The 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt has shown up just in time for the 50th anniversary of the film and its epic car chase scene. Between the green paint, dark grille and signature fuel cap, I think Steve McQueen himself would be stoked to jump it off some steep streets.
Update: I originally identified the new Mustang Bullitt as a 2018, since the original Bullitt Mustang was a ’68 and the movie Bullitt came out in ’68 and Ford claims to be lining the car up with the 50th anniversary of both those things. However, the vehicle will in fact be a 2019 model. So I guess it’s technically in time for the 51st anniversary.
Besides the signature cosmetics, the new Bullitt’s important details include a full debadging, a cue ball shift knob on the manual transmission, unique exhaust, unique 19-inch wheels, and “more power” than a Mustang GT.
This Bullitt edition Mustang is, of course, decorated in the style of the hero car driven by McQueen’s character lieutenant Frank Bullitt as he tears up San Francisco tangling with an equally badass ’68 Dodge Charger in the only watchable clip of the movie:
Ford’s done Bullitt commemorative Mustangs before, and frankly, they’ve all been pretty sweet. Even the somewhat unloved fourth generation. There’s something about those subtly aggressive colors and a rumbling V8 that just works, even if you don’t care about McQueen or his movies. The new car follows the same cues as the 2008 Bullitt and the 2001 Bullitt before that. And, obviously, the OG 1968 long before both of those.
It’s been something of an open secret that Ford was planning a revival for 2018 for some time. I mean, doing one on the movie’s 50th anniversary makes sense. And we first saw solid evidence that this was happening back in February of last year.
The 2019 car is kind of an automatic instant classic, and the very first one is already slated to be auctioned off for charity.
Update Jan 14 7:27 p.m.: The new Buillitt will be good for “at least” 475 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, with a top speed of 163 mph which is just slightly faster than the current GT.
Our shooter Kurt Bradley got these live shots of the car in person tonight. Green is good.
And here are some more press photos direct from Ford.