How did they film the famous Bullitt car chase scenes? Once again McQueen's pursuit of authenticity for Bullitt meant the chase was filmed entirely with stunt driving and no special effects. The two cars actually drove through the real streets of San Francisco and at genuine speed.
Did Steve McQueen actually drive the Mustang in Bullitt?
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.
Basically, it's a flatbed vehicle or something similar filmmakers use to load the hero car and drive around, making the vehicle look like it's maneuvering through streets when it's actually being hauled. All kinds of configurations have been used for this in plenty of modern films, including Ford v Ferrari.
Frank Bullitt's car is a 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback. The bad guys drive a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum. The Charger is just barely faster than the Mustang, with a 13.6-second quarter-mile to a 13.8-second.
[HD] Greatest Hollywood Car Chase of All Time - Bullitt (1968)
How long did it take to film the car chase in Bullitt?
Paul Monaco has written, "The most compelling street footage of 1968, however, appeared in an entirely contrived sequence, with nary a hint of documentary feel about it – the car chase through the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt, created from footage shot over nearly five weeks."
What happened to the Mustang used in the movie Bullitt?
Two identical 1968 Mustang GT fastbacks were used in the film, which debuted Oct. 17, 1968. One went to a salvage yard and the other was sold by the studio to a private buyer and eventually ended up in the Kiernan garage. To the public, the vehicle was lost.
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 iconic movie car has been owned by the Kiernan family since 1974. After nearly 50 years, McQueen's Mustang GT fastback from "Bullitt" is back on the world's stage. The Mustang Steve McQueen expertly drove in the 1968 movie "Bullitt" was no average sports car.
In the famous chase in “Bullitt” McQueen drove the Mustang part of the time, and stunt coordinator Carey Loftin drove it part of the time. The Charger was driven by stunt man Bill Hickman. In other films Stunt Man Bud Elkins was McQueen's stunt double.
We kick off our list with what is widely considered the gold standard for car chases. The legendary showdown between Steve McQueen's Ford Mustang and the bad guy's Dodge Charger is 10-minutes of pure, unadulterated action.
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.
A dull green 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the movie “Bullitt” just became the most valuable Ford Mustang ever sold at auction. It went for $3.7 million, including auction fees, at the annual Mecum collector car auction in Kissimmee, Florida.
The scene was filmed on location in San Francisco using actual buildings and streets for maximum authenticity. In particular, the Mark Hopkins Hotel standing atop Nob Hill provided the setting, and it is one of San Francisco's most iconic landmarks.
GT stands for “Grand Touring,” which represents a trim level that offers additional performance and luxury features compared to the base models. This designation signifies a Mustang that's built for power, speed, and a refined driving experience.
Based on the 2001 Mustang GT, the limited-production Bullitt featured a 4.6-liter V-8 tweaked for better airflow and power, including a cast-aluminum intake, twin 57-mm bore throttle body and high-flow mufflers.
What is the difference between a Mustang and a Mustang Bullitt?
To give the limited-production Mustang Bullitt an extra dose of performance, Ford retuned its engine to produce 475 horsepower. Aside from packing a bit more power, the Mustang Bullitt also comes standard with the GT? s optional Performance package and an active exhaust.
What happened to the 68 charger from the movie Bullitt?
After shooting was complete, the surviving hero car was returned to the dealer, who repainted it yellow and sold it. And so it was for a few decades. But in 2002, 51-year-old Mopar fanatic Arnold Welch purchased what he believed to be the "Bullitt" Charger, in Tucson, Arizona.
However, it was the car chase alongside Steve McQueen in the 1968 film Bullitt for which he is usually remembered. Hickman was to do all his own driving; portraying one of two hit men, he drove an all black 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum R/T through the streets of San Francisco, using the hills as jumps.
There were either two or three 1968 Dodge Chargers used in the film. One was originally yellow, and the other was blue. One was definitely an R/T, which is the one that doubled as a camera-car.
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.
Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was an American actor and racing driver. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the 1960s and 1970s.
Industry experts believe it is odds-on there will be a new-generation Ford Mustang Bullitt – given the special edition was included in the previous three generations – but it could be several years away, in the second half of an expected eight-year model cycle.
