Bullitt

Today’s car was spotted last week in the Wirth Chalet parking lot.  It struck a chord with me, not only because I like Mustangs, but because just the night before, I was looking through an old car magazine (I have a small collection), Cars & Parts, from September of 1984 and came upon an auction listing for the Steve McQueen collection, which included dozens of cars and motorcycles.  How appropriate that the very next day, I should happen upon a car that pays homage to one of McQueen’s movies, and arguably, some of the best car chase sequences ever filmed!  I had to stop and take pictures.

The funny thing is, among the many different cars listed for sale from McQueen’s estate, you won’t see one of the Bullitt movie Mustangs.  That’s because Steve McQueen never managed to get one for himself.  Word is that he tried to buy it, but couldn't get the deal to close.  There were two Bullitt Mustangs built for the film with consecutive VINs: one that took the brunt of the punishment from the chase scenes (the real star), and supposedly was so wrecked afterward that it ended up at a junkyard and got crushed (I may be mistaken about that though), and its pretty double who got to kick back in the car trailer during the chase scenes, eating bonbons and having its nails done (well, the automotive equivalent of that, anyway) while the stunt double did most of the work… life is so unfair, isn’t it?  That Mustang survived and has changed hands a couple of times, but is rarely ever seen.  It’s worth a fortune, to be sure, and hard core, well-moneyed collectors would just about kill to get their hands on it -that’s probably why whoever has it these days doesn't flash it around a whole bunch... or at all.  It’s just such a shame about the stunt ‘Stang, though.  Back in the day, nobody at the production studio probably even gave much thought to collector value.  They just saw a trashed and smashed Mustang and sent it off to the scrap yard.  Fixed up to running condition, I bet that one would fetch even more than its pretty-boy costar Mustang.

Evidently, the owner of this Bullitt Mustang was busy golfing at the Theo Wirth course, an activity that strikes me as so very tame considering his car was probably pouting in the back of the parking lot, just hoping to be revved up so it could go ripping and tearing across the golf course, ramping up over the rolling hills, and soaring through the air as it chases down hapless golfers in their little electric put-put golf carts -Get 'em, Frank!

You’ll notice that this mustang is pretty bare.  There isn’t a single ford logo on it, nor is there anything calling it a Mustang.  The only thing it does show outwardly is a trunk tag that features the Bullitt Logo in crosshairs, just like the movie poster logo.  This is because the 1968 Mustang GT 390 fastback that Steve McQueen’s character, Frank Bullitt used to chase down bad guys in Dodge Chargers had no logos or any fancy frills on it.  Both are Highland green… so dark, it almost looks black from some angles.  Though the tribute Bullitt Mustangs could be had in black also, and earlier tribute versions from 2001 also came in blue.  If you ask me, it’s a waste to get a Bullitt in any color other than Highland Green.

This is a 2008-2009 or so Bullitt Mustang.  It’s got one or two up on a stock GT Mustang thanks to the addition of bits and pieces like a tuned X-pipe exhaust that emulates the sound of the car from the movie, different seats and steering wheel from the GT500, 18” charcoal finished wheels, aluminum Bullitt emblazoned dash panels and door sills, an open element cold air intake, a strut-tower brace embellished with the Bullitt logo,  and a 3.73:1 ratio rear axle for faster 0-60‘s and better uphill climbs (like in the San Francisco hills chase scenes!).  The Bullitt Package cost a premium of around $3,000 over a regular GT Mustang, but you got 325 HP instead of 300, a 5 speed manual, 0-60MPH in 5 seconds flat, and the distinction of having a Bullitt edition, of which for 2008-2009, only around 7,000 were made.  Most of them are probably pretty well cared for and treasured, but certainly, you can count on that number to be less in terms of surviving Bullitts.  Aside from the normal accidents that can do in cars, Mustangs have a tendency to succumb to high speed accidents thanks to their willingness to go along with the desire of drivers who get behind the wheel and ask themselves, What would Steve McQueen do?, then try to fill in the blank by stomping down the accelerator.  The problem is, most drivers aren't as good at driving as McQueen was, and they don‘t necessarily know how to control that much power, so smash, crash, and call the insurance company  -it's totaled.    

So, while only one person in this whole wide world can have the actual remaining Bullitt Mustang, you can still manage to get your hands on a newer version for usually between $19,000-26,000 depending on condition and mileage -I’d skip the earlier 2001 version unless you can get it really cheap (typically, people are asking around $10,000 for them), because the look of the retro styled 2008 is so much closer to what the original looked like.  Brand new back in 2008, the MSRP was between about $31,000-$35,000.  If you get one that’s in good condition, and you take care of it properly, eventually, you’ll likely see a return on that investment.  This car strikes me as the type of vehicle that collectors will want to get their hands on sooner or later.