The McQueen’s fastback is arguably the most legendary of all Mustangs in the movie (via Motor Junkie).

Studio used two cars during the shooting, but they destroyed one of them. They used the other for close-ups and promotional shoots. McQueen, a racing enthusiast, modified and drove it before preserving it for the future. They later sold the surviving GT309 car. After several owners, it finally settled on the East Coast of the U.S. For decades, only a few people knew of the car’s whereabouts. And the owner refused to sell it, even to Steve McQueen himself when he tracked down the vehicle in the late ’70s. Then in 2018, Ford made headlines. When it convicted the owner’s son of taking the original 1968 GT390 Fastback out of hiding and showing the car in public next to the modern Bullitt Mustang.

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Tomas Crown Affair

Although the original movie from the late ’60s featured beach buggies and yellow Ferraris. The remake from the ’90s had a very interesting 1968 Shelby GT 350. In contrast to other similar cars, this Shelby got the off-road treatment with special tires, wide fenders, a roll bar, and a spare on the back. Even the lights on the top. Cool looking vehicle and is a contender for one of the coolest movie Mustangs ever featured on film (via Motor Junkie).

The 1968 Shelby GT350 is the entry-level Shelby model for that year. It featured an almost stock 302 V8 engine, a few performance add-ons, and that characteristic Shelby front and rear-end treatment.

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Basic Instinct

The 1992 psychological thriller will be remembered for Sharon Stone’s performance and its car chase with a Lotus Espirit. But there is also the appearance of a dark red Mustang convertible driven by Michael Douglas. The car endures a lot of torture and perfectly fits the photography and feel of the movie (via IMCDB).

At that time, the Mustang was once again an affordable performance car with lots of options and enough power to spin the rear wheels in any gear. That is why we consider the 1988 to 1993 Mustang 5.0 GT as one of the best ’80 muscle cars. This car marked a return to the roots with a strong V8 engine and exciting performance. Also, the late ’80s Fox-body GT was very popular, so they’re plentiful today. Which makes them an excellent choice for entry-level collectors. On the other hand, the aftermarket for those cars is enormous, so you can modify and make your Fox-body GT even faster, easy, and cheap.

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Driver

Proof that the Mustang is memorable, even if it is not the flashy modified car, Driver, a noir thriller featuring Ryan Gosling in a leading role. In this movie, Gosling is a driver for hire and drives a regular black 2011 GT model. However, the intense action, driving scenes, and cool production make a hero car from this ordinary-looking modern Mustang (via Jerry Garret).

A cool-looking redesign and a new engine marked the last years of the fifth-generation Ford Mustang. The genuinely modern 5.0-liter Coyote V8 was a world-class powerhouse that was the basis for almost all performance Mustangs of the era. In base trim, the 5.0 Coyote was capable of 412 hp and 390 lb-ft, which are respectable figures. You can get this engine in numerous versions, GT, GT Premium, California Special, and so on. And

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From Bullitt To Eleanor: Hollywood’s Most Iconic Movie Mustangs

Back into the Future II

John Wick

Transformers

I Am Legend

Gone In 60 Seconds (Original)

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Death Race

Starman

Goldfinger

Charlie’s Angels

Diamonds Are Forever

Knight Rider

Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez

Bull Durham

Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)

Bullitt

Tomas Crown Affair

Basic Instinct

Driver

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