You Tell Us: How Do You Value the Bullitt Mustang, Something That’s One of One?

Story by David S. Wallens • Photography as Credited
  

Whether talking about a Capri or a Cobra, past sales usually hint towards tomorrow’s sale prices. But what about something that’s one of one? 

Two cars that will cross the Mecum block later this week fall into that category. We’ve seen the cars, discussed it with a few friends, and wonder what the rest of the class has to say on it. (This is where you comment at the end of this story.)

Photography Credit: David S. Wallens

Car No. 1 is the Bullitt Mustang, a machine that needs little introduction: Highland Green paint, deleted trim, running down the bad guys through the streets of San Francisco. 

The genuine hero car from the movie recently resurfaced with a Hollywood-worthy backstory: In 1974, Robert Kiernan simply purchased the Mustang after spotting the ad in Road & Track. His wife used it as a daily driver until a bum clutch sidelined the car in 1980. Since then, it’s been sitting in the garage–or, rather, garages as the car moved around as the family did.

In 2018, after Mr. Kiernan’s passing, his son rolled the car back into the public eye. It’s been shown around the block a few times, including Amelia Island. 

On Friday, January 10, Mecum will send the Mustang across the block. And the Mustang isn’t a creampuff. Yes, the car was “weathered” for the movie–as Mecum explains, the paint was scuffed down prior to filming–but now the car spots rust holes in the lower corners, bent sheet metal and a corroded rear bumper. The wheels have shed a lot of paint. Bondo? Perhaps some. 

Hagerty says that a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback powered by the 390-cubic-inch V8 in fair condition is worth $39,200–and then add 10% for the four-speed. So in round numbers, let’s call it close to $45,000 for an example in No. 4 condition. (That same car in mint condition, the guide says, is worth a tick north of $85,000.)

But then there’s the McQueen bump–the X Factory here. In 2011, RM Sotheby’s got $1.375 million for the 1970 Porsche 911S that McQueen drove in the opening moments of “Le Mans.” This sale took place before the big Porsche bump, with the then-current going rate for a mint one being not quite $75,000.

A more recent sale: In 2015, McQueen’s 1976 Porsche 930–not a movie car but a personal car–brought in $1.95 million. At the time, a mint one was worth about $300,000 or so. And, to drive home the point, one more example: Despite little racing history, the Porsche 917K featured in “Le Mans” fetched $14 million in 2017–the most ever paid for a Porsche that we know about. 

So, back to the Mustang. At the end of the day, you can call it a ratty example of a common car. It’s beat yet can you really restore it?

Or you can say that it’s the star of one of Hollywood’s most iconic car chases ever. It’s a car that needs little introduction: It’s a Ford Mustang (big point No. 1) that most everyone knows (big point No. 2). 

What will it sell for? Mecum hasn’t printed a public estimate. Will it bring in $2 million? $3 million? 7 million? More? Place your bets.

Photography Courtesy Mecum Auctions

Photography Courtesy Mecum Auctions

Photography Courtesy Mecum Auctions

 

 

 

And then there’s the Challenger 2, another vehicle that’s hard to value. This is the actual car designed and driven by Mickey Thompson at Bonneville in 1968. Thompson reached 400 mph on the salt flats–close to the 406 he needed for the new record–but rain prevented any more runs. Ford pulled their support, and Thompson went onto other adventures. 

Photography Credit: David S. Wallens

 “Having already retired from racing,” the catalog explains, ”Mickey and his son Danny pulled the car from storage 20 years later with plans for another record attempt, but tragedy struck; on March 16, 1988, Mickey and his wife, Trudy, were murdered in front of their home in Bradbury, California, and their grieving son placed the car and the rest of his father’s racing memorabilia into storage for another two decades.”

In 2018, Danny Thompson and Challenger 2 finally returned to Bonneville. Horsepower had been bumped from 1800 to 5000, enough to send Danny Thompson and Challenger 2 down the salt flats at 448.757 mph, setting a new SCTA AA/Fuel Streamliner record. 

This one will cross the block on Saturday, January 11. The estimate is $900,000 to $1.5 million. 

Like the Bullitt Mustang, what’s it worth? It’s an important part of motorsports history that comes from an American legend. 

But, one the other hand, we’re talking about a one-off machine built for land speed racing–not Formula 1, NASCAR or Le Mans. And, at 32 feet long, where do you keep it? 

No matter the selling price, hopefully the new owners don’t lock them away.

Photography Credit: David S. Wallens

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