The Mustang’s most famous silver-screen appearance has spawned a recurring series of limited-edition cars, but do any of them get close to the 1968 icon?
WORDS CHARLE CALDERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY LUC LACEY
A believable car for a cash-strapped cop was Steve McQueenʼs vision for his automotive co-star in Bullitt. A brand-new big-block Ford might not have been the obvious answer, but Warner Brothersʼ deal with the Blue Oval meant a pair of new Highland Green 1968 Mustangs was it nonetheless. McQueenʼs genius was how he turned the car into the gritty bruiser that perfectly matched the groundbreaking chase in which it starred. So much so that Ford has since attempted to copy his recipe on three separate occasions.
No popstar soundtrack, real roads and natural lighting separated Bullittʼs brilliant 10 mins 53 secs car chase from the contrived, overproduced sequences that dominated mid-century cinema when it first hit theatres 55 years ago. We all know about the green Volkswagen Beetle that is in the background almost constantly, and the left turn that appears twice, but beyond these production conveniences, the pursuit is raw, real and authentic. And you could use the same words to describe Lieutenant Bullittʼs Mustang.
Racing driver and car-constructor Max Balchowsky tweaked the Fords mechanically, fettling the 390cu in engines and otherwise making them into effective stunt cars, but it was McQueen who led the Mustangsʼ aesthetic direction. The famous paint colour, Highland Green, is unfussy and brooding, but avoided the obvious villainy of black that would be reserved for the antagonistʼs Dodge Charger. That unflashy seriousness was doubled down with the tail-light trim, petrol-cap centre and sill moulding all painted in dark green or black. The foglights, reverse lights and other pieces of unnecessary trim were removed or painted over, while the grille was replaced with a simple mesh panel. Ford was no doubt thrilled to see the Mustang badge removed…
Similarly, the door mirror was taken off, too, although in many shots an aftermarket catalogue part, a round Yankee Metal Products mirror, appears, once again painted dark green. Itʼs just one of the ways in which the car evolved during filming. Interior shots also show a large illuminating flasher on the end of the indicator stalk after McQueen ruined a take too many by leaving the indicator on.
David Redheadʼs 1968 Mustang has all of these features and more. Few would argue against it being the best Bullitt Mustang replica in the UK, and one of the most exacting in the
