Home Entertainment Surprising Facts About The Legendary “Bullitt” Mustang

Surprising Facts About The Legendary “Bullitt” Mustang

Vukasin Herbez May 10, 2023

Even though the 1968 movie ‘Bullitt’ wasn’t a huge hit in terms of overall plot and acting, it still managed to become a legendary film when it came to cars. The nine-minute chase between the Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang and the black Dodge Charger R/T is regarded as one of the finest car chases ever put on film. It became a blueprint for so many directors after.

So the movie itself may not necessarily be relevant for modern car fans. But the chase scene is everlasting and well-known throughout the muscle car community as realistic, exciting, and memorable. However, the true story of the original car used in the film is even more exciting. We found the most surprising facts about the original Bullitt Mustang. Find out if you know everything about the legend surrounding this classic Mustang right here.

There Were Actually Two Bullitt Mustangs

Warner Brothers purchased two identical Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT Fastbacks for production purposes. Both models had 390 V8 engines and four-speed manual transmissions. The first car was for jumps and action scenes and finished shooting in terrible condition. The second one was the hero car. That meant it was used for close-ups, promotional purposes, and driving scenes. After the movie wrapped, both cars were sold. One was apparently sold for scrap. The other was sold to an employee of the studio who used it as his daily driver (via Ford Authority).

Recently, there was news of the first Bullitt Mustang resurfacing in Mexico. Most Mustang fans are reserved since the authenticity has yet to be confirmed. Records show that the first movie car was destroyed. This could be the case of VIN swapping, but information is scarce.

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Steve McQueen Wanted To Buy It

Although the dark green 1968 Mustang Fastback is considered a quintessential part of Steve McQueen’s automobile heritage, the famous actor never actually owned the car. He used it during the shooting and modified it according to his taste, but his name was never on the title (via NBC Washington).

In the late ’60s, this legendary car was basically just a movie prop that was later sold and thought lost. McQueen hired a private investigator in the late ’70s. They found the car but his offers were declined. McQueen even wrote a letter to the owner trying to buy it, but no luck. Unfortunately, McQueen never got to see the car again and eventually passed in 1980.

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The Third Owner Was A Real-Life Detective

In the movie, Steve McQueen played Lt. Frank Bullitt, a San Francisco detective. Life is sometimes stranger than fiction, so the third owner of the Bullitt Mustang was a real-life detective who even used the car as his daily driver in the late ’70s. Back then, people were still yet to be aware of how potentially valuable this Fastback was (via Road and Track).

As mentioned, the second owner was a studio employee who sold the car after a few years to a buyer on the East Coast. They in turn sold it to Detective Frank Marranca in 1970. The late Robert Kiernan of Madison, New Jersey, bought the car for a hefty sum of $6000 after seeing the Road & Track Magazine ad in 1974. He and his family drove it daily until 1980 when the car suffered a clutch failure. Even though it wasn’t a major mechanical problem, the car went into the barn with just 65,000 miles on the clock and visible signs of daily use.

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The Bullitt Mustang Changed Locations

Although it wasn’t driven since it was parked in 1980, the original Bullitt Mustang changed a few locations since the Kiernan family moved from New Jersey to Cincinnati. They then moved on to Kentucky, Florida, and finally Nashville. The car sometimes stayed with friends. But it was always hidden away from private investigators and people who wanted to buy it (via Hagerty).

Interestingly, every once in a while, the Kiernan family got a message from somebody who had tracked the car and was willing to make an offer. However, the family was reluctant to show the car, publish photos or publicly show the car until 2018.

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It’s 99.9% Original

One of the most fascinating things about the original Bullitt Mustang is its level of originality. Yes, the car is worn-out and a bit rusty. But still, it has the same paint that was applied in the Ford factory, the same seats on which McQueen sat during the chase or stunt scenes, the same engine with original performance modifications, and even the genuine holes and brackets for cameras made by the studio technicians (via Motor Trend).

However, there is one thing that is not authentic: the steering wheel. Although it’s a Shelby steering wheel and fits the car perfectly, this is not the same item McQueen held when shooting the film. The reason is simple. Someone broke into the barn during storage and stole the original one. Even though this doesn’t make this car any less astonishing and significant, it may be interesting for trivia buffs to know that somebody, somewhere, has the original one.

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The Bullitt Was Based on The GT 390

The Mustang got its first redesign in 1967 when Ford introduced a slightly bigger and more luxurious model. The design was even better and more elegant and the options list was longer than ever. The performance lovers finally got a big block option in the form of the 390 FE V8 engine and it produced 325 hp. However, if you think this was a fast Mustang that burned rubber in any gear, you’re mistaken. This was a fast car, but it was more of a Grand Tourer than a muscle car (via Mustang Spec).

However, the 390 GT Mustang was immortalized by Steve McQueen when it appeared as a co-star in “Bullitt” in 1968. As we highlighted in the introduction, the Highland Green 390 Fastback made history by appearing in one of the best car chases ever and promoting the 390 V8 engine into legend.

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McQueen Did Almost All the Driving Himself

Bullitt was never intended to be a car film. However, it became one of the biggest legends of the genre nonetheless. The reason is the epic car chase scene involving the ’68 Ford Mustang 390 GT Fastback, a black ’68 Dodge Charger 440 R/T, and the hilly streets of San Francisco. If it weren’t for the legendary chase, the movie would be a classic detective flick with a forgettable plot and production (via Hagerty).

As one of the biggest car fanatics among movie stars, Steve McQueen requested to do the stunts by himself, showing his remarkable driving skills. Also, directing and shooting of the chase were quite innovative, which only added to the uniqueness of the footage.

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What Happened To The Black Charger?

Although everybody remembers the green Mustang, the 1968 Charger is also a big part of the Bullitt legend. In 1968, muscle car fans were wowed by the fantastic lines of the brand-new Charger. It featured the popular “Coke bottle” styling, a big grille, muscular shape, recessed rear glass, and four round rear lights. In the days of crazy designs and aggressive muscle car styling, the 1968 Charger was in a league of its own. No other model could compete with this coupe. The interior was new as well and featured full instrumentation and a decent amount of space. Since the 1968 Charger was one of the biggest muscle car coupes ever made, the trunk space was also generous (via Legend Lines).

Despite its unique design, Charger used Coronet as its basis, but it gained new engine choices such as the 440 V8 and one new trim package – the R/T. The R/T (Road and Track) package was a popular option. It included graphics, beefier suspension, and steering and came with a 440 engine as standard. Producers needed a fast car to compete with the Mustang, so they ordered a brand-new Charger 440 R/T. If you are asking what happened to that car, watch the chase scene again. It was destroyed in the explosion. However, some people claim that this isn’t actually true and the car survived.

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Bullitt Revival No. 1

The ghost of Mustang’s glorious past haunted Ford in the early 2000s. The Mach I was re-introduced and the legendary Bullitt Mustang was offered as a special model in 2001 to help reinspire interest in a model that was getting a bit tired (via Ford Performance). Among Mustang fans, the image of a green Fastback had a cult status. That is why Ford decided to introduce a new Bullitt version.

It featured a blacked-out grille, Highland Green paint job, and American Racing wheels. The 4.6-liter engine was slightly upgraded to 265 hp and 305 lb.-ft of torque. That was still enough to achieve a pretty impressive 5.6-second 0 to 60 mph time. The Bullitt Mustang was more expensive than the regular GT model, and fewer than 6000 were built.

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Bullitt Revival No. 2

When this retro-looking masterpiece saw the light of day embodied in the 2005 Mustang, fans of the legendary pony car were ecstatic. The new car looked fabulous and introduced new levels of power and performance. However, its retro look opened the doors for numerous special editions which mimicked the fantastic Mustangs from the past (via Motor Trend).

Again, Ford couldn’t resist. In 2008, the new Bullitt Mustang was introduced. Like before, it was dark green with a blackout grille, American Racing wheels, and a few mechanical modifications. The 4.6-liter V8 engine pumped 315 hp and 325 lb.-ft of torque. This was enough to launch the Highland Green Mustang coupe to a 5.0-second 0 to 60 mph. Of course, the 2008 Bullitt Mustang was again produced in limited numbers and had collector’s car appeal.

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Bullitt Revival No. 3

The best thing about Ford’s third incarnation of the Bullitt Mustang was that the new car was presented beside the original item. In 2018, Ford managed to persuade the son of the last owner Robert Kiernan, Sean, to publicly display the car. He did for the first time in almost four decades. This was huge, and the car community was ecstatic to finally learn what had happened to the original Bullitt Mustang and see it after so many years (via Ford).

Again, Bullitt’s special version is based on the GT V8 model. It features special green paint, dark wheels, an upgrade in power, and numerous trim changes. Of course, all three are highly collectible and desirable cars and a big part of Mustang’s history. The latest one is a 480 HP street fighter. Dressed in recognizable dark green, it has a sub-four second 0 to 60 mph time.

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The Most Expensive Mustang Ever Sold

Ever since Ford and Kiernan’s family started promoting the original car to a worldwide audience, offers once again poured in. However, Sean Kiernan decided to put the car for sale in 2020 through the Mecum auction. Before the auction, estimates were all over the place. We know now that this 1968 Mustang Fastback is, in fact, the most valuable Mustang in the world (via Old Cars Weekly).

The winning bid was a staggering $3.7 million, making it officially the most expensive pony car. $1 million-plus prices for rare and unique Mustangs are not uncommon, but this one tops all other sales. We think it’s well worth the price.

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No One Knows Who The Current Owner Is

For any car fan, the original Bullitt Mustang is the Holy Grail of automotive culture. Since 2018, everybody has been thrilled that the car actually exists. The hype around this car got even bigger when it was announced that it would be offered for sale (via Detroit Free Press).

However, even though we know everything there is to see, we still need to find out who the new owner is. Apparently, the bid was offered over the phone and the new owner was absent from the auction. The only person who knows who they are is the Mecum employee who handled the bidding. But he or she is probably under a nondisclosure agreement. Whoever the current Bullitt owner is, we hope he or she will continue to display the car. It would be a shame to keep it hidden again after so many years in the barn.

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