The Ford Mustang in the 1968 movie "Bullitt" was lost for almost 50 years. A recent report suggests that the McQueen Bullitt may have been found in Mexico.
According to Fox News, two Mustangs were available during the filming of the original movie. One was kept neat and tidy for filming purposes while the other one did most of the dirty work for the groundbreaking chase scene. The pampered car was preserved and sold several times over the years and is privately owned by a collector today. The beat up stunt car moved to a wrecking yard by the end of production.
"Bullitt" Mustang. In the 1968 film "Bullitt," Steve McQueen plays a police Lieutenant named Frank Bullitt. He drives a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 which featured an iconic high-speed car chase featuring the Mustang and a Dodge Charger R/T.
In 2001, Warner Bros. partnered up with Ford to release a special version of the GT. The car featured a "Bullitt" nameplate in honor of its namesake movie. The car was designed to have impeccable handling and was even substantially lowered by 3/4 of an inch. It also came equipped with Tokico shocks, short length sub-frame connectors, and a new intake design. Additionally, it came equipped with special underdrive pulleys and high-flow mufflers. All in all, these upgrades helped increase the muscle car's power between 265 to 275 horsepower.
The 2001 Ford Mustang Bullitt also had a large scoop hood, seat upholstery patterned after the original, and lower body moldings. The iconic muscle car was available in three colors: Dark Highland Green (same as the McQueen Bullitt), True Blue, and Black. Only 5,582 units were available. Recently, there was even a report about The Rock leaking a new Bullitt Mustang prototype.
Mexico. A similar Mustang has recently resurfaced in Mexico. According to Daily Mail, Fede Garza, a member of the Vintage Mustang Forum, posted photos of a Mustang that was going to be converted into a replica of the "Eleanor" Mustang from "Gone in 60 Seconds." However, upon researching the car's vehicle identification number, he learned that it might be the original McQueen Mustang.
Currently, Kevin Marti, one of the world's top experts on classic Ford is headed to Mexico to verify the authenticity of the car. While Marti has only seen photos, he is very optimistic that this is the missing car. If everything proves to be legitimate, the Mexican Mustang will likely be fixed up in time for the movie's 50th anniversary.
The Ford Mustang "Bullitt" will hopefully prove to be authentic. It would be great to know that the lost and iconic muscle car used in the original movie will be available and restored. Stay tuned for more details on whether the Mexican Mustang is the real deal.
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