Bullitt Mustang Driven by Steve McQueen Headed to Mecums Auction

‘King of Cool’ couldn’t buy this original ‘Bullitt’ movie car but pretty soon, a diehard fan with deep pockets will be able to take it home.

The last few years have been great for Steve McQueen fans. In 2017, we brought you news that one of the 1968 Mustang fastbacks used in the filming of the classic movie “Bullitt” had been restored to its original glory. At the 2018 North American International Auto Show, Ford unveiled the other 1968 Mustang movie car Steve McQueen drove during the film’s iconic chase scene up and down the streets of San Francisco. Next year is going to be even better because that exact car will go to the highest bidder at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in January.

According to Ford, “It was one of two duplicate Mustang GTs used in the movie. After filming, the cars went their separate ways. The hero vehicle driven by McQueen in the movie was sold by Warner Bros. to a private buyer, and the other – used in many of the jumps during the famous chase scene – was sent to a salvage yard. That jumper vehicle resurfaced in Baja, California, in early 2017, but the other was lost to history.” That’s what everyone thought, at least.

After filming of “Bullitt” wrapped up, the hero car was repaired and then sold to a Warner Brothers employee, according to the Historic Vehicle Association. That buyer eventually sold it to a New Jersey detective. In 1974, that man sold it to Robert Kiernan. His son, Sean Kiernan, said that three years later, Steve McQueen himself called his father and tried to buy the car from him. Kiernan refused. He refused again when McQueen wrote him a letter expressing his interest in the exact same car he had made into an automotive icon.

For several years, the Kiernan family used the Mustang GT as a commuter car and a family hauler for trips to Maine and upstate New York. At one point, the elder and younger Kiernan started restoring their piece of cinematic history. Unfortunately, they never got the chance to finish the project together; Robert Kiernan passed away in 2014. Sean continued the labor of love himself by rebuilding the engine, replacing the old carpet, and installing a new steering wheel that’s similar to the one seen in “Bullitt.”

Whoever places the winning bid next January will need more than a lot of money. They’ll also need a commitment to preserving a car with not one, but two legacies.

Photos: Ford Motor Co.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.