Shelby-Powered 67 Mustang Bullitt
Slideshow: John Jeffers saw a childhood dream come true when he found a 1967 fastback Mustang, like Steve McQueen drove in Bullitt, sitting in a used car lot - for $2,500!
Bullitt Is Back!
Before "Fast" and "Furious" were synonymous with street performance; before anything was ever "Gone" in sixty seconds; before any "Dukes" ever terrorized a Hazzard County sheriff's department - there was Bullitt. It was the forgotten catalyst that blew up the box office in the late-'60s. The precedent-setting film instantly raised the standards for high-speed chase scenes across the board, and it would forever transform the way Hollywood approached automotive thrillers.
Although the legend may be all-but-forgotten today, this film resonated a burning passion for wide-open performance in the hearts of countless gearhead moviegoers. John Jeffers was one of those men.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod Network
So, What The Hell Is A Bullitt, Anyway?
The question is not "What," but rather, "Who." But if we were to answer the "What" of the matter, Bullitt could be described as a 1968 Warner Brothers production, based on a novel from 1963, starring Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, and Jacqueline Bisset.
The film was a pivotal blockbuster that would subsequently win an Academy Award for Best Film Editing, with a nomination for Best Sound (most likely due to the ensemble produced by the thundering road duel between two cast-iron V-8s).
Fuel The Fire
The powerplant in John's Mustang is nothing like the Bullitt motivator used to decimate the pavement in the late-'60s. Jeffers was intent on honoring both of his childhood heroes. This meant a Shelby powerplant was the only way to go. Shelby fans lovingly refer to it as the "Hi-Pro" 289; it was a stout small block with fortified internals that was rated at 271hp, usually coupled to a four-speed. Jeffers followed through with a set of World Performance heads, nicely capped with a set of Cobra valve covers to match the low-profile air cleaner.
Billitt Fire
Taking a peek under the actual Bullitt Mustang's hood will reveal another surprise you may not have been expecting. Like John's Mustang, the real Bullitt is a high-output mill - but the Balchowsky-built 390cid was bolstered with even more fortifications for the movie production. In fact, just about everything was beefed up.
The Bullitt Mustang was steeled with five-ton motor mounts in an effort to restrain the boundless fury. A heavy-duty BorgWarner four-speed was installed to sturdy-up the driveline, while reinforcements were made to the factory cross member. The final build was still hard-pressed to keep up with the 440 Mopar it was pitted against, but the thumping ring from the tailpipes more-than made up for any performance shortcomings it may have had.
In The Driver Seat
Welcome to John's view of the road, as seen from the cockpit of his Shelby/Bullitt. He's made a few minor modifications along the way, but he generally maintains a factory-like appearance. A quick scan of the dashboard, however, will immediately distinguish a prominent update to the gauge cluster. Pro-Comp Autometer gauges bounce playfully along the driver's field of vision, providing a positive overview of the engine at a glance. Off to the right, a set of custom toggles lines the center panel above the radio (an absolute must-have feature on any muscle car).
In The Bullitt Seat!
Despite the contemporary cluster (and new dashboard), John's Mustang closely resembles the original Bullitt cockpit. It's those original carryover features that are necessary to deliver the authentic Bullitt feeling as you thunder down the road. Notice the same three-spoke steering wheel, the same white-ball shift knob, and the same instrument layout (although a close inspection will reveal delete panels in place of the three secondary gauges).
Auto Meters!
Getting up close and personal with John's Auto Meter array gives you a better idea of what he sees rocketing down the road. You can almost feel the tremble of the shift knob, rattling your clenched fists as it transmits the pulsing engine vibrations through the transmission housing and up through the shifter, smoothing out as the tach climbs to unholy thresholds.
In The Bullitt's Seat
Trading John's driver seat for the actual Bullitt Mustang literally takes you back in time - to the day when this car was new. The now-vintage "wood-grain" accents are archaic by today's standards; in 1968, however, it was en vogue. The factory trim level of the Bullitt Mustang, contrary to John's version, was equipped with the deleted gauges that his dashboard lacked. Despite the decades of wear, finer components of the interior are in excellent condition.
Keeping It Classy
Below the mandatory toggle switches, the Pioneer KE-5100 series cassette deck was a marvel in itself. Retailing for approximately $350 in the early '80s (over $1,000 today), the AM/FM "Super Tuner" was revolutionary at the time. It's a far cry from a Bluetooth connection on your smartphone - but then again, so is a high-output, 390 cubic-inch small block in contrast to what most of us have sitting on our garages.
Triple Threat
John bought his Mustang on the day that Steve McQueen died, as it would turn out, solidifying his paint code selection: Highland Green (with a Satin Black tailpanel). Although the two Mustangs retain very similar build methodologies, John's Bullitt is a strikingly gorgeous example of what the original hero car would have looked like in her younger years.
Wear Worn Well
Despite the stark aesthetic contrast between the two cars, the decades of oxidation, dents, dings, and scratches serve only to enhance the vintage appeal of the classic pony car. Every crack, every blemish, and every scratch tells its own story - even the pitting chrome trim seems perfectly at home against the dull paint. (The Bullitt car's green paint was intentionally scuffed up to dull it out for the movie.)
Billitt - Like A Rock
John's Mustang is pictured here with the infamous Alcatraz structure in the background. It's the same city that the legendary Bullitt chase scene was filmed and remains a coveted route for movie fans to cruise along (a route John finally got to cross off his bucket list).
Today, the car sits with a dashboard signed by Steve's son (Chad McQueen), a custom TVS suspension from Hotchkis, and a bitter Mopar grudge that may never end.
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