Classic cars have long been used in films, with one of the most famous appearing in Bullitt. The 1968 Mustang driven by Steve McQueen took part in one of the most iconic car chases of all time. During the film, two Highland Green Mustangs were used, a ‘hero’ car and stunt car. Earlier in 2018, Ford displayed the original 1968 hero Mustang alongside the 2019 Mustang Bullitt. But what happened to the stunt car? People asked that question until the vehicle was rediscovered in 2017.
The stunt Mustang had spent decades rotting away in Mexico. After filming, Warner Brothers had sold the car to Max Balchowsky, who’d modified the Mustang to be used in the film. As the stunt car had been used for several jump scenes, Balchowsky declared it was beyond repair. He sent it to the scrapyard, only for the Mustang to end up in Mexico.
The car was sold off a few times, sporting different paint jobs. Eventually, it ended up in Los Cabos and came with a cream white finish. A buyer named Hugo Sanchez purchased the Mustang and contacted Ralph Garcia, the owner of a restoration shop.
Garcia realised the car was special when he noticed it had an S-code and 390 cc V8 engine. He reached out to a US Mustang specialist called Kevin Marti to check out the authenticity of the motor. Martin recognised the chassis number, identifying it as the Bullitt Mustang. The identification came down to the VIN stampings in the engine compartment and door plate.
Garcia had already started to restore the vehicle, so he and Sanchez took joint ownership of it. They’ve planned to restore the Bullitt Mustang to working order. Garcia has sourced a period-correct engine and the original interior will be restored.
It’s only a matter of time before both Mustangs are back on the road once again. The cars are an important part of film history.
theoldmotor.com
