Bullitt gossip thread

[Bullitt2065]

Here is my car, by the way! It will be coming out of storage in the next week or two.

Have lightly modified it, upgrading the suspension, brakes and tires. Drivetrain is bone stock, though.

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[Strokerswild]

Sigh.

I miss my '09 sometimes, such perfection cosmetically. If it would have had Coyote power I probably would have kept it forever.

 

[Bullitt2065]

Sigh.

I miss my '09 sometimes, such perfection cosmetically. If it would have had Coyote power I probably would have kept it forever.

I've driven plenty of Coyote powered Mustangs, and I think I honestly like my 08 Bullitt better. Sure, a new 5.0 will blow the doors off of my car, but I like the way the 5-speed shifts a lot better than the 6-speed in the new cars, I like the way the clutch is heavy. The 08/09 Bullitt kind of just feels like the last of the old school muscle cars, and it really started to get more refined after that.

And aesthetically it's one of the very best looking Mustangs, ever! I'll never sell my 08.

 

[Bullitt]

As the owner of a 2008 Bullit, I'm on the fence about whether I would want to see a new Bullitt in 2018, but I'm leaning towards thinking I would like to see another one.

Here is my rationale for why I believe Ford will NOT build another Bullitt, though:

1. For both the 2001 and 2008/09 versions, neither car achieved the sales targets Ford had set out for. For 2008, Ford planned to sell 7700 Bullitts. With the recession hitting, they only sold 5808 in 2008. It was so few that they made a last minute decision to roll the remaining cars into a second production year. Even after two years, they only sold 6624 in total, more than 1000 fewer than planned. For 2001 models, ford planned to sell 6500 Bullitts and only sold 5582. So with two model runs failing to hit their targets, perhaps they'll forego a third try.

2. In order to make a Bullitt, Ford has to pay royalties to Warner Brothers, who own the rights to the movie Bullitt. I've heard they are notoriously difficult to deal with and they have to deal with them in every facet of the car, not just building and selling them. If they want to put the car in their 2018 brochure, they have to get permission, if they want to make a poster, they have to get permission, and so on and so on. The fact that they requested to use my car in the 2015 Mustang unveiling in Dearborn was a HUGE shock due to these rules.

3. With the rumors now swirling that S650 will be coming two year early, I just don't think there is enough time for Ford to create all of the performance variants we've heard rumored. We've heard GT500, Mach 1, Bullitt and more rumored and with only two more model years of unannounced product to go before the 2020 model year, I'm not sure there is room for all of those variants. That said, I suspect the Bullitt would be the odd man out, if they had to cut one.

Good points. I've also heard that WB isn't on board for another version anyway. That combined with the fact that there's more smoke about a Mach 1 then a Bullitt makes me think the Bullitt is sadly dead. It's a shame to miss the 50th anniversary, although Ford may be over that idea after the 2015 launch.

As for your first point, I think the easy solution to that is it clearly seems like ~5,500 cars is the demand for these Bullitts. Learn from the past and keep it limited to say, 5,000 cars just to be safe. Maybe the economics don't work out to make it worthwhile for Ford to produce them in this smaller number, but it would be an easy fix to the sales disappointment of the last car. And seeing them make only 1,965 of the 2015 50th LE makes me think this option would be viable.

As for the S650, I could be wrong but I believe they said it will be launched in 2020 as a 2021 model, not much difference but does give an extra year.

I love the front of the 08s but the back end doesn't do it for me, and the 2015 "Fastback" more closely resembles the lines of the 68 to me which is why I think it would be such a great fit for the Bullitt treatment. At this point, given the lack of evidence for a 2018 Bullitt I'm planning to just keep saving for the real thing, 1968 390 Fastback in HG. It'll be a while though, Bullitt clones have been going for 60k+ recently :(

 

[Bullitt2065]

Good points. I've also heard that WB isn't on board for another version anyway. That combined with the fact that there's more smoke about a Mach 1 then a Bullitt makes me think the Bullitt is sadly dead. It's a shame to miss the 50th anniversary, although Ford may be over that idea after the 2015 launch.

As for your first point, I think the easy solution to that is it clearly seems like ~5,500 cars is the demand for these Bullitts. Learn from the past and keep it limited to say, 5,000 cars just to be safe. Maybe the economics don't work out to make it worthwhile for Ford to produce them in this smaller number, but it would be an easy fix to the sales disappointment of the last car. And seeing them make only 1,965 of the 2015 50th LE makes me think this option would be viable.

As for the S650, I could be wrong but I believe they said it will be launched in 2020 as a 2021 model, not much difference but does give an extra year.

I love the front of the 08s but the back end doesn't do it for me, and the 2015 "Fastback" more closely resembles the lines of the 68 to me which is why I think it would be such a great fit for the Bullitt treatment. At this point, given the lack of evidence for a 2018 Bullitt I'm planning to just keep saving for the real thing, 1968 390 Fastback in HG. It'll be a while though, Bullitt clones have been going for 60k+ recently :(

It's funny that WB is so anal about Ford using the Bullitt name as even though McQueen was the Hollywood royalty in the movie, it was the car that was really the star, and it was the fact that Ford built the 2001 an 08/09 models that really kept the movie relevant all these years later. Sure it's one of the best car chases of all time, but it's when they redo a legend decades later than the world really takes notice.

 

[Spartan]

I've been hoping for news of a Mach 1 for '17MY........but I'd be just as happy with a Bullitt for '18MY.

Either way, here's what I'd like:

5.2 CPC (475hp)
10-speed auto or 6 speed manual (Yes, Mr McQueen would approve of the auto ;)
MagneRide suspension
DHG paint
20" alloys
Active exhaust
Lalo Schifrin Bullitt score default setting on the stereo when the car recognises a Dodge Charger in the rear view mirror :lol:

I'd take all of the above minus the DHG...I want my Ingot Silver. ;)

 

[Strokerswild]

I've driven plenty of Coyote powered Mustangs, and I think I honestly like my 08 Bullitt better. Sure, a new 5.0 will blow the doors off of my car, but I like the way the 5-speed shifts a lot better than the 6-speed in the new cars, I like the way the clutch is heavy. The 08/09 Bullitt kind of just feels like the last of the old school muscle cars, and it really started to get more refined after that.

And aesthetically it's one of the very best looking Mustangs, ever! I'll never sell my 08.

Agreed on all but the power deficit.

I owned my '09 after owning my pullied and tuned GT500, so there's that (BTW, if you want a heavy clutch, a '07-'09 GT500 is the pinnacle) - it was a fun car, but needed another 100 HP to hit the sweet spot, at least for me. But I couldn't bring myself to cut it up to get it to that point.

I wish I could afford to have it and my '15, because I loved it.

 

[ManBearPig]

I see a Mach 1 coming before another Bullitt. I had an '08 Bullitt (mine was #4493) and I should've kept it, but it wasn't anything terribly special over the GT. As mentioned, it (like any 4.6 car) could've used another hundred or so HP. The Mach 1, however, was a pretty big deal for its day. Hell, those cars still hold their own now. I never owned one (always wanted to) but have spent a lot of time behind the wheel of one. I'm convinced they were significantly under rated.

 

[oustaz]

Subscribing to this thread. Honestly I don't even care about performance upgrades, all I want from a Bullitt is:
Dark highland green paint
Blank grill
Faux gas cap on the back
5.0 fender badge delete
Torque thrust inspired wheels
Retro gauge font

If it has all those things I'll put down a deposit the same day it's announced. They could even just make it an appearance package like the 50th anniversary package and I'd be happy. Any special exhaust, engine or performance enhancements would just be the cherry on top. Come on Ford, 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the movie, please don't pass up the opportunity!

This is Subaruwrxfan for sure Love your videos Matt keep it up

 

[Proudgeek]

I've driven plenty of Coyote powered Mustangs, and I think I honestly like my 08 Bullitt better. Sure, a new 5.0 will blow the doors off of my car, but I like the way the 5-speed shifts a lot better than the 6-speed in the new cars, I like the way the clutch is heavy. The 08/09 Bullitt kind of just feels like the last of the old school muscle cars, and it really started to get more refined after that.

And aesthetically it's one of the very best looking Mustangs, ever! I'll never sell my 08.

It has a great connection to asphalt. I regret selling mine. I should have sold my cobra instead even though it is very rare and fun to drive as well. Miss my bullitt big time :(

 

[Cobra Jet]

I don't think Ford is going to bring the Bullitt back again. It was set up best in its last form - looked the best and the limited production run made it a collectible as is... It's a car that really should not be produced over and over and over.

It's like bringing back the Starsky and Hutch Torino every other year... Or the KoJack Buick Century, or the A-Team van, or Rockford's Firebird, or the Charlie's Angels Mustang II, or the Hawaii Five-O Mercury Parklane Brougham, or the Munsters Mobile...

A movie car is best remembered as the original and nothing will ever replace a 1968 Bullitt...

 

[Bullitt2065]

I don't think Ford is going to bring the Bullitt back again. It was set up best in its last form - looked the best and the limited production run made it a collectible as is... It's a car that really should not be produced over and over and over.

It's like bringing back the Starsky and Hutch Torino every other year... Or the KoJack Buick Century, or the A-Team van, or Rockford's Firebird, or the Charlie's Angels Mustang II, or the Hawaii Five-O Mercury Parklane Brougham, or the Munsters Mobile...

A movie car is best remembered as the original and nothing will ever replace a 1968 Bullitt...

I don't think your argument is quite apples-to-apples. You are correct that nothing will ever be cooler than Frank Bullitt's 1968 Mustang, but the 2001 and 2008/09 Bullitts were homages or tributes to the original, whereas the other cars you mentioned would be straight up replicas of the movie cars.

 

[Bullitt]

stangtv.com posted a new article last week that included a blurb about a future Bullitt. They seem fairly confident a new one will be made. Not sure how reliable they've been in the past. Could be just bs but for those hoping for a new one, it's nice to hear the speculation: http://www.stangtv.com/event-covera...-show-attracted-a-nice-selection-of-mustangs/

 

[Hashbrownn]

I want Magnetic shocks!

 

[QRK]

My buddy's dad had an '08 Bullitt back when I was in high school and damn do I still think about that car. He would let us take it out every Friday after school and my buddy would let me drive a lot.

The following spring my dad bought an '09 GT500 during my senior year and it was fun to compare that to the Bullitt. Two completely different animals in so many different ways. The Shelby was obviously a lot faster, but only when you could get the power down. The Bullitt felt a lot faster than it actually was when driven back-to-back with the Shelby because I had a lot more confidence behind the wheel. As an 18yr-old kid, I was definitely a lot more intimidated by the Shelby than I would have ever admitted haha. To this day, I can't believe the Bullitt only had 315hp.

If Ford does in fact offer a new Bullitt for 2018, I'll have a hard time not trading mine in for one. It would make perfect sense for the 50th anniversary of the "original."

I'd love to see them keep it simple visually like the last one. Blank grille, dark grey Torque-Thrust style wheels, no badges aside from a Bullitt badge on the back, and of course painted in Dark Highland Green.

Performance-wise I think it would make sense for them to offer it with the exhaust and magnetic shocks from the GT350, along with at least a 20-25hp bump.

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