The iconic 1968 Mustang fastback driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullitt (1968) will be on display during the Keystone BIG Show Feb. 23-24, 2018 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas.
The Bullitt Mustang came out of hiding after 40 years of being one of the best kept secrets in automotive folklore. It’s recent unveiling occurred at the North American International Auto Show this January in the Ford booth during the company’s announcement of a special edition 2019 Bullitt Mustang celebrating the 50th anniversary of the movie.
“I’m really looking forward to showing Bullitt at the BIG Show,” said Sean Kiernan, the car’s owner. “Being a Keystone cousin—I’m an LKQ employee—it’s fantastic that the timing of the event and the attention the car is getting are so well aligned. I think it will be awesome for our customers while creating a real buzz in Holley’s booth.”
Kiernan said that his family kept the car a secret over the years with plans to eventually restore it as a father-son project. It was used as a daily driver after the Kiernan’s father, Bob Kiernan, purchased it in 1974 from an ad that ran in Road & Track Magazine. Auction estimates place the value of the vehicle between $4-5 million. That’s comparable to other iconic cars like the original Batmobile and James Bond’s original Aston Martin.
Two 1968 Mustang GT fastbacks were used in the award-winning film. One was sold to a private buyer and the other one, due to its condition after being thrashed around the streets of San Francisco, was destined for the salvage yard.
“This original Bullitt Mustang is one of the most iconic vehicles of all time,” said Mark Gessler, president of the Historic Vehicle Association, a USA Today article. “It’s one of the most important artifacts of the 21st century in terms of automotive history. It is a national cultural treasure.”
“We are really excited to be bringing Bullitt to the BIG Show and it wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Holley. To give our customers the chance to see this very rare piece of American automobile heritage in person is thrilling,” said Bill Rogers, vice president and general manager for Keystone. “For most of our guests this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity and definitely worth the trip to Texas to see.”
The work of the Historic Vehicle Association with support from partners such as Ford Motor Co., Hagerty, Shell, Pennzoil, LKQ Corporation, American Fuel and Petrochemical manufacturers, and The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage have resulted in Bullitt being the 21st vehicle listed on the National Historic Vehicle Register.
Details about the BIG Show can be found at www.keystonebigshow.com.