Paul Batista, Instant Wheels Editor
InstantRiverside.com

The limited-edition Ford Mustang Bullitt is quite possibly Ford’s most affordable offering of a high-performance factory-upgraded Mustang.
“Within the Ford brand, it’s the most recognizable nameplate,” says Tom Owings, general manager of Raceway Ford in Riverside.

For a week the I drove one of the prized editions of the Mustang nameplate provided to me from the Ford media fleet. The Bullitt is a modern tribute to the 1968 Mustang GT 390 driven by Steve McQueen in the movie, Bullitt.

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Released 40 years ago, the movie contains a very popular car chase sequence between the Mustang and a Dodge Charger, with spirited, dangerous maneuvers through the streets of San Francisco.

Because of the movie, the Bullitt is both a famous car and a movie star.

The Bullitt Package is an option for Mustang buyers; it tacks on $3,310 to the price of a Mustang GT. In an effort to match the appearance of the car in the movie Ford has removed the fog lights and pony badge normally found on the grille. The rear spoiler and nearly all other “Mustang” designations have disappeared. The name Bullitt and its signature crosshairs are located on the steering wheel and the faux fuel cap at the rear.

Upon opening the doors, the driver and passenger will find trendy aluminum door sill plates that read “Bullitt.” Four small ponies are located on the center caps of the 5-spoke wheels. This makes for a very understated, original Mustang appearance.

Additional options on my test model were a theft deterrent system, Sirius satellite radio, HID headlights, Navigation system, ambient lighting, and TripTunes, an MP3 player interface that charges the device and lets you operate it from the in-dash or steering wheel audio controls.

Overall, the driving experience was phenomenal. The ABS and traction control system allow the driver to have a limited-enthusiastic experience. Turning off the TCS is recommended for only the most seasoned drivers in the right situations, such as on a race track.

I had the most fun around Riverside using the standard 5-speed Tremec transmission to advance through the gears.

One problem; on a hot day the non-insulated shift knob is nearly impossible to touch without getting burned. The “clunk” of the clutch engaging was reminiscent of being in the driver’s seat of an old muscle car. The exhaust note egged me on to occasionally punch the throttle. Even though the lack of an independent rear suspension was noticeable at times, I was impressed with the way it stuck through corners at high speeds.

While the real excitement is found in getting between gears 1 and 5, the Bullitt is actually not a bad highway cruiser either. I was pleasantly surprised how it handled expansion joints on the 91 freeway. Road noise intrusion was kept to a minimum. With the A/C blowing and the radio at mid-level, the engine and exhaust were almost inaudible.

The appearance of the Bullitt is just subtly different enough to turn heads and make other motorists wonder, “Is that a modified after-market Mustang?” That’s the beauty of it. It’s all factory-tuned and warranted by Ford– you’re legal and super cool!

If you’re just looking for a basic Bullitt without all the extras, it can be bought for just over $31,000. I found it fascinating that every
Bullitt can be slightly different, depending on the options desired, since it’s considered an optional package on the Mustang GT and GT Premium models.

My test Bullitt’s MSRP is $34,705. With NHTSA ratings of nearly 5 stars in every crash test category, the Mustang Bullitt is definitely safe.