January 17: You paid how much???

Ok, if you are a car person and have been anywhere close to a TV, a newspaper (remember them?) or the  net, you've heard that the "hero" car from the famous 1968 Steve McQueen movie, Bullitt has just been sold at auction. Hero car? One of the ones that McQueen actually drove in the movie. The car.......

Then

Now

 The amount?

$3,740,000

Turns out the family had bought it way back in 1974 from someone who had worked on the movie. Been in the family for forty five years, but until the last few, it had been a secret that it actually existed. Once it became known, the spotlight glare on the family must have been a bit (note understatement) intense, so the decision was made to sell their prize. At last weekend's auction, the commentators noted how sad the two family members seemed. Sad? What, that it didn't hit $4 million?

But back to the car and the movie. Fifty plus years later this is still considered the very best car chase scene ever. You doubt it? Check out one of the many versions on YouTube. This scene made a hero out of the 1968 Mustang McQueen's character Frank Bullitt drove and to a lesser extent the '68 Charger driven by the bad guys. Trivia.......the Charger had hubcaps (on an R/T?) and lost five (?) of them during the chase. One of those little pieces of info that we find fascinating. Want another? The gas pumps blow up just before the villains' Charger hits them. Watch closely.

So you ask, how much of a hero did the movie make of that dark green Mustang? The answer is shown below........

In 2020 Mustang still has a Bullitt model in the line, with all the neat little design touches of the original. Name me one other anything, that has had that sort of influence or staying power.

Was it the chase or was it the super cool, hipster McQueen that caused this Mustang to have such an impact?

Either way, this not particularly nice guy in real life and his movie ride have had an astounding impact on us for all those fifty plus years, ever since the bad guys buckling up signaled the start of the wonderfully gripping chase to follow.

You have a dark green '68 Mustang in ratty condition just like the auctioned one? Want to trade on the success of the movie car? Good move, put a $10,000 price on it and thank your lucky stars if you get that much.

Until next time........