Oh. Please tell me you’ve seen BULLITT.
This 1968 classic starred Steve McQueen and featured one of the most iconic car chases to have ever been filmed. In it, Frank Bullitt (McQueen) goes in pursuit of a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum, from the behind the wheel of his 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT Fastback. Filmed in an era before quick cuts and overproduction the masterfully choreographed chase scene through San Francisco endures to this day as a highly regarded favorite among muscle car enthusiasts. Got 3:30 to spare? Take a look at this clip from the near 10-minute chase scene…
BULLITT was pretty much required viewing in my family. Truth be told, I might have been rooting for the bad guys the first time around (since the movie fueled my lifelong love of the Charger). That said that Highland Green Charger with the cueball shifter was definitely one of the few times in my life when I found myself excited by a Mustang.
Fifty years later that excitement is back, and beginning this summer, Ford Dealerships will inevitably field endless requests to test-drive the Limited-Edition 2019 Mustang Bullitt (not that such a special edition would be so readily available). The insanity-level excitement among enthusiasts is understandable considering the legacy upon which the car has been built, and Ford’s success as translating the iconic vehicle for a new generation.
Equipped with an upgraded 5.0-liter V8, the new Bullitt serves up 475 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, with a top speed of 163 mph (besting the latest Mustang GT by 8mph). You can find an enthusiastic walk around in the first part of the following video.
For another look at the 2019 Mustang Bullitt, compared to the original car that inspired it – and for some insight on how the new Bullitt came to be – check this out:
