Before there was "Eleanor" there was another Mustang that was synonymous with the cinematic car chase and today that car, The 1968 Mustang GT 390 from Steve McQueen's "Bullitt," has just been auctioned off for $3.7 million dollars at 2020 Mecum Kissimmee. The surviving Bullitt Mustang had been in private hands since filming ended for the McQueen classic living a strikingly civilian life until it re-emerged after a mechanical restoration to coincide with the release of the 2018 Ford Bullitt Edition Mustang.

One of Two

Mecum's auction of the Bullitt Mustang brings in $3.7 million
via hagerty.com

The production used two modified green Mustang GT 390s for the filming of the movie and its iconic car chase with a Dodge Charger through the streets of San Francisco. The other one was damaged in stunt filming and thought lost until it turned up in Mexico in 2017. This one was sold to a crew member who used it as a daily driver. The Warner Brothers parking sticker is still on the car.

Not Even McQueen Could Buy It

The Bullitt car chase is considered one of the best on screen car chases
via Warner Bros

It changed hands a few times and ended up in with the Kiernan family where the senior Kiernan cared more for the big engine under the hood than for the cinematic prominence of the car. McQueen had approached him about buying the famous Mustang but Kiernan refused, both not liking the way McQueen approached him and the car was a daily driver until the clutch gave out in 1980.

Back to Life

The mechanically restored Hero Bullitt Mustang appeared at the debut of the 2018 Bullitt Edition
via hemmings.com

The release of the first Bullitt Edition Mustang prompted the family to get the original car roadworthy again, but illness delayed the project until it was picked up again in 2014. The original accompanied the 2018 Bullitt Edition launch after it was returned to roadworthy status. The rest of the car has remained untouched, including the parking stickers of the various owners.

So, when the hammer finally came down at the Mecum auction, "Bullitt" went for a record $3.7 million dollars. This handily beats the former record holder, a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake that sold at last year's Mecum Kissimmee auction for $2.2 million. Mecum has not released the identity of the new owner but whoever he or she is now has possession of the world's most expensive Mustang.

Source: Hagerty and Hemmings