Replica of the 1968 Mustang Fastback GT 390
Image Credit: Ford Motor Company
The BULLITT Mustang (Part 1 of 3) Story by Darren (5.0L) Lynch Photos from Ford Motor Company 2 Apr, 2012 The Bullitt Mustang was inspired by the 1968 American thriller film of the same name, starring Steve McQueen as detective Frank Bullitt and contains one of the best car chase sequences in movie history. The scene pitted detective Bullitt in a dark Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback, against two fleeing hitmen in a Black 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum, through the streets of San Francisco. 1968 - The Original Two 1968 390 CID V8 Ford Mustangs (325 bhp) were used for the chase scene, both owned by Ford Motor Company and part of a promotional loan agreement with Warner Bros. The Mustangs' engines, brakes and suspensions were heavily modified for the chase by veteran car racer Max Balchowsky. The transmissions were factory 4 speed units, and some visual changes were employed, such as: |
Black Deluxe interior Removal of much of the exterior trim Removal of Grille, Pony, and Fog lights Fitment of a small non-Mustang round driver’s mirror Repainted in either Highland Green or Black: - Rocker molding - Quarter ornament - Tail light trim - Center Gas Cap Addition of 15” American racing Torq-Thrust wheels Firestone Black wall tires GR70-15 (close to modern 225/70/15) Fitment of a 1967 Shelby Steering wheel |
The exhaust consisted of two small glasspack style mufflers, but the Bullitt’s signature sound was actually an overdub of a GT40 racecar, hence the “double clutching” heard in one of the scenes. One of the original movie cars do still exist and was it last reported in the hands of a private owner, and in a poor state of repair. During the next part we will look at the first modern tribute, the 2001 Mustang Bullitt.  |
Replica of the 1968 Mustang Fastback GT 390 (foreground),
2001 Mustang Bullitt (fackground)
Image Credit: Ford Motor Company
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