Ivan Vicario Martin
Bullitt It premiered on October 17, 1968 in the USA, with a luxury cast: Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset. It was directed by Peter Yates and is the first film in history shot entirely on location. Although among motor fans, Bullitt will always be remembered for the fast-paced chase starring Steve McQueen embodying Frank Bullitt at the controls of his Mustang GT 390 Fastback.
It was McQueen who was behind the wheel of a scene that is 9 minutes and 20 seconds of pure adrenaline. It is said that Ford did not want to give up any car for the filming of Bullitt and that an angry Steve McQueen ordered all logos removed from the car. The idea was not to advertise the brand, but at the same time a Mustang was achieved with a unique and iconic stamp. Two units were used Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback, although slightly modified to gain power.
THE HAZARDOUS LIFE OF THE MUSTANG BULLITT
Only one survived filming -then I know they would discover the remains of the other-, which was acquired by Robert M. Ross in 1970, an employee of Warner. He later sold it to Frank Marranca, a policeman, who put it up for sale in 1974. It then passed into the hands of robert kiernan, its owner for a long time. Even Steve McQueen himself tried to get it back, but Kiernan resisted. He stopped using the car in 1980, and it wasn't until 2001 that he set out to restore it alongside his son Sean. Robert would pass away in 2014 without seeing his work completed.
Sean Kiernan decided to finish the restoration as a tribute to his father, and Steve McQueen's Mustang Bullitt roared again on July 4, 2016. Its presentation to the public was at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show together with the new Mustang Bullitt Edition. In 2020, the car was auctioned by the Mecum house, lowering the deck at an incredible 3,74 million dollars, which makes it the most expensive Mustang ever auctioned.
GALLERY: MUSTANG GT 390 FASTBACK BULLIT
Photos Ford Media and Mecum Auctions
