Which Hollywood classic: Herbie or Bullitt?

When it comes to car movies, what’s your favorite? And how about if we narrow it down to two classics.

Bullitt, released in 1968, gave us a gritty detective thriller–along with a ground-breaking car chase. We had near silence until, well, you know how it went down. So much jumping, so…

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I just realized it's been a long time since I've seen either film.

I'll have to watch them back-to-back and let you know what I decide. 

In reply to Colin Wood :

I should do the same. 

Herbie for me! Always wanted a re-powered bug, either Porsche or Subaru but still retaining the stock exterior look. A sleeper would be a fun driver.

I gotta go with Herbie too. Love the sportscars he was up against.

Herbie. With no doubt whatsoever. VW's first self driving car long before the Tesla. Love the Mustang but everyone loves the underdog.

Neither.  I'd go for the Minis in the original Italian Job!  (with a nod to the Ronin Audi S8)

wspohn said:

Neither.  I'd go for the Minis in the original Italian Job!  (with a nod to the Ronin Audi S8)

Two solid additional choices.

I know a guy that owens the Austin Healy that you see when Steve McQueen parks the mustang and goes up to his apartment so ,Bullitt for the action and Herbie for all the other cool cars. Who doesn't love a BUG with wide wheels soft sunroof and obviously a porsche 911 motor. Both are black plate specials. It is officially a tie. You have to love them both!

Kpgarage said:

Herbie. With no doubt whatsoever. VW's first self driving car long before the Tesla. Love the Mustang but everyone loves the underdog.

The whole “underdog” thing raises a good point. Herbie was down on his luck. Even the upstairs maid didn’t want him. 

I will say that I am a little biased as I love both movies. So much so to the point that I own a documented, screen used Herbie from the first two Love Bug films and a 2009 Mustang Bullitt. Two very different cars, two very different movies. But when you look at the credits, there was a lot of over lap as Carey Loftin, Bill Hickman, Max Balchowsky, Dale Van Sickel, and Bud Ekins were involved in both productions.

My favorite Hollywood classic movie car is from a very obscure movie, "King of the Mountain". It would be Cal's(Dennis Hopper) Corvette coupe. Primer, sidepipes, no windows, no hood, no air cleaner and rolling on aluminum slots. Just raw American muscle!

If it was a bug with the performance of Herbie, I'd love to have it, as it would probably out-perform the Bullitt Mustang....  Nothing against the 'Stang but I remember an interview with the stunt driver in the Charger who said he had to keep backing out of it to let the Mustang keep up....

BUT....  I have never re-watched any Love Bug scenes, whereas my brother and I would regularly phone each other back in the day when we saw that the Bullitt chase was coming on the local channel, so that we could re-watch it!

lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) said:

My favorite Hollywood classic movie car is from a very obscure movie, "King of the Mountain". It would be Cal's(Dennis Hopper) Corvette coupe. Primer, sidepipes, no windows, no hood, no air cleaner and rolling on aluminum slots. Just raw American muscle!

 

 

Here’s the clip, and definitely a brutal car.