In 1968, moviegoers from all around America headed to theaters to what is known as the most significant
Hollywood automotive chase scene in cinematic history. Starring in Bullitt is the original "King of
Cool," Mr. Steve McQueen, played Frank Bullitt as a San Francisco Police Lieutenant, which drove a dark
highland green 1968 Mustang Fastback, into what we know now as the most iconic movie car in history.
Together both Mcqueen and Mustang wrote the standard for Hollywood chase scenes! Five decades later, the film Bullitt is still revered from all around the world, seen as the film that
put Mustang on the map for many people. Ford knew it was an ingenious idea to market the Mustang through
cinema. Little did they know it would launch not just an American icon, but a global one as well. Even
in
modern-day standards, it still stands not only as a '68 Dark Highland Green Mustang GT but a testament
of a legacy left behind for generations to come.
"King Of Cool"
Automotive Royalty: 1968 Bullitt Mustang
Fastback
The Return Of Bullitt
2008 Mustang Bullitt
Rebirth Of A Hollywood Legend
Steve McQueen Edition
Terrence Steven McQueen was born on March 24, 1930, in Beech Grove, Indiana. McQueen never took the road
less traveled. During his troubled youth, he drifted through odd jobs, then came to the realization he
was always pushing himself on how to be better than the competition. From joining the United States
Marine Corps to joining the local circus, and even living on the streets for some time. Through his wit,
toughness, and style, he blasted his way through cinematic history for titles like "The Great Escape,"
"Papillon," and "Bullitt." His style, charisma, and cool factor always is what made him the legend in
not only Hollywood but in the world of Mustang! After his troubled youth, he came to realize that he strived
for a better life. So, in the late 1940s he came to the conclusion that serving in the United States
Marine Corps would move him forward not only in a career, but as a man. After his time in the Marines,
he then
enrolled himself to study acting, while acting, he started his love for racing in motorcycles. After many years of acting in New York, he finally got his big break for his first film in The Blob,
circa
1958. After years of making a name for himself in Hollywood, McQueen finally was able to put his take on
a movie that would both intertwine both racing, action, and acting all in one. Bullitt was the first
film where he could combine all of his life passions into one role. It truly set the stage for the rest
of his Hollywood and racing career. McQueen's character, Frank Bullitt, showcases a San Francisco Police
Lieutenant helping Senator Walter Chalmers, aiming to take down the mob boss, Pete Ross. When a pair of
hitmen from the mob boss enters the scene to take Bullitt out, he comes across their scam, which ends in
the most famous car chase ever filmed on a Hollywood blockbuster film. Other than the likes of Carroll Shelby and Lee Iacocca, Steve McQueen has to be one of the founding
fathers of the Mustang! His influence not just in the film, but off the screen in the world of racing
set him apart from just your average Hollywood actor. During the film, McQueen's driving skills were
fundamental to the success of the chase scene. Portrayed the Mustang as not only as good looking, but
could perform at the height of the muscle era. Without his influence, we couldn't imagine where the
Mustang would be today. Even decades after Steven McQueen's death, the original Hollywood badass is still very much alive. To
this day, his son Chad and granddaughter Molly are always striving to keep the "King Of Cool" legacy
alive as it was fifty years ago. With the continued success of Chad McQueens racing pedigree and Molly
continuing her grandfather's legacy as a career actress in Hollywood. It is no wonder that this family
knows how to keep it fresh. Ever since the Mustang's inception on April 17, 1964, it has been an automotive success like no other.
Thanks to the likes of Lee Iacocca and Carroll Shelby, it turned from a mule to a racehorse. So what
could make it any better than what Ford and Shelby did? Mr. McQueen himself, the original badass, took
the Mustang as we knew it to another level when he put it as the hero car in his most film Bullitt. McQueen knew that if he could take the already stout 1968 Mustang Fastback GT and show it to the masses,
he could make some serious noise around America. When Bullitt launched in '68, it was an instant
success, not only because of the great storyline, but the final ten-minute chase scene wrote the script
for generations to come. This scene helped launch both McQueen and the Mustang into film history. Since
then, the 1968 Dark Highland Green Mustang GT has been famed as the most iconic cinema movie car in
history. During the late 1960s, Mustang started coming into its heyday of performance with the likes of the Shelby
GT350/GT350R, GT500, and GT 390. For a few years now, Mustang enthusiasts were becoming accustomed to
what Ford had to offer in engine performance. When the Bullitt movie launched, it was a marketing
campaign like no other. Enthusiasts were running to Ford showrooms all across the country to get their
hands on a piece of McQueen movie magic. Thanks to the help of Carroll Shelby, Mustang became the performance legend we all know and love today.
But many enthusiasts and history writers agree, if it weren't for the success of the film, the Mustang
would not be what it is today. At first glance, the original Bullitt Mustang shares the same body lines
that all Mustang fans know and love. From its short rear deck, broad rear haunches, shark-nose grille,
and long hood. What separates the Bullitt from all others are the following: It wasn't till thirty-three years later when Ford decided it was time to pay tribute to one of its most
iconic vehicles to date. In 2001, Ford launched the first homage Mustang ever from the production line.
Based on the GT platform, the Bullitt would be a limited production, featuring a revised 4.6L V8
composed with better airflow, power, and torque. Unlike other GT models, the 2001 Bullitt Mustang would
receive an all-aluminum cast-intake, better flowing exhaust, and a twin 57mm throttle body. For even further enhancement, team Mustang gave the New Edge Bullitt a lowered stance, firmer suspension,
torque thrust style wheels, spoiler delete, and interior touches that pay tribute to the original 1968
Mustang Bullitt. Each edition came with a serialized badge to ensure the originality to verify that each
is an actual collectible Mustang. Upon the release of the S197 Mustang in 2005, Mustang enthusiasts were pushing Ford and Mustang
engineers
to reintroduce a Bullitt edition, once again, as they did in 2001. This time, they would take
the level
of performance to another level but still keeping accurate to the 1968 original Bullitt Mustang.
Since
the S197 chassis and body were more resemblances of the original, fans everywhere were chomping
at the
bit to get their hands on the all-new tribute Mustang. Ford engineers again didn't want the new variant of Bullitt to be just any regular GT seen on the
street.
Like the 2001 Bullitt, the Mustang team went to engineers at Ford Racing to kick up the
performance.
Power upgrades including the stage 1 power pack to give the Bullitt an extra 15 horsepower to
the GT's
300 ponies. But they didn't stop just there, upgrades went to suspension as well, including
stiffer
shocks, struts, springs, and a strut tower brace with unique serialized plaque. It is safe to say that this version of the Bullitt was not out just for good looks but to live up
to the
original as best as possible. Each 2008 Mustang Bullitt came equipped with a unique dash
applique, shift
knob, spoiler delete, and everyone had their individual VIN specific to the serialized number.
Customers
had the option to choose from two colors in the legendary Dark High Green or Black. This pony
lives up
the original Bullitt and then some. With the fiftieth anniversary of the original Mustang Bullitt approaching, Ford knew it was on a
deadline
to produce its most legendary tribute car to date. Four years into the S550 generation, it was
time to
bring out the big guns to give fans and enthusiasts the best Bullitt Mustang to date other than
the
original itself. Upon Ford's collaboration with third generation McQueen "Molly," they put
together
something that will be a collectors car for years to come. The result came out to be stunning; just like the previous 2008 Mustang Bullitt, it too shares
the same
design features as the original 1968. Upon first glance, you can straight tell that this has
design cues
that are signature Bullitt Mustang written all over it. From the pony delete Mustang Grille,
lowered
stance, aggressive five-spoke alloy wheels paying tribute to the original American Racing torque
thrust
wheels, spoiler delete, and Bullitt faux gas cap badging on the rear decklid panel. It is like
reliving
history all over once again; only this time, you can buy a piece of Ford and Steve McQueen
history. Unlike the two previous generations, Bullitt Mustang tribute cars, this is the most potent pony
to come
out of the stable thus far. Ford Performance engineers got together to turn up the Gen III
Coyote engine
to produce 480 horsepower. By adding the GT350 intake manifold and cold air intake. It would
make the
Charger from the movie run scared across the streets of San Francisco. To stop all this
horsepower,
unique red Brembo six-piston calipers are added for performance that not only looks good but
functions
when it matters most. Once Mustang and Bullitt enthusiasts heard about this after the unveiling
at the
Detroit Auto Show in January of 2018, everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on McQueen's
baddest
pony to date. Plenty of
people within the Mustang hobby and industry wanted to see a Bullitt edition that has no
boundaries.
Thanks to Steeda Autosports, Steeda
Performance
Vehicles, Ford Motor Company, and McQueen Racing, the
Steve McQueen edition program was born. Paying homage to the original badass himself, the team at Steeda and McQueen racing wanted to
bring out
something extraordinary to deliver the ultimate Bullitt Mustang performance. President Dario
Orlando
said himself, "we're honored to bring our over 30-years of experience in designing, engineering,
and
manufacturing high-performance Mustang components to this elite developmental team." Working
together
directly with Steve McQueen's only son Chad, the team was able to hone in on a design that would
be as
if it came from the King of Cool himself. Through the design, ingenuity, and passion, the team was able to come up with a modern rendition
of the
fabled 1968 Mustang Bullitt, that so many people fell in love with over 50 years ago.
Image Credit: Ford, McQueen Racing, Car & Driver, MotorTrend,
Warner
Bro'sFord Mustang Bullitt History: The Complete Guide
"King Of Cool"
Automotive Royalty: 1968 Bullitt Mustang Fastback
1968 Bullitt Mustang Fastback: Drivetrain & Chassis Options
1968 Bullitt Mustang Fastback: Exterior Highlights
1968 Bullitt Mustang Fastback: Interior Highlights
The Return Of Bullitt
2001 Mustang Bullitt: Exterior Highlights
2001 Mustang Bullitt: Interior Highlights
2001 Mustang Bullitt: Drivetrain Options
2001 Production Numbers
2008 Mustang Bullitt
2008 Mustang Bullitt: Exterior Highlights
2008 Mustang Bullitt: Interior Hightlights
2008 Mustang Bullitt: Drivetrain Options
Production Numbers
Rebirth Of A Hollywood Legend
2019 Mustang Bullitt: Exterior Highlights
2019 Mustang Bullitt: Interior Highlights
2019 Mustang Bullitt: Drivetrain Options
Steve McQueen Edition
Steve McQueen Edition: Exterior Highlights
Steve McQueen Edition: Interior Highlights
Steve McQueen Edition: Powertrain Upgrades
Steve McQueen Edition: Steeda Suspension Upgrades
Check Out 50-years of Mustang Bullitt History:
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