The original Bullitt Mustang --
the incredible story behind
the car that few people know
Fox News,
by
Pastor Greg Laurie
Original Article
Posted By: Pluperfect,
1/26/2020 4:08:38 AM
In case you haven’t heard, the original Bullitt Mustang, from the film “Bullitt,” just sold for a staggering $3.74 million.
An anonymous bidder walked away with a piece of Hollywood history on wheels.
The car’s name comes from the classic 1968 film “Bullitt.” In the movie, Det. Frank Bullitt, played by the iconic actor Steve McQueen, drove the Mustang as he solves a murder mystery. Described as a “Mona Lisa” car because it had long been thought of as lost to history, the Bullitt had sat hidden in a garage for four decades. It’s recent rediscovery made headlines and thrilled car enthusiasts.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Highlander 1/26/2020 5:11:40 AM (No. 298384)
Great story. Especially about Steve McQueen’s later life. I wished Mr Laurie gave more details about the car’s re-discovery. Who had the Mustang in a garage all these years?
6 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
watashiyo 1/26/2020 6:25:07 AM (No. 298403)
I think I saw all of his movies including, "The Blob".
7 people like this.
we watched the Mecum Auction where the car was sold for 3.74M. And it was amazing - a real piece of shite looking car. Needed total body restoration. Ah - but sitting there in the living room with a true believer I was reminded that this was "history". Ok. Whatever.
Re the history - the final owner bought it for $6000 and it has stayed in his family ever since. Interesting back story, for sure. Probably Greg Laurie didn't get into the deep range of the story because he's a pastor and his point was more spiritual than automotive (tho he does admit to being a Bullitt Mustang fan).
Lots of details can be found here: https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0120-397388/1968-ford-mustang-gt-bullitt/
2 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
franq 1/26/2020 8:33:57 AM (No. 298524)
Those cast wheels made the thing.
2 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Vaquero45 1/26/2020 9:01:25 AM (No. 298568)
Okay, let’s get real here. Some fool parted with $3,740,000 for a 52-year-old Ford in bad shape because it was in a movie more than 50 years ago. There are about 10,000 ‘67 Mustang fastbacks around the country that look just like it.
I grew up in the ‘60’s and loved cars back then, especially muscle cars. But I watch car auctions on TV and I’m flabbergasted by what some people will pay for an old car with a carburetor and drum brakes.
3 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Venturer 1/26/2020 9:16:12 AM (No. 298586)
That's an insane price to pay for a raggedy old car.
People who ran that car up to that price have too much money to waste.
3 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
red1066 1/26/2020 10:11:58 AM (No. 298669)
Like many, I'm always shocked at how much money people have to spend on a car, that will for the most part, sit in a garage. My first car was a white 1965 Mustang. I loved the movie BULLITT, as did my five year old son. This movie started a love of cars in my son. Twenty years later, that love of the car continues. We travel everywhere to car shows and this allows us to spend hours of time together looking at and talking about cars.
4 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
DVC 1/26/2020 10:13:13 AM (No. 298671)
I read this last night (actually this AM very early) and knew all about the car....but not about McQueen's conversion so late in life. It is good to know that. I liked the man for many things, had enjoyed his movies, and watched him race, and almost win the 12 hours of Sebring endurance race in a older model racing car, with a cast on his clutch foot from a motorcycle accident. He and Peter Revson missed winning this grueling race by a few seconds, passed for the lead a couple of laps from the end. He was not only an actor, he actually could do really difficult things, and dangerous things, manly things, at a very high level of skill.
2 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
ROLFNader 1/26/2020 11:28:08 AM (No. 298747)
Was fortunate enough to see this car a while back as it was on display at Hagerty's headquarters. The car was put through a rigorous examination when the former owner put it up for sale. One of the tell-tale aspects was the fairly large holes cut in the sheet metal between the trunk and the rear seat- used to run the camera equipment wiring in order to film the interior of and the few from the vehicle during the chase scenes.
2 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
KTWO 1/26/2020 1:38:58 PM (No. 298853)
There are many rich people who can, and will, spend huge sums for such trinkets. Motives vary. Some think they are buying importance and moving up on an A-list. Some are buying memories of their youth, etc.
In a Brad Pitt movie I recall some fishing in a river. The rod and reel would probably bring $100k at auction.
0 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 1/26/2020 3:01:25 PM (No. 298915)
No matter what you say, those cars are still lumbering, poor cornering American labor union cars. Compared to hot muscle cars of today they can't hold a candle. Give me a Dodge Viper over a 1968 Shelby Mustang any day of the week.
1 person likes this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
BillW. 1/26/2020 3:24:06 PM (No. 298935)
Interesting point about Bullitt. It was probably the first time snap-fastening seat belts (just before that hair-raising car chase began) was used as a dramatic moment.
0 people like this.
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