Original Bullitt Mustang kept in hiding revealed.

[375instroke]

Here's the story:
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/detroit-auto-show/2018/01/14/2019-ford-mustang-bullitt/1022006001/

[Trulyvintage]

Very Cool .... 

Check out this @ https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2018/01/14/authenticating-the-bullitt-mustang


Jim 

[Dreamcar]

I wonder what inspired the owner more to reveal the car right now:

- The fact the other original Bullitt was found in Mexico last year (therefore he no longer has the only one);
- $ from Ford to have it at the show with the new 2019 Bullitt edition;
- All of the above.

It would be nice to see both survivors side by side, even though the Mexico Bullitt is only a shell.

[375instroke]

50th Anniversary?

[maxwellwedge]

Of 1968 I presume...

[c00nhunterjoe]

I presume that as the story goes, after the father died and the son gained ownership, it took a little time to get it roadworthy again. While he says it is not for sale, when a million dollar check is waived in his face, i bet it gets sold within the next 6 months.

[JB400]

I wouldn't restore it right now.  It has great patina.

[Trulyvintage]

My bet is - if at auction it would bring more than 5 million.

It is the Definitive Movie Muscle Car.

There is only one.


Jim

[TPR]

Just catching up on this story now. I can understand why it was kept hidden.
Pretty remarkable.
TPR

[BrianShaughnessy]

So the big mystery wasn't a mystery after all...  it's location has been known for a long time.    It's a nice story and all but I dunno why the father wouldn't have sold it to Steve McQueen when he had a chance?     Obviously couldn't or didn't want to pay for a clutch and if it was such a gas hog then why didn't he switch out the 4.10s ?   

My guess is that you'll see it at the next big B-J auction.... after the contract with ford runs out....   

[Troy]

I presume that as the story goes, after the father died and the son gained ownership, it took a little time to get it roadworthy again. While he says it is not for sale, when a million dollar check is waived in his face, i bet it gets sold within the next 6 months.

Haha, a million won't come close...

Troy

[Aero426]

I presume that as the story goes, after the father died and the son gained ownership, it took a little time to get it roadworthy again. While he says it is not for sale, when a million dollar check is waived in his face, i bet it gets sold within the next 6 months.

Haha, a million won't come close...

Troy

He's kept the car hidden on purpose for so long.   It's part of the family.   What do you replace it with? 

[JB400]

It's single handedly the most desirable Mustang ever.  Even more so than any Shelby.  You can't put a number on it.

[Troy]

I presume that as the story goes, after the father died and the son gained ownership, it took a little time to get it roadworthy again. While he says it is not for sale, when a million dollar check is waived in his face, i bet it gets sold within the next 6 months.

Haha, a million won't come close...

Troy

He's kept the car hidden on purpose for so long.   It's part of the family.   What do you replace it with? 

It's single handedly the most desirable Mustang ever.  Even more so than any Shelby.  You can't put a number on it.

In the first article, Hagerty claims it could be worth upwards of $4 million. Considering they can't afford to restore it (and seriously, Mustangs aren't expensive to restore - especially compared to Chargers!), I don't think they can fork over the cash to insure it at that amount. I'm assuming Ford covered it for the show but what happens when they drag it back home and park it in the family garage? They could have kept it in obscurity and not had to worry about the financial ramifications. What would be the point in "reaching out" to Ford unless they were aware of some of the other recent "barn finds" and the uptick in value after all the publicity? I imagine the father had an idea of what would happen after going public and may be why he never did it.

On the flip side, I bet they could make enough on "appearance fees" to restore it a few times!

Troy

[Trulyvintage]

This is one car that should never be restored.

It should be preserved just as it sits.

If you want a newer Bullitt Mustang - buy a 2008 Tribute Car.

I hauled one a few years ago.


Jim

[Mike DC]

 

On the flip side, I bet they could make enough on "appearance fees" to restore it a few times!

They could offer to let people drive it (well supervised) for a few thousand bucks a pop.  Problem solved. 

[Aero426]

This is one car that should never be restored.

It should be preserved just as it sits.

The intrinsic value of this car is in how it remains today.    Making it perfect is arguably harmful. 

[Aero426]

It's single handedly the most desirable Mustang ever.  Even more so than any Shelby.  You can't put a number on it.

This is the automotive version of Paul Newman's Rolex which recently sold.   Only better.   

[Mike DC]

The intrinsic value of this car is in how it remains today.    Making it perfect is arguably harmful.

That is why it's good that the family held onto it so long.  If it had hit the market 15 years ago there is no way in hell it would have been left unrestored.  The hobby had to make unrestored cars rare before they began seeing any value in them.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/01/17/ford-introduces-2019-bullitt-mustang-alongside-long-hidden-1968-original/?refer=musweekly

[Aero426]

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/01/17/ford-introduces-2019-bullitt-mustang-alongside-long-hidden-1968-original/?refer=musweekly

Being somewhat cynical,  I have to say the manner of unveiling of the car coinciding (ta-daaaaaa!) with the Detroit Auto Show is by far, the least cool part of the whole thing.    It's inorganic and scripted.  I do love the car and love the story.   

[ECS]

There is only one.

It's not the same car or it has had work done to it to look like it a weathered car.  Compare the photo from the 1968 Movie.  It has dents along the hood and its molding.  Now look at the car that been disclosed as the "exact" car that came from the movie.  No dents!

[Aero426]

There were two cars used for filming.    One performed the majority of the stunts.   The other car (this one) was the beauty shot car. 

[ECS]

There were two cars used for filming.    One performed the majority of the stunts.   The other car (this one) was the beauty shot car.  

The other car was supposedly found in Mexico.  This was the car deemed as the "exact" same car to used in the movie.  For the record, that front end shot is PRIOR to the chase scene so there wasn't any damage from the chase.  Now it's being "disclosed" that the car was "redone" by Warner Brothers prior to him getting the car.  Chrome rocket panels have been added as well.  They claimed this was the "exact" used in all the "hero" scenes and "original" to 1968 but refurbished by Warner Brothers.

[ECS]

There were two cars used for filming.    One performed the majority of the stunts.   The other car (this one) was the beauty shot car. 

That makes sense but appearance the "hero" car was being used for the practice chase scenes.  You can see that the hood & molding is not bent up in the practice runs.  It would be nice if the vehicle that was restored, was documented prior to restoration.  That would clear up a lot.  It's one or the other since there were only two cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qd6yirl2dg

[Mike DC]

      
Mustang guys have always known about the Bullitt hero-car ending up in a midwestern family's hands.  It's not a surprise that it still exists, it's just a surprise that they finally came out of the closet with it. 

It had been used as a regular car for a while.  It makes sense that it may have gotten repairs at some point.

BTW, Steve McQueen wanted the Mustang to look a little scuffed up (before the chase) as part of the Bullitt character.  Some of the dents were intentional weathering.


The stunt-car Mustang that turned up recently was a real surprise.  

[375instroke]

They say a smoke machine was used when McQueen did the reverse burnout during the chase.  The ducting for that is still in the trunk.

[VegasCharger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qd6yirl2dg

Here's another video on the same subject. You have to sit through the music part of it but it shows some good shots of the Charger and Mustang. Worth watching IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JqHgfTYrEk

[keepat]

There were two cars used for filming.    One performed the majority of the stunts.   The other car (this one) was the beauty shot car.  

The other car was supposedly found in Mexico.  This was the car deemed as the "exact" same car to used in the movie.  For the record, that front end shot is PRIOR to the chase scene so there wasn't any damage from the chase.  Now it's being "disclosed" that the car was "redone" by Warner Brothers prior to him getting the car.  Chrome rocket panels have been added as well.  They claimed this was the "exact" used in all the "hero" scenes and "original" to 1968 but refurbished by Warner Brothers.

The movie cars had the aluminum rocker moldings, they were just painted green so they would not reflect light back to the camera.  The movie cars also had an unusual side mirror that was painted green is well. It was also lowered so not to block or shine back at McQueen.
Pat

[bill440rt]

Just learned something from a friend about this car that's VERY interesting.
This car was purchased by a family from in 1974 from Madison, NJ. The son was using it as just a regular commuter car, and would have it parked at the train station in Madison during his commute to work in NYC.
My friend told me, also who lived in Madison and unbeknownst to him at the time, but he would park right next to this very same car at the train station during his commute into NY as well. He would often just say hello or good morning to the Mustang's owner, without even realizing what the car was. Remember, this was probably in the '70's when it was "just a car" and Bullitt haven't even reached cult status like it has in recent times.
I was blown away when he told me this story.
Just thought I'd share.

[6bblgt]

"Bullitt" filmed spring of '68 was released in movie theaters 10/11/68 & was the 5th highest grossing movie of 1968

5 years later it made its TV debut on CBS' Thursday night movie 11/1/73, by then the '68 Mustang would've been just a "used car"

the 1973 OPEC "Oil Crisis" began in October '73.

[Aero426]

A TON of information, documentation and back story on the Bullitt car here.     Pull up a chair.   

http://www.bradbowling.com/jan-14-18-bullitt-mustang-discovery/

[72Charger72]

I thought I saw an episode of Pawn Stars where Rick had bought McQueens bullitt?
Did he get taken lol? 

[erndog]

its a 390 mustang...........?

[hemi-hampton]

its a 390 mustang...........?

yes, it is.