Bullitt to the heart
The Ford Mustang has made many appearances in Hollywood films over the years and has become somewhat of a cult classic motoring enthusiast.
When Ford Motor Company South Africa announced that they will indeed bring the Bullitt, a special edition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the popular film concordantly named, it didn’t come as a surprise that we would partake in a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide who got to drive it. I won!
Green with envy
The original car piloted by the infamous Steve McQueen in the film was a 1968 Dark Highland Green Mustang and when the Bullitt arrived at our office in the same dark green hue, I couldn’t help but get the shivers. Combining elements from the Mustang GT Premium and Performance Package, the Bullitt does not shout for attention, just like the car it is based on, it remains elegant and understated. Upfront you will find subtle chrome accents around the unique black honeycomb grille and side windows and in each corner of the vehicle, there are 19-inch aluminium wheels in the classic five-spoke heritage design.
Behind those wheels are red-painted Brembo brake callipers with big rotors. One thing I noticed is badging on the limited-edition vehicle, or should I rather say the lack of it. The only badge you will find on the exterior is the circular Bullitt emblem on the decklid, nothing on the side, not even a Mustang emblem at the front. This, however, did not change the way onlookers reacted to the car, while for the most part ‘millennials’ didn’t take much notice, motoring enthusiasts that fall into the ‘boomers’ and ‘Gen-X’ categories had smiles from cheek to cheek and would give me the universal sign of acceptance, the thumbs up.
Sitting in McQueen’s seat   Â
As I sat there in McQueen’s seat I started to look around the cabin to spot the differences from the normal Mustang derivatives. First up is the big circular Bullitt badge on the steering wheel to remind you every time you look down that you are piloting this special edition. The leather-clad bucket seats also see the Recaro logo embroidered in a green to match the green contrast stitching found around the cabin.
The scuff plates also feature the familiar Bullitt logo. In front of the passenger on the dashboard is a unique plaque that verifies its limited-edition credentials and indicates your vehicle’s build number. Behind the multifunction steering wheel is a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster and while for the most part functions exactly as it would on the current range of Mustangs, it does, however, display the Bullitt logo as you start up the limited edition.
The ponies
During the film, the character Chalmers says: “Frank, we must all compromise.” And Frank (Bullitt) replies saying: “Bull**it!” This was the attitude of Carl Widmann, Mustang chief engineer when developing this vehicle. Instead of the 10-speed automatic transmission found in the standard Mustang, the Bullitt features a six-speed manual with rev-matching adding to the drama as you shift in between gears holding on to a white pool cue ball.
The six-speed manual gearbox is mated to a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine producing 338 kW and 529 N.m of torque as a result of the performance tuning and a new open-air induction system and Shelby GT350 intake manifold. To further bolster the exhaust note is an active valve performance exhaust system ending with black NitroPlate exhaust tips.
Verdict
Although the Bullitt is essentially just a modified Mustang with a unique colour scheme, those small changes took what is already a value for money offering to something that is just on another level. While driving the Bullitt gives a similar sensation you would get from the standard Mustang, there is something special when manually selecting a higher gear and hear the rev-matching system spurt some petrol into the combustion chamber of that V8. While there are still some hard plastics to be found in the cabin, they were mostly hidden from view and touch.
What was more evident was the character that this car has. Even with hot weather, you didn’t find me without my leather jacket on. With my eyes smiling behind my aviators, I could not help but sadden to the thought that there will only be 50 units locally. If you ever stumble upon one in the second-hand market, this is a Bullitt you don’t want to dodge.
Warranty
The Ford Mustang Bullitt comes standard with a four-year/120 000km warranty, three-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited-kilometre corrosion warranty. A six-year/90 000km service plan is included.
Price
Ford Mustang 5.0 fastback Bullitt – R 1 025 600
