Automotive

Mustang Bullitt pays homage to 1968 movie classic

Mustang Bullitt pays homage to 1968 movie classic
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt
View 13 Images
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt
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The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt
Thanks to a performance exhaust, an Open Air Induction System, Shelby GT350 intake manifold and a retuned ECU, the Mustang Bullitt has had a 15-hp increase over the standard car to 475 horses
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Thanks to a performance exhaust, an Open Air Induction System, Shelby GT350 intake manifold and a retuned ECU, the Mustang Bullitt has had a 15-hp increase over the standard car to 475 horses
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt. Looks like the car has seen better days
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The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt. Looks like the car has seen better days
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt
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The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt
The new 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt (right) parked alongside its film icon ancestor, the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390
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The new 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt (right) parked alongside its film icon ancestor, the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390
Ford celebrates the 50th anniversary of the movie Bullitt with the launch of the 2019 Mustang Bullitt in Detroit
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Ford celebrates the 50th anniversary of the movie Bullitt with the launch of the 2019 Mustang Bullitt in Detroit
The digital LCD instrument cluster has a unique Bullitt welcome screen and displays an image of the car rather than the iconic pony logo
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The digital LCD instrument cluster has a unique Bullitt welcome screen and displays an image of the car rather than the iconic pony logo
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt
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The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt
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The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the iconic chase from the movie Bullitt
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt
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The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt
The Mustang Bullitt is expected to be available later this year and will probably slot in between the GT Premium and GT350 with a price tag of US$45,000 to $55,000
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The Mustang Bullitt is expected to be available later this year and will probably slot in between the GT Premium and GT350 with a price tag of US$45,000 to $55,000
The Mustang Bullitt can be fitted with performance options like Ford's MagneRide semi-active suspension and Recaro bucket seats
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The Mustang Bullitt can be fitted with performance options like Ford's MagneRide semi-active suspension and Recaro bucket seats
The Bullitt Mustang can be differentiated from the standard GT by the lack of badging, the Dark Highland Green paintjob, subtle chrome accents and the 19-inch torque thrust aluminum wheels
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The Bullitt Mustang can be differentiated from the standard GT by the lack of badging, the Dark Highland Green paintjob, subtle chrome accents and the 19-inch torque thrust aluminum wheels
View gallery - 13 images

Though Steve McQueen's performance in the film Bullitt was certainly memorable, for many the real star was the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 used to great effect in the epic car chase through the streets of San Francisco. This year marks the 50th anniversary for the iconic film and to mark the occasion Ford has just unveiled the new Mustang Bullitt. Finished in the same paintjob as the 1968 pony, this new model features a retuned V8 engine and period touches like chrome accents and a cue ball shift knob.

The 5.0-liter V8 in the new MustangBullitt puts out 475-hp (355 kW) and 420 lb-ft (570 Nm) of torque, improving on thestandard car's 460-hp (344 kW) and 420 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to anactive valve performance exhaust system, Open Air Induction System, ShelbyGT350 intake manifold and a retuned ECU, the Mustang Bullitt will top out at163 mph (262 km/h) – an 8 mph increase over the standard GT.

The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt
The 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt next to Ford's new Mustang Bullitt

The Mustang Bullitt's exterior is whereit really stands out. Two paint choices are on offer, Shadow Black and DarkHighland Green, the latter being the color of the movie star-car. As a further nod to theoriginal, the Mustang Bullitt has subtle chrome accents around the frontwindows and grille, 19-inch torque thrust aluminum wheels housing Brembo brakes,minimal badging, a cue ball shift knob and a black leather interior with greenaccent stitching.

Modern niceties haven't been forgottenthough and the Bullitt's cockpit features a 12-inch digital LCD cluster with aunique Bullitt welcome sequence, a Ford Sync touchscreen infotainment system anda heated leather steering wheel with the stamped Bullitt logo.

The digital LCD instrument cluster has a unique Bullitt welcome screen and displays an image of the car rather than the iconic pony logo
The digital LCD instrument cluster has a unique Bullitt welcome screen and displays an image of the car rather than the iconic pony logo

As with any Mustang, factory-installedoptions are available including the Bullitt Electronics Package that featuresthings like navigation, an upgraded sound system, memory seats and mirrors and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert. Performance options includeFord's MagneRide semi-active suspension and Recaro bucket-seats.

The new Mustang Bullitt was launched atthe 2018 Detroit Auto Show alongside the 1968 vehicle. It is due to beavailable later this year with a price tag between US$45,000 to $55,000.

Checkout the video below where the Mustang Bullitt is being driven by MollyMcQueen – granddaughter of the iconic film star – in a rather dramatic car-parkbattle against a Dodge Charger.

Source: Ford

View gallery - 13 images
3 comments
3 comments
CharlieSeattle
The grill is not a mustang grill. Lose it.
Dr-Zin
Forget it, no amount of power, effects, swooptedo styling and gingerbread will ever be as good as the original, classic is as classic does. Make us a real Tang using the original styling. Same goes for Chrysler and their wannabes. PS; DUMB VID.
Gregg Eshelman
The original Gone in 60 Seconds had the best car chase ever. Unlike Bullitt, it has no repeated segments. Every part of it was shot in order so there's no damage that vanishes and comes back. It was all done with one 1973 Mustang.
When is Ford going to make an "Eleanor" tribute Mustang, painted the same color as the movie car? (We shall not speak of the 2000 remake.)