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The Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in Bullitt was a 1968 Mustang GT fastback. Ford later used the name for new production special editions inspired by that film car; they are tributes, not the original vehicle. The 2019 Bullitt paired the Highland Green look with Ford-published V8 performance figures, including 480 horsepower in the U.S. brochure when running 93-octane fuel.
What Mustang was in the movie Bullitt?
Ford says the 1968 film used two identical Mustang GT fastbacks. One was the hero car driven by McQueen; the other was used for many of the chase sequence’s jumps. Ford’s account identifies the film’s theatrical debut as October 17, 1968.
The two cars followed different paths after filming. Ford says Warner Bros. sold the hero car to a private buyer, while the jumper went to a salvage yard. The jumper resurfaced in Baja, California, in early 2017. The hero car passed to Sean Kiernan in 2014 from his father Robert, who had purchased it in 1974. The family worked with Ford to reveal the car alongside the 2019 Bullitt at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. These provenance details are Ford’s account of the cars’ history.
Are later Bullitt Mustangs the same as the 1968 movie car?
No. The 2001, 2008 and 2019 Bullitt Mustangs were production special editions built decades later. Ford presented them as tributes to the film and its understated Highland Green fastback, not as replicas or continuations of the surviving movie car.
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Ford’s Europe announcement describes the 2001 and 2008 editions as part of the lineage, with more powerful engines, Torq Thrust-style wheels, distinctive styling cues and limited exterior paint choices that included Dark Highland Green. The available Ford material establishes that broad lineage, but it does not provide a complete year-by-year specification comparison for all three editions.
What performance did Ford quote for the 2019 Bullitt?
Ford published different horsepower wording in its 2018 announcement and its 2019 U.S. brochure. The figures below belong to those specific Ford documents; they are manufacturer specifications, not independent test results.
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| Ford source and context | Horsepower | Torque | Other published details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Motor Company announcement, January 14, 2018, for the 2019 Mustang Bullitt | At least 475 hp | 420 lb-ft | 163 mph top speed |
| Ford’s 2019 U.S. Mustang brochure | 480 hp at 7,000 rpm on 93-octane fuel | 420 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm on 93-octane fuel | Upgraded 5.0L V8, 87 mm throttle body and six-speed manual transmission |
The two horsepower figures should not be blended into a single claim: the 2018 announcement says “at least 475,” while the U.S. brochure specifies 480 on 93-octane fuel. Neither source establishes instrumented performance comparisons with a standard Mustang GT or with earlier Bullitt editions.
How did Ford connect the modern edition to the film?
The connection was visual and commemorative: Ford brought back the Bullitt name and the restrained Highland Green look associated with the 1968 fastback, while presenting the 2019 car as a contemporary performance Mustang. Its published U.S. specifications pair a V8 with a six-speed manual. That makes the 2019 edition a modern interpretation of the movie car’s character, not evidence that the original film vehicle had the same equipment or performance.
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The film’s famous jumps are not a driving template. Ford’s 2019 brochure says its demonstration vehicle was modified for safety and driven by a professional stunt driver on a closed course. Its warning is explicit: “Vehicle modified for safety (Never jump your Mustang). Professional stunt driver on a closed course (Again … NEVER jump your Mustang). Do not attempt (We are not kidding – DO NOT ATTEMPT).”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the Ford record establishes—and what it does not
Ford’s historical account and product materials support the distinction between the two 1968 film cars, the reported history of the hero car and jumper, the special-edition lineage, and Ford’s stated 2019 specifications. They do not provide a full specification sheet for each 2001 and 2008 edition, independent performance testing, or a verified account of present ownership. The 2019 numbers above should therefore be read as Ford-published claims in their stated contexts.
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Sources: Ford Motor Company, January 14, 2018; Ford Europe, March 5, 2018; Ford Motor Company, 2019 U.S. Mustang brochure.
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