The Original Steve McQueen Bullitt Mustang Sells For $3.74 million

By Dave Ashton

The sale of the original Bullitt Mustang may not be the most expensive muscle/pony/American car sold at auction, but it is at least the most expensive Mustang. We reported on the car’s back history in a previous post and this is the first time the car has been put up for auction. Selling for a cool $3.4 million and a final price of $3.74 million at Mecum, Oceola Heritage Park on January 10, 2020.

This Mustang was one of two used in the filming of Bullitt. The other, while still in existence, is now mostly unoriginal and dilapidated, while this version is nearly all original with plenty of documentation to back up its history.

Previous muscle cars passing under the hammer have sold for eye watering amounts, such as a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake for $2.2 million and while a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible went for $3.5 million and a 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX2000 for $13.75, this is a landmark for a movie car and one with such a large, cult following.

For those unfamiliar with the background, the car hit notoriety when it starred in the 1968 movie ‘Bullitt’ with Steve McQueen playing Lieutenant Frank Bullitt, a San Francisco police detective. A Mustang was chosen as a regular car of the day, something believably used by the character, presumably chosen by McQueen himself.

The Highland Green Mustang hit fame, mainly due to the 10-minute long chase scene, which also involved a Dodge Charger. Cementing the movie and car in pop culture history and being the template for car chases in movies from then on. The car fell out of public view until very recently and still retain many of its original movie insignia, such as camera mount points and souped up suspension.

 

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