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The original hero Mustang from Bullitt was a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback with serial number 8R02S125559, known as the “559” car. It was used for many of Steve McQueen’s close-up scenes, while a second Mustang, serial 8R02S125558, handled many stunts and jumps. The hero car survived filming, spent decades with the Kiernan family, and sold at auction in 2020.
Which Mustang was the original Bullitt car?
The car most closely associated with McQueen in the film was the Highland Green 1968 Mustang Fastback with serial number 8R02S125559. Ford and the Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) identified it as the “559” hero car in their 2018 account. Sean Kiernan, whose family owned it for decades, said McQueen drove it in many scenes. That does not mean every shot in the chase used this particular car.
A second Mustang, serial number 8R02S125558, was the “558” car, used for many of the stunt scenes and jumps. The two cars shared build specifications and were both prepared for filming.
How the “559” was built
Ford’s production information, credited to Ford Motor Company and Kevin Marti of Marti Auto Works, says the car was built at Ford’s San Jose, California, plant. Its factory color was Highland Green (paint code 3067-A), and its listed equipment included black vinyl luxury bucket seats and a four-speed manual transmission. The reported build date was January 8, 1968, and the car was sold on March 11, 1968. Ford/HVA’s 2018 account documents the production details and the car’s film history.
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What was changed for filming?
The cars were prepared by mechanic and racer Max Balchowsky, with modifications intended to make them suitable for the chase and stunt work. The Ford/HVA account lists a Borg-Warner T-10 heavy-duty four-speed transmission and clutch, a modified 390-cubic-inch engine, milled heads, a modified carburetor and distributor, and a 4:10 Positraction rear end.
The same account describes reinforced mounts and chassis, heavy-duty springs and shocks, stabilizers, American Racing wheels, racing tires, a custom exhaust, and a Shelby-type steering wheel. Ford and Mustang badges were removed, the Highland Green paint was scuffed to dull its finish, and the reverse lights were removed. These are reported film-preparation details, not proof that every listed component remains on the surviving car today.
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Was the Bullitt Mustang ever found?
Yes. The “559” Mustang was publicly revealed in 2018, after decades in the Kiernan family. Sean Kiernan said his family had owned the car for 44 years at the time. It had served as a family car and was also stored; his father, Robert, disassembled it as part of a project. Sean later worked to return it to the condition it had as his parents’ daily driver.
Ford and the HVA documented the car for the National Historic Vehicle Register. The HVA photographed and scanned it in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic American Engineering Record, with materials to be archived by the Library of Congress. The car was revealed alongside the new Mustang Bullitt at the 2018 North American International Auto Show.
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Was the original Bullitt Mustang restored?
It is better described as preserved with repairs and limited work than as either untouched or fully restored. After filming, the Mustang was repaired and repainted Highland Green for resale. Kiernan said that paint was never changed afterward, and that the seats, interior, trunk, and camera-mount evidence remained consistent with the car’s movie history.
The car also carried signs of ordinary family use and storage. Later work included an engine rebuild, replacement of aging carpets, and the addition of a similar steering wheel. The front bumper and valance were replaced after damage in the 1970s. Kiernan explained his preference for retaining its honest appearance: “The car is honest and that’s the way I wanted it.” — Sean Kiernan, owner, in the 2018 Ford/HVA release.
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How much did the Bullitt Mustang sell for?
At Mecum’s Kissimmee auction on January 10, 2020, the car brought a $3.4 million hammer price. The reported total including the buyer’s premium was $3.74 million, according to FordMuscle’s sale report. The report says Kevin Marti verified the car’s authenticity and presented an Elite Marti Report.
The reviewed sale reporting does not identify the buyer or establish who owns the Mustang now. The sale price is a figure for this particular auction transaction, not a general estimate of what Bullitt-era Mustangs are worth.
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