Hidden away for decades until its reveal to the public in 2018, this star of the silver screen is now slated to cross the auction block at no reserve at the world’s largest collector car auction this January at Mecum Kissimmee 2020.The iconic 1968 film “Bullitt” featured what most experts consider to be the first modern-day car chase scene, one that was executed with such innovation and finesse that it became the standard for all that followed.
The GT package included sport trim and power front disc brakes.
The Bullitt was not a version of the Mustang, nor was it a sports option upgrade offered by Ford in 1968.
This model had 4.6-liter, 281 cubic inch single overhead cam V-8, and chassis tweaks, for more power and sportier handling. Throughout some of the most intense scenes of the famous car chase, McQueen could be seen right there, full screen, clutching the wheel of this very car as he expertly piloted it through the bustling and steep streets of San Francisco.This style of filming would become the standard for car chase scene success, serving as a blueprint for the films that followed, like “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “The French Connection,” “The Blues Brothers,” “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Vanishing Point” and plenty more. The cars’ suspensions and pickup points were beefed up, Koni adjustable shocks were installed and numerous camera mounts—both inside and out—were added to support the lightweight Arriflex cameras that would provide movie-goers with a car chase scene like they had never seen before.As McQueen considered the car itself to be a character, not just another prop, he was particular about the look and feel of the car, having all of the badging and backup lights removed, chrome elements painted black or Highland Green, and swapping the stock wheels for gray American Racing Torq Thrust wheels to make the car look a bit meaner, more befitting of the rugged Lt. Frank Bullitt. It’s been popular to convert ’68 Mustangs to Bullitt-specification due to the performance benefits, and for the aesthetics.This car is one of the best Bullitts we’ve seen in recent memory, and it’s due to sell via Mecum Auctions at the Houston Auction due to be held between the 6th and 8th of April.
The original 1968 Ford Mustang movie car from Bullitt will go up for auction through Mecum in January, but if you're not looking to drop that much money on an unrestored artifact, then check this car out.
With Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn, Don Gordon. However, after work began on the Mustang, Robert was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and work stalled. Silodrome, Gasoline Culture, and the Piston/Blade Icon are registered trademarks. We delete comments that violate
If you’d like to read more about the car or register to bid you can Ben Branch has had his work featured on CNN, Popular Mechanics, the official Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, the official Pinterest blog, the official eBay Motors blog, BuzzFeed, and many more.Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with millions of readers around the world and hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.This rare Plymouth Cuda V-Code 440-6 convertible is 1 of 17 that were built in 1971, it’s 1 of just 2 export cars, and it remains in overwhelmingly original condition due to the fact it…The fourth generation (A80) Toyota Supra was a revelation when it was first released in 1993, the futuristic styling, prodigious power output, and strong focus on low weight and high performance made it one of…Cortina: The Story of Ford’s Best-Seller is a definitive book about one of the most important British Ford’s in history and a staple of the British working class from the 1960s into the 1980s. Now, a 50th anniversary Mustang BULLITT revives that legend. The details regarding the Bullit's specs are factory options with no evidence of aftermarket changes to upgrade the power.