Hotrod TV - Bullet Charger and Mustang

[The70RT]

It's on now...pretty cool   They are saying the Charger had a Hemi, did it? Now another guy on the show says 440. Too bad it was almost all about the Mustang.

[Mike DC]

The Charger was a 440 R/T car. 

The closeup car was a 4spd. 
I think the stunt car was actually a column-shifted auto.

 
 

[Ghoste]

There was an interview with McQueen in Motor Trend back in the day where Steve claimed the Charger was a Hemi car and I think that's where that rumor got started.  When it came to American performance cars McQueen seemed to favor Fords so I doubt that he liked much the fact that the Mustang had to be modified to keep up with the stock 440 Dodge.

[1974dodgecharger]

There was an interview with McQueen in Motor Trend back in the day where Steve claimed the Charger was a Hemi car and I think that's where that rumor got started.  When it came to American performance cars McQueen seemed to favor Fords so I doubt that he like much the fact that the Mustang had to be modified to keep up with the stock 440 Dodge.

lmao 

[JB400]

I thought I read somewhere that he wanted a custom Mustang?  He wanted it to look like some beater that a dectective could afford.  I can see where he would be disappointed  in its performance though

[The70RT]

I thought I read somewhere that he wanted a custom Mustang?  He wanted it to look like some beater that a dectective could afford.  I can see where he would be disappointed  in its performance though

Yeah they said that last night in the show. They remove the emblems and fremched in the marker lights.

[Bob T]

We did a Bullitt tribute themed photo shoot for a local car mag the other month, I should really put up a few pics in another thread

[Back N Black]

We did a Bullitt tribute themed photo shoot for a local car mag the other month, I should really put up a few pics in another thread

That's cool,nice pics! 

[1974dodgecharger]

MOOOORE PICS BOB PLEASE 

[The70RT]

NICE !

[projectanimal]

It was a good show the other night, and I had to laugh at the last guy talking "it's great to drive the Bullit around and keep an eye out for a 69' charger".... Oops, the camera guy should have yelled 68,68,68!!  LOL.

More pictures of the recreation!   

[Brock Samson]

Does anyone have the link to the restoration page of the Charger. Thanks.

[Ghoste]

I do at home Brock, I can try and find it later if no one else has it.

[Brock Samson]

a determined search found it.. Thanks glad to see your still using up all Troy's bandwidth.    http://www.ponysite.de/charger_welch.htm


36K+!   

[wingcar]

I thought I read somewhere that he wanted a custom Mustang?  He wanted it to look like some beater that a dectective could afford.  I can see where he would be disappointed  in its performance though

Yeah they said that last night in the show. They remove the emblems and fremched in the marker lights.

I read where he also added the dent in the front fender; I believe someone said he kicked the fender.  Again it was to make it look more like a "regular" car that a police man would be using as a daily driver.

[Shakey]

I saw a show on HBO recently titled "I Am Steve McQueen", documentary which had some footage of the filming of Bullit. 

[68pplcharger]

 

[Challenger340]

There are some well documented articles out there regarding the making of the movie "Bullitt" with Steve McQueen ?
The one I found particularly interesting, was about the technical problems associated, with making McQueen's "hopped" Mustang.... be able to keep up with the "stock" 440 Magnum powered Charger R/T for the chase scenes ?

The answer invariably centered around the Movie's Tech Mechanics, finally putting "smaller and smaller" diameter tires on the Charger, to tame the R/T's torque, and thereby allowing McQueen's Mustang to keep up.
Bill Hickman's driving skills in the Charger probably exacerbated the "problem" somewhat as well ?
Hickman was one the best movie stunt car driver's of the era.

[John_Kunkel]

We did a Bullitt tribute themed photo shoot for a local car mag the other month, I should really put up a few pics in another thread

Not very accurate, the Charger has all of its seven wheel covers. 

[Mike DC]

There are some well documented articles out there regarding the making of the movie "Bullitt" with Steve McQueen ?
The one I found particularly interesting, was about the technical problems associated, with making McQueen's "hopped" Mustang.... be able to keep up with the "stock" 440 Magnum powered Charger R/T for the chase scenes ?

The answer invariably centered around the Movie's Tech Mechanics, finally putting "smaller and smaller" diameter tires on the Charger, to tame the R/T's torque, and thereby allowing McQueen's Mustang to keep up.
Bill Hickman's driving skills in the Charger probably exacerbated the "problem" somewhat as well ?
Hickman was one the best movie stunt car driver's of the era.

Yeah, it's well documented that the Charger was outrunning the Mustang so badly that it became a filming problem.  I always thought the tires on that Charger looked tiny even seeing that chase as a kid.  They say the Charger also held up much better too.  


The funny thing is, you NEVER read this being repeated in "Bullitt" articles in the Mustang world.  

[Ghoste]

If you never say it, then it never happened.

[myk]

No one has to say anything; it's common knowledge.  Up until 2011, most Mustang owners have always known and lived with the shame of owning a car that looked faster than it actually was...

[Bob T]

We did a Bullitt tribute themed photo shoot for a local car mag the other month, I should really put up a few pics in another thread

Not very accurate, the Charger has all of its seven wheel covers. 

True.
Actually saw a VW coming down the motorway too but we couldn't get it in any of the shots, I should've advertised for one to come along