Original Bullitt Mustang Rediscovered

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https://carbuzz.com/news/original-bullitt-mustang-rediscovered-after-more-than-40-years

Edited January 24, 2018 by afx

[D. Battista]

To see it as a  survivor is cool....!   Thanks for the link...!

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https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2018/01/14/mustang-bullitt-found-real-mcqueen

[Snake45]

Where's the dinged front bumper? 

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1 hour ago, Snake45 said:

Where's the dinged front bumper? 

The crash damage you always hear about? HVA’s Mark Gessler confirmed that tid-bit for us, “It had some damage on the front — there’s a new bumper and valance — it was one of those deals where grandpa accidentally backed into it, and that was back in the 70s; then Steve came after it in 1977.  By then, it was their family car — their only car.”

[Daddyfink]

Honestly, why is this being called "Rediscovered or Found" as most folks knew where the car was and that the owner did not want to show it or sell it. The one in Mexico is more of a "Barn Find" discovery than this car. 

It's cool that is going to be shown, finally, but it is not a forgotten barn find by any stretch. 

[Rob Hall]

1 minute ago, Daddyfink said:

Honestly, why is this being called "Rediscovered or Found" as most folks knew where the car was and that the owner did not want to show it or sell it. The one in Mexico is more of a "Barn Find" discovery than this car. 

It's cool that is going to be shown, finally, but it is not a forgotten barn find by any stretch. 

I don't know about 'most folks' but I suspect very few people actually knew where this car was...the family that has it hadn't driven in decades and had it garaged.

[Daddyfink]

55 minutes ago, Rob Hall said:

I don't know about 'most folks' but I suspect very few people actually knew where this car was...the family that has it hadn't driven in decades and had it garaged.

Well, If I, and most of the Automotive world knew, then  yes, I guess most folks didn't know.  

A real Rediscovery or Found for me would be something in the order of James Dean's Porsche. not a Mustang that has been lovingly kept by a family. Don't get me wrong, I am glad they finally revealed the car to the world, but, it is not that rare of a discovery. 

[Rob Hall]

10 minutes ago, Daddyfink said:

Well, If I, and most of the Automotive world knew, then  yes, I guess most folks didn't know.  

A real Rediscovery or Found for me would be something in the order of James Dean's Porsche. not a Mustang that has been lovingly kept by a family. Don't get me wrong, I am glad they finally revealed the car to the world, but, it is not that rare of a discovery. 

 

'most of the Automotive world' sounds like a lot of hyperbole.  I've never seen mention of it existing in any magazine--Mustang magazines, general car magazines, etc  or online before a few weeks ago, only speculation for years that it *may* still exist. There were a couple articles around 10 years ago that claimed it was on an Ohio farm, that never panned out.   Maybe a few show biz insiders knew where it was 40 years ago, but in recent decades?  It hasn't been exactly 'lovingly kept', appears to be in pretty rough condition.   I've seen articles about James Dean's Porsche--it was in a museum at one time and the engine was removed and used in racing I've read. 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Rob Hall

[Daddyfink]

4 minutes ago, Rob Hall said:

Site specific examples of who knew, then.  I've never seen mention of it existing in any magazine or online before a few weeks ago, only speculation for years that it *may* still exist.  It hasn't been exactly 'lovingly kept', appears to be in pretty rough condition.   I've seen articles about James Dean's Porsche--it was in a museum at one time and the engine was removed and used in racing I've read. 

Read about it on a couple of sites that specialized in Celebrity type cars, most of them documenting how Steve McQueen tried buying the car back himself. The biggest speculation was about the second car and the Charger. Since then, both of those cars have been found. And this one was just kept hidden. I also remember reading about it in Road and Track, Car and Driver and I think even Hot Rod had something on it. So no, it was not a well kept secret. 

As for the condition of the car, one must remember that this was a daily car for the family for some time and it was kept as is since it was decided to park the car and not mess with it. That to me would be lovingly kept. 

The JD Porsche was stripped of usable parts and the basic hulk was put on tour. It disappeared between shows. The parts that made it out are apparently cursed, but still out there. 

[Rob Hall]

It was a well kept secret *where* it was, though.   Car & Driver is where I recall reading speculation that it *may* exist, maybe in an article 10-15 years ago.  Haven't seen anything about the Charger- one was destroyed during filming, another still exists? 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Rob Hall

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, afx said:

The crash damage you always hear about? HVA’s Mark Gessler confirmed that tid-bit for us, “It had some damage on the front — there’s a new bumper and valance — it was one of those deals where grandpa accidentally backed into it, and that was back in the 70s; then Steve came after it in 1977.  By then, it was their family car — their only car.”

I'm talking about the dinged front bumper that's seen throughout the movie, not somebody backing into it in the '70s. 

[Rob Hall]

22 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

I'm talking about the dinged front bumper that's seen throughout the movie, not somebody backing into it in the '70s. 

Was that on this car, or the other one?   Or the grandpa damage was to *that* bumper.  

Edited January 25, 2018 by Rob Hall

[Sport Suburban]

27 minutes ago, Rob Hall said:

Was that on this car, or the other one?   Or the grandpa damage was to *that* bumper.  

I have read most of the articles that have come out recently and it is quite interesting! Some of the damage seen in the movie was repaired. Read about this cars pass door. It was caved in and re sculpted in bondo. That door is much heavier and noticeable but that is the way it left the studio. As for the front bumper only the family knows. Also interesting is that someone stole the air cleaner and steering wheel when it was in one of the barns. Lots of history after the movie and I think that only adds to it!

 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Sport Suburban

[Sledsel]

Who changed the rocker trim? or possibly stripped em?

[Daddyfink]

2 hours ago, Rob Hall said:

It was a well kept secret *where* it was, though.   Car & Driver is where I recall reading speculation that it *may* exist, maybe in an article 10-15 years ago.  Haven't seen anything about the Charger- one was destroyed during filming, another still exists? 

http://www.ponysite.de/charger_welch.htm

[iamsuperdan]

12 hours ago, Daddyfink said:

 

The JD Porsche was stripped of usable parts and the basic hulk was put on tour. It disappeared between shows. The parts that made it out are apparently cursed, but still out there. 

It's actually a pretty faxcinating story. 

 

The shell fell of a trailer and broke a mechanic's leg. 

The engine & transmission were removed and used in another car, which crashed and killed the driver.

The wheels were removed, and the car those were put on crashed.

A couple of times people tried to steal it, and those people were injured "by the car."

A garage the shell was stored in caught fire. It burned down, but the shell was undamaged.

It fell of a display and broke someone's hip.

A trasnport truck carrying it crashed, and the driver was subsequently crushed when the car fell off the trailer.

It later fell of another truck while being transported.

 

The curse is real? Hmm...

 

 

 

[GLMFAA1]

Here is what I could capture of the front bumper dent and grill dings

I think those would be obvious scars that I would use to authenticate the 'real' car

greg

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4 hours ago, GLMFAA1 said:

Here is what I could capture of the front bumper dent and grill dings

I think those would be obvious scars that I would use to authenticate the 'real' car

greg

It's been certified by Ford, Steve McQueen and others - what other proof would you need?  What other proof is even possible?

Edited January 25, 2018 by afx

[dublin boy]

I've seen a letter in a car mag that shows McQueen trying to buy it.

 

The headed paper was Solar Productions which was his Company IIRC

 

Nice to see it JC.

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1 hour ago, dublin boy said:

I've seen a letter in a car mag that shows McQueen trying to buy it.

 

The headed paper was Solar Productions which was his Company IIRC

 

Nice to see it JC.

[dublin boy]

Where  did you find that JC?

Nice one.

[afx]

37 minutes ago, dublin boy said:

Where  did you find that JC?

Nice one.

It's from the articles in the links I provided Shay, at the beginning of the thread.

Edited January 25, 2018 by afx

[dublin boy]

Just surprised to see the actual letter again JC, I thought you had special powers at Google-Fu there for a minute! lol

I

[vamach1]

The VINs of both cars have been authenticated.  There was a story in Mustang Monthly about 20 year s ago about this hidden Mustang and the owner had no intention of letting anyone see it.  The son came to his senses after the father died.  This car may be worth multi millions,