Hollywood has celebrated adrenaline-fueled car chases since the dawn of the medium. But few vehicles have achieved high-octane reverence in the car culture zeitgeist quite like the 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback featured in the 1968 film Bullitt. This iconic pony car, driven by the “King of Cool” himself, Steve McQueen, propelled itself from nitrate film prints into cinematic legend with its unforgettable pursuit through the streets of San Francisco — to this day the most famous car chase ever filmed.
Produced by Warner Brothers, the studio acquired two Mustang Fastbacks from Ford specifically for the production. The casting of McQueen required a car that aligned with the gritty persona of his stoic anti-hero detective, Frank Bullitt. Enter the 6.4-liter V8-powered 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback. With some mechanical upgrades and subtle aesthetic modifications, both production cars were painted in Dark Highland Green with a weathered patina, blacked-out gas caps, and minimal badging. The result was a precision machine that exuded a rugged, yet understated menace. Production stunt coordinator Max Balchowsky fortified both cars with reinforced frames, upgraded suspensions, and a custom transmission to endure the punishing stunts required for the film.
Taking three weeks to film, the ten-minute chase paired McQueen and his Mustang 390 pursuing the bad guys in a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum, weaving through the hilly streets and heavy traffic of San Francisco at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour. Doing much of the driving himself, McQueen insisted on leaving the windows open for closer shots to capture an enhanced sense of realism. For distance shots and more hair-raising maneuvers, stunt driver Bud Ekins bravely took the wheel.
Of the two Mustangs used in Bullitt, one was severely damaged during filming and was thought lost until its discovery in a junkyard near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2017. The other, dubbed the “hero” car, vanished into private ownership after production. It reappeared in a 1974 Road & Track classified ad and was purchased by an insurance executive in New Jersey named Robert Kiernan for $6,000. The car remained with his family for decades despite unsuccessful attempts by McQueen to buy it back in 1977.
Unrestored and steeped in Hollywood lore, the hero Mustang sold at a Mecum auction in January 2020 for $3.74 million with the blessings of Sean Kiernan, who inherited the vehicle upon the passing of his father in 2024. Today, the Bullitt Mustang remains a testament to the enduring mystique and allure of cars throughout cinema history.
