The 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the legendary chase scene in the movie “Bullitt” sold on Friday for $3.74 million. “It's a record auction price for any Mustang ever sold,” said Dana Mecum, the principal of the auction house, Mecum Auctions, that sold the car.
So when the world learned in January 2017 that the car, which had vanished from existence decades ago, had survived McQueen, who died in 1980, heartbreak turned into astonishment. The Kiernan family, the car's owner since 1974, had safely tucked it away in a Kentucky barn, far from prying eyes.
The 1968 Bullitt Mustang sells for $3,740,000 at Mecum Kissimmee 2020 and captures the crown for most valuable Ford Mustang in the world. History was made on January 10, 2020 as the Mecum auction block arena at Oceola Heritage Park filled to capacity to watch history unfold.
Its precarious yet mostly original condition combined with its legendary story made this amazing car the most expensive Mustang ever sold, as it fetched a whopping $3.74 million. It turns out that the second car was never scrapped as it resurfaced in Mexico in 2017.
The Bullitt Mustang ended up staying in the Kiernan family's D.C.-area garage for decades. Upon Kiernan's passing in 2014, the car was passed down to his son Sean who was inspired to get the car back up and running. Sean Kiernan restored the car in secret on his own before unveiling it to the public.
He Utterly Hated Steve McQueen, Now We Know the Reason Why
How much is the old Mustang Bullitt worth?
The Bullitt Mustang used in the eponymous movie just gaveled at Mecum for an eye-gouging $3.74 million. It is now not only the most expensive Mustang ever sold, but also the most expensive muscle carever. That title used to belong to a 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda convertible that changed hands for $3.5 million in 2014.
What engine did the original Bullitt Mustang have?
Powered by a 390-cubic inch V8 engine, this Mustang painted in the famous Highland Green body colour was driven by the King of Cool himself, Steve McQueen, during the famous car chase in the streets of San Francisco (which you can re-watch below).
Two Mustang GT 390s were modified for the making of Bullitt – which included a dark Highland Green paint scheme, no exterior badges, scoops or spoilers and adorned with a black-mesh grille absent of Ford's iconic pony badging. Of the two, this is the only surviving car.
Besides offering more power, the Bullitt gets a higher top speed than the Mustang GT, hitting 163 mph instead of 155. The Bullitt is only available for those who can work a clutch pedal, since it's only available with a six-speed manual.
How much horsepower did the 1968 Bullitt Mustang have?
The 1968 Bullitt Mustang had a 390 cubic-inch (6.4-liter) V-8 that cranks out 320 horsepower and 427 pound-feet of torque sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox.
Although Steve McQueen was credited with the driving during the chase sequence, it was actually shared by McQueen and Bud Ekins, one of Hollywood's best stunt drivers. From the interior shots looking forward inside the Mustang, it's easy to see which one is driving.
What happened to the 1968 Dodge Charger from the movie Bullitt?
The dealership reportedly resprayed the vehicle, going back for the original yellow and found a new owner for it. However, it seems that a certain buyer grabbed the machine from the Valley Dodge car dealer in Van Nuys, California in 1970 and sold it to Arnold Welch of Tucson, AZ in 2002.
Unfortunately, according to CBS, that was just some dramatic license. The telecast featured two authentic 1968 Mustangs, but neither is the car from the film.
About 40 years ago, a certain Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT exchanged hands for $3500. That same car, the one that was actually driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullitt, just became the most valuable Mustang ever after it was auctioned off for a cool $3.4 million.
What happened to the original Mustang from the movie Bullitt?
The movie car's trip to the auto-show stand actually started in earnest in December 2015, according to its owner, Sean Kiernan. Kiernan, 36, inherited the Bullitt from his late father. Bob Kiernan had purchased it in 1974 from an ad in our sister publication, Road & Track, to replace the family's only car, an MGB/GT.
Unique wheels, "Bullitt" badging and a brushed-aluminum fuel-filler door helped complete the look, with a factory serialized identification label included to verify each 2001 Bullitt as a true collectible.
Its maximum speed limit of 136 mph was just a bit slower. Movie director Yates set a speed of about 70-80 mph for filming. However, McQueen and the stuntmen really let loose and brought the speeds up to 110 mph.
The actor is better known for his prowess as a stunt driver. His work in Bullitt (1968) is legendary where he drove the black Dodge Charger 440 Magnum that was pursued by Steve McQueen in his Ford Mustang 390 GT.
The last Ford Mustang Bullitt rolled off the assembly line late last year, but there are still a few on dealership lots. Ford this week confirmed it will no longer make the model. The Bullitt, priced at $47,705, was the most high-performance Mustang not to bear the Shelby name.
The Bullitt's naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 has a factory rating of 480 horsepower (358 kW) and 420 pound-feet (570 Newton-meters) of torque. This is 20 hp (15 kW) more than the standard Mustang GT thanks to a larger throttle body, GT350 intake manifold, and revised powertrain control module.
Two Mustang GT 390s were used in the making of Bullitt. One (VIN 8R02S125559) was pampered and used in low-action scenes – mostly when McQueen's titular character, Frank Bullitt, was driving around his neighborhood in picturesque San Francisco.
