This Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT—the hero car driven by the “King of Cool,” Steve McQueen, in the iconic 1968 film “Bullitt”—is the one that started that enduring legacy.
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 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.
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.
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.
Did Steve McQueen do all his own driving 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.
What kind of car did Steve McQueen drive in Bullitt?
Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in 'Bullitt' sells for $3.4 million. (Reuters) - The 1968 Ford Mustang GT that Steve McQueen drove in the classic car chase from the movie "Bullitt, one of the most famed cars from American cinema, sold for $3.4 million at auction in Florida on Friday, Mecum Auctions said.
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).
How many Bullitt Mustangs were made for the movie?
The film featured two identical 1968 Ford Mustangs which McQueen drove, most noteably in the ten-minute-long chase. One car was used for casual driving shots while the other “jumper” car was used for the action.
Who owns the Bullitt Mustang now and how much is it?
The $3.4-million icon will remain as is.
Kiernan's parents purchased the car back in 1974 after spotting it for sale in an issue of Road & Track Magazine and went on to use it as their daily driver for several years. After the car garnered plenty of unwanted attention, it was hidden away until 2018.
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.
Steve McQueen, was credited with the driving, but he and stunt driver, Bud Ekins, drove the Mustang. Is the car chase scene in Bullitt (1968) really one of the most famous car chases ever filmed?
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. There were either two or three 1968 Dodge Chargers used in 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.
Two Mustangs and two Dodge Chargers were used for the famous chase scene. Both Mustangs were owned by the Ford Motor Company and part of a promotional loan agreement with Warner Brothers.
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.
The 5.0L V8 engine put out 480 horsepower and 420 lb. -ft. of torque, with a max speed of 163 mph. It was only available with a six-speed manual transmission.
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.
With a strong 6.4 L V8 Big Block power plant, the Ford could give the Charger a run for its money any time, which the film established quite convincingly. The Mustang went from 0 to 60 mph in only 5.5 seconds and took the quarter mile is 13.8 seconds, with a maximum speed of 140 mph.
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.
Stunts, motor racing and flying. McQueen was an avid motorcycle and race car enthusiast. When he had the opportunity to drive in a movie, he performed many of his own stunts, including some of the car chases in Bullitt and the motorcycle chase in The Great Escape.
His pups—Juice, Callum and Minter—were included in his suicide note and had even walked the runway with him. He left the same amount of money to his godson, nieces, and nephews, as well as each of his two housekeepers. McQueen's two brothers and three sisters will each receive $410,000.
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.
There were accounts of two and possible three Chargers used in the movie. Two were 4 speed cars, the third could have been an automatic. Differences noticed on the two or three cars.
