The Greatest Discoveries Of All Time About The Ford Mustang.
For most car enthusiasts, barn-finds hold an irresistible appeal.
Whether found intuitively, by accident, or outright, here are some of the greatest Ford Mustang discoveries of all time.
Mustang is missing Bullitt
Bullitt is rightly regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time – not least for its iconic chase scene through the streets of San Francisco.
The movie made the Mustang famous – and two were used in filming: a ‘hero’ car and a ‘stunt’ car. The latter had long been thought lost, a victim of the scrapheap – until a rusting white Mustang turned up in a Mexican junkyard.
Sitting out in the sun and salty air had done the old Ford no good.
Barely recognisable, it lacked an engine or transmission, and restorer Ralph Garcia almost made it over to resemble the Eleanor Mustang from Gone in 60 Seconds.
Its chassis number was sent to Ford specialist Kevin Marti and he was able to confirm its provenance as the long-lost Bullitt ‘stunt’ car. It’s now undergoing restoration.
Second Bullitt Mustang found by Ford
The better-known ‘hero’ Mustang used in the filming of Bullitt fared better than the ‘stunt’ car.
First sold to a Hollywood studio exec then to a New York detective, it was bought in ‘74 by Mustang fan Robert Kiernan for US$6000.
Steve McQueen himself reportedly tried to buy it twice in the late-’70s but was rebutted.
Garaged in 1980 after a breakdown, it then stayed there for more than 30 years, until Kiernan’s son inherited the fastback and began restoring it.
Ford got wind of the plan and agreed to help, displaying the car alongside the new Mustang Bullitt at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show.
It’s since become something of an automotive celebrity, appearing at car shows and concours around the world as befits its status as one of the most famous movie cars ever.
