It looks like the 2018 Ford Mustang Bullitt will debut next week at the Detroit Auto Show, with the first unit to be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction on Jan. 19.
Earlier this week, we brought you news that the next Ford Mustang Bullitt might debut at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction on January 19th. That news effectively surfaced when a listing for a “special new” Ford Mustang was discovered on the Barrett-Jackson website. New information from Automotive News suggests that the movie-themed muscle car will make its grand debut next week at the Detroit Auto Show.
Bullitt at NAIAS
According to Automotive News, an unnamed source familiar with the project stated that the Ford Mustang Bullitt will debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. Per the source, this car will be a 2018 model year vehicle and it is being introduced to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 release of the hit Steve McQueen movie.
Really, unveiling the new Bullitt Mustang at the Detroit Auto Show rather than an auction event in Arizona makes far more sense. Having the new special edition pony car on display in Detroit will get far more attention, both from the media and from the general public.
Unfortunately, there are no further details than that, but if you’re familiar with the 2001, 2008 or 2009 production car – or the 1968 movie car – you know what to expect. The 2018 Bullitt will likely have Highland Green exterior paint, black wheels and a well-appointed black interior. We can also expect some mild performance upgrades from Ford Performance, such as suspension parts, a cold air intake system and a louder exhaust.
The Auction Car
With the promise of a special new Ford Mustang rolling onto the auction block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event, it seems likely that the Motor Company will be auctioning off the rights to buy the very first 2018 Bullitt edition car. We know that Boys Republic, the school attended and chaired by Steve McQueen, is the benefactor of the auction, so the odds are good that a 2018 Bullitt Mustang will roll across the auction block in eight days to help a great cause.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
