Home

Ford

Mustang

News

Jay Leno Chased By Original Bullitt Mustang While Driving New One

Watch and listen as he gets seat time in both cars.

1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car

Christopher Smith Christopher Smith

By: Christopher Smith

Jan 15, 2018 at 6:33pm ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Share

Comment

Barely 24 hours after Ford unveiled the new 2019 Mustang Bullitt – not to mention dropping a Bullitt bomb by bringing the original movie car out of hiding – Jay Leno is already taking hot laps in both. Actually, we’re pretty sure those laps occurred some time ago considering the amount of green grass and obvious lack of snow shown in the clip, which was clearly shot at Ford’s proving grounds in Dearborn, Michigan. Being a very rich and famous car guy does have its perks.

Update:

The video doesn’t necessarily tell us anything that we haven’t already heard from Ford on both the new Mustang and the original. Leno climbs into the passenger seat initially but the clip then jumps to him behind the wheel, chatting with the car’s owner, Sean Kiernan. It was his father that bought the original Bullitt back in 1974 and used it as a daily driver for several years. The cool part – the prior owner was a police detective from New Jersey named Frank. If you've seen the actual movie and not just the chase scene, you'll know how awesome that is.

Steve McQueen tried to buy the car back from the Kiernans, but that deal was turned down twice. The car was parked in 1981 after accumulating upwards of 65,000 total miles; that’s where it stayed and it eventually slipped into obscurity until very recently – as in the last 24 freaking hours.

When Sean’s father passed away in 2014, he decided to bring the car back to running condition while preserving it as it had been during its time as the Kiernan daily driver. Obviously a few other people were in the know on the car, culminating with the big reveal that just went down – a reveal that included McQueen’s granddaughter Molly.

What do you think?

View

Comments

Leno’s video isn’t groundbreaking, but it does give us the opportunity to see and hear both cars in action. That would be welcome enough, but considering this could be the most famous movie car of all time – backed by a truly fascinating story – that makes the clip even better.

Source:  Jay Leno’s Garage via YouTube

Gallery: 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car

Ford

1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car

28

1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt original movie car

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

The Rotary Engine Should Be Everywhere. Why Isn't It?

The Rotary Engine Should Be Everywhere. Why Isn't It?

The 2027 BMW X5 Is Hugely Improved Where It Matters Most: Driven

The 2027 BMW X5 Is Hugely Improved Where It Matters Most: Driven

Toyota's Next Mid-Engined Coupe Is Going Racing This Weekend

Toyota's Next Mid-Engined Coupe Is Going Racing This Weekend

The BMW iX5 Makes A Strong Case Against The Gas X5: Driven

The BMW iX5 Makes A Strong Case Against The Gas X5: Driven

Subaru Teases A New Manual WRX, But Only For Japan

Subaru Teases A New Manual WRX, But Only For Japan

latest articles

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU



Only 50 Of These 870-HP Mustangs Will Be Built Per Year



Remember Aston Martin's Weird Little City Car? There's A Reason It Existed



Ford Reclaimed The Nürburgring Record, But Corvette Won't Fight Back



The BMW iX5 Makes A Strong Case Against The Gas X5: Driven



Ford Secretly Built A Mustang Pickup Nobody Knew About



The 2027 BMW X5 Is Hugely Improved Where It Matters Most: Driven



Winners And Losers From September Auto Sales