BULLITT Charger

[BULLITT Maniac]

Hi guys, anybody having more info on the Charger used in the BULLITT movie.
Here is a picture you might be interested in.

[69SIXBBL]

check out these websites!!!
http://hazzard.simplenet.com/bullitt.html
http://members.tripod.com/~stvmcqueen/

[BULLITT Maniac]

Thanks, I knew those already.
Although I am from the other side of car buffs (the bl.. oval one, sorry), you might have a look at my site. Don't take the "How to blow up a Charger" to serious. http://www.people.freenet.de/pony/index2.htm

[Blaine Peterson]

What exactly is on the front of that Charger anyway? Looks like it might be a motion picture (film) camera with its own gas powered generator, but I can't tell for sure.

[BULLITT Maniac]

Yes, it is the camera, but the generator was battery powered as to what we know, not a gas powered. The picture is from the original 1969 CAR Life article. See my below mentioned website for further details.
So nobody has more informaton form the MOPAR site?

[onehundredmph]

Hello...

According to Internet movie database.
(www.imdb.com)

There were two Mustangs and two Chargers
used during filming.

Bad news, both Chargers were destroyed.

Also one of the Mustangs was destroyed
and the other less messed up one was sold
after production.

Steven McQueen wanted to buy it from the guy but the dude refused to sell...

As far as we know, it's still sitting unrestored in a garage somewhere...

look up Bullit on imdb.com
Trivia section.

Steven Dean
100mph

1958 Plymouth Savoy 4 door sedan...
1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus

[Streetwize]

There have been several articles over the years written behind the scenes of Bullitt. The most interesting thing thing I remember was that the Charger had to be handicapped (i.e., slowed down) because it would "run rings" around the Mustang in acceleration and handling. The R/T suspension was essentially the same as the "B" Body Police package and they do handle respectably well for their size (I own a 70 Charger R/T Original 4 speed/Dana). I remember them saying they put 78 series skinny tires on the Dodge to slow it down but it didn't make much difference. you can see in a few of the wide sweeping camera angles that the Charger
(Driven by Bill Hickman, arguably the greatest stunt driver in the business and is the actual actor/driver in the film) is clearly moving through San Fran faster than the Mustang. The 390/ 4 speed Mustang was grossly nose heavy and lacked posi-traction (Also as clearly seen in McQueen's overshot turn). A tweaked 289 would have been quicker.

A couple other interesting things:

The Charger was attached to the Mustang with lateral tow bars (visible in the film if you look close)for the final scene and the Charger missed and rolled behind the gas pumps it was supposed to hit (also clearly visible in the film if you look close).

It was a great film and the first of many films and TV shows to feature one of the most recognizable body styles in automotive history. The only thing wrong with Bullitt is that Steve drove the wrong car!!

Wize 1

------------------
Streetwize

[DodgeRam]

If you have access to the mag Automobile, they do a special edition every so often, Pilgrimages, where they drive several cars around from a certain brand and this time they are polishing Henry Fords knob. One article is about Bullit and they sent four cars to a local speed shop. "We had a Mustang with a cam and a Hemi with a four-barrel, and we drove them as fast as they could go with hardly any traffic control- two policemen on three-wheelers," Bud Ekins

Ford provided two Mustangs and Solar Productions (Mcqueen's Co.) bought two Chargers and sent them to Max Balchowsky's shop. He beefed up all suspensions and fitted two cars with full roll cages.

'The Mustang sported a stock 335 (gross), and was NO match for the 440. Balchowsky milled the Ford's heads, installed a race cam, and modified the ignition and carburetion to give it a fighting chance.'

Scense were shot at full speed for authenticity, with McQueen behind the wheel of the Mustang, Bill Hickman in the Charger.

At the crest of the Taylor street, both cars get enormous air. One take, full speed. 'The Mustang bottomed out so badly that the flywheel was bent and the oil-pan drain plug ripped off.'

Truly the chase scene that set that standard for all to follow.

[ZZ Pop]

I just built a model of the Bullitt '68 Charger (Revell). It sure looks real.
Now I get the hots for a Charger everytime I look at this car!