A Dodge Charger and a Mustang Fastback. Could there ever be a more iconic pair of cars to get involved in a chase, even if just for movie entertainment? As a car person, if you ever get to San Francisco, you’re going to stand looking at some of those hilly streets and imagining the scene. Are you thinking of yourself as the bad guy in the MOPAR machine, or the cop, Frank Bullitt? If you have no doubt it’s the latter, then your ride has arrived. This is a 1967 Mustang Fastback kitted up as a Bullitt replica. (The original was a 1968, as detailed here.) It’s up for bid on ebay for a current price of over $33,500, a number that hasn’t met reserve. Good thing the auction still has a week to run. If you’re going to make this one yours, you’ll pilot it home from Los Angeles, though you’ll be tempted to take a drive up to San Fran to do some re-enacting.
As replicas of Mustang movie cars go, those of the Bullitt are perhaps the smartest and easiest for someone to create. Why? Because they don’t demand the commitment it takes to turn your ride into an Eleanor, for instance. The Bullitt is essentially shaved of emblems, replete with accessory wheels, and features a blacked-out grille. As long as you get the Highland Green paint right—and this one has a color coat that’s only a year old—then you’re good. And It’s all easily reversible, if you decide to blend back into civilian life. Oh wait, you’re not actually a detective. Sorry for the slip.
By rights, this should be a 1968 with a 390-CID engine. It’s a year older than that with a 289. But who cares—nobody sees that stuff, and if the engine has the approximately 72,000 miles on it that the odo indicates, you should get a lot of service out of it yet. That, plus the fact that it has working AC, would make for a pleasant driver. And purely as an old Mustang, this one checks out. The underneath is clean. And you can better detail the engine to add some value. Then you get to the interior, which is either a very well-preserved original or properly redone with catalogue parts. There’s little not to like here, authentic Bullitt or not.
You know this is an important part of Mustang history since Ford has thrice released Bullitt tributes—in 2001, 2008-09, and 2019. But to really get into the fantasy zone, you need a 60s Bullitt, and thus this car represents your opportunity. What kind of number would you put on a dream? Would you go $40K? $50? It will be interesting to see where this car lands.
Nice car but no 4 speed…
It’s just a green Mustang.
The movie car should have been a SC 351, not a 390. Would have handled better and had an easier time keeping up with the stock 440 in the Charger. I read the 390 had to be heavily modified while the 440 was bone stock. Was that true?
The 351 wasn’t offered in ’68. The 390 ‘Stang was outmatched by the 440 Charger.
No 351 was available for Mustang in ’68.
The 390 motor was not modified much, according to the data sheet on the mods:
* Heads milled, presumably to get a little more compression and HP
* Holley carb and distributor reworked
* crossflow muffler removed but the resonators kept
That Mustang GT had suspension work, Koni shocks, bracing, other work and had the handling over the Charger.
Nice Mustang here.
I’m sitting here racking my brain trying to figure out what is a SC 351? A 351 Windsor was offered in 1969 and then the 351 Cleveland in 1970. And what does heavily modified mean? Plus we’re talking a 50 cubic inch disadvantage. I’ll take a 390 Mustang any day.
The Boss 351 mustang is a bit of forgotten model. Very quick and strong pkg w 4spd.
I agree. I had a red 67 with a 390 4 speed. It would surly run.
Always wondered why they didn’t just use a 428 version in the movie, that would’ve eliminated any debates about a mismatch
I see a 289 decal on the chrome, air/cleaner assembly 😀, so maybe 🤔, this the car’s correct 🤔,motor, and also l thought the movie car,had,a 289 motor anway,l have reason to believe the bullet show car had the bigger 🤔, motor but not for sure alot of these cars came with a 289,which l think 🤔, is pretty reliable, but l’m not a Ford guy.
It’s just a regular green 1967 mustang, while Bullitt was a modified 1968 model. Nothing special about this particular car. It’s not 1 of 285, or any nonsense like that that is posted at the top of so many articles. The owner wants far too much. Hard pass from a Mustang pro.
How do you know what they want for it (what the reserve is)?
what a bunch of sour nerds commenting above.
Any seller placing an ad here should expect honest feedback, both positive and negative, from astute commenters.. We here at BarnFinds know!
My favorite tidbit, (besides the 7 hubcaps) is that the chase exhaust soundtrack is from a GT40, not the mustang itself.
What is the make or vendor for those wheels?
They were new when I was in high school 50+ years ago.
Five spoke wheels are my preferred style.
Even the teddy bear wheels that were around 20 years ago.
Probably these-
https://www.americanracing.com/american-racing-vintage-vn402-classic-200s
American Racing Torque Thrust D.
Thankyou Mr. Cuda.
After all the info on the Bullitt car,what were the gears in the rear?
I have one I use to hold my air hose in the garage LOL only need 3 more, but I have had it since 1979!
Perfect, in every way! For the price of an EV KIA.
Major FAILURE The Car should not have a black colored tail light panel and should have a 4 speed not Automatic. So this is a green Mustang missing the grill emblem LOL
The Bullitt Mustang was all green with a 390 engine a 4 speed transmission. on American mags. The steering wheel was a Covico rubberized type chrome 3 spoke wheel. They beefed all the suspension parts up for the jumps. According to a magazine I read years ago.
This is a nice auto / air build. I took a trip out to San Fran, and retraced the chase routes driving a rented challenger. Took pictures of “Frank’s Apt. and visited the “grocery store” across the way, now a liquor store. They had lots of framed movie posters and a signed photo from Steve McQueen !
I even had a C/D soundtrack from the movie playing while I drove LOL.
Interesting, how the movie car disappeared, then re-emerged many years later and sold for a million, plus.
e t mags was what they called them back in the day when movie was shot, ever notice how many times the green vw bug was always where he was.