First of all, I’ll admit that Ford successfully resurrected the famous Mustang of Steve McQueen. In 1968, the now deceased actor played Franck Bullitt, an honest, cold-blooded police lieutenant whose superiors asked him to protect a witness during an inquiry commission. Following an attack against said witness, he took off with his 1968 Highland Green Mustang in a memorable car chase through the streets of San Francisco. Steve McQueen himself did most of the driving and stunts.
A few years ago, Ford launched a special Bullitt edition of the GT coupe. It proved a success, although the lines were ill-executed. This time around, however, the model commemorating the movie’s 40th anniversary remains true to the original fastback.
Stripped down
Every logo and badge has been removed, except for the Bullitt name integrated to the false fuel cap on top of the trunklid. The result is a stunning machine sporting a dark green night gown. The blacked-out grille up front gives it an even more intimidating look. The 18-inch aluminum wheels are very reminiscent of those found on the original model. They’re wrapped by excellent W-rated BF Goodrich g-Force T/A tires.
Low-key interior
Inside, the new Bullitt pays tribute to its ancestor with a combination of black leather and brushed metal. Ford added a brushed aluminium trim to the dashboard, while aluminum rings emphasize the gauges and air vents. The two main instruments are well designed: the tach needle is easy to spot and the speedometer couldn’t be more obvious thanks to bigger, clearer digits.
The front sport buckets are comfortable and power-adjustable, which allows you to find a great driving position. They’re actually the same as the Mustang Shelby GT500, so they offer greater side support than the base model. The right hand falls naturally on the brushed aluminum shifter. Storage compartments are very limited, however. The doors are wide and heavy just like with any other coupe and the aluminum door sills are decorated with the Bullitt logo.
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