The original Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 film Bullitt will be available for sale at an upcoming auction in January.
Vehicle auction house Mecum announced last week that one of the muscle cars featured in the iconic chase scene in the film will be sold off at an event in Kissimmee, Florida next year.
'Bullitt' Ford Mustang
McQueen and his stunt double used two Ford Mustang models to shoot a car chase scene for Bullitt around San Francisco. One of the vehicles was primarily used for close-ups of the lead actor, while the other was used for the heavy stunts.
The shots that they were able to take ended up being the highlight of the film, with CNN even calling it the car chase scene that "changed movies forever."
However, the success came at a price as the stunt car that was used was wrecked during filming. It was reportedly sent to scrap heap afterward. Meanwhile, McQueen's Mustang model was later sold off and it vanished from the public eye for decades.
It wasn't until an event during the 2018 Detroit Auto Show that fans of the Ford Mustang GT caught a glimpse of the hero car again. The vintage vehicle was reintroduced alongside a new tribute edition of the Mustang for Bullitt's 50th anniversary.
Letting Go Of An Iconic Car
The Bullitt Ford Mustang was kept by the family that had bought it back in the day. A man by the name of Robert Kiernan bought the car for $6,000 after seeing an ad for it. He and his family kept the car throughout the years until it broke down. They were planning to have it fixed but never got around to doing it. It was left in the Kiernan's garage for many years.
When Kiernan died from Parkinson's disease in 2014, his son Sean inherited the Ford Mustang. Sean decided to bring the car out of retirement in time for Bullitt's anniversary. He took the unrestored vehicle on a tour around the country and even placed it on display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
However, after much thinking, Sean made up his mind that he will have to let go of the iconic muscle car. He decided to put it up for auction.
"Everything I've done with it takes so much," Sean told Fox News.
"I've got a baby on the way, third child, and it's time for the next chapter in our lives."
He believes the Ford Mustang would fetch a considerable amount of money, which he could certainly use to help support his growing family.
Jonathan Klinger, vice president of public relations at classic car insurance company Hagerty, said the Bullitt car could fetch the highest price ever for a Mustang. He added that he wouldn't be surprised if it would be sold for $5 million.
The high value of the muscle car is attributed to its association with Steve McQueen, who is considered as one of the few Hollywood celebrities known to impact the value of cars.
