The Mustang That Became a Hollywood Legend
Few movie cars are as instantly recognizable as the Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in Bullitt.
More than five decades after the movie's famous San Francisco chase scene, the surviving hero Mustang made history again when it crossed the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee in January 2020.
The final price was an astonishing $3.74 million. This wasn't simply an old Mustang changing hands. It was a surviving piece of American automotive and movie history.
Two Mustangs — Two Very Different Jobs
Steve McQueen's Mustang
One of the two Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT fastbacks served as the hero car. It was used for many of the scenes featuring McQueen and became the Mustang most closely associated with the movie.
Built to Take the Abuse
The second Mustang was used extensively for stunt work, including many of the hard landings and jumps during the legendary San Francisco chase sequence.
The Bullitt Mustang Makes Auction History
Watch the original movie Mustang cross the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee 2020.
Where Did the Bullitt Mustang Go?
After filming ended, the hero Mustang was sold into private ownership. Robert Kiernan purchased the car in 1974, and the Mustang remained with the Kiernan family for decades.
The car largely disappeared from public view and became one of the great mysteries in the collector-car world. Robert's son, Sean Kiernan, later inherited the Mustang and helped bring it back into the spotlight.
In 2018, the long-hidden movie car appeared publicly alongside Ford's modern Mustang Bullitt at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
$3.74 Million for a Piece of Mustang History
On January 10, 2020, collectors watched as the Bullitt Mustang crossed the Mecum auction block in Kissimmee, Florida.
The hammer price reached $3.4 million. With the buyer's premium included, the final transaction totaled $3.74 million.
What Makes the Original Bullitt Mustang Special?
Restore It — or Preserve the History?
One of the most interesting things about the Bullitt Mustang is that its importance isn't based on being a flawless showroom restoration.
The wear, modifications and signs of age are part of the story. With a historically important vehicle like this, removing every imperfection could also remove part of the physical evidence of where the car has been.
If the original Bullitt Mustang were sitting in your garage, would you restore it to perfection — or preserve it exactly as history left it?
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