Autoblog

Monterey 2010: Pebble gathers a dozen Jaguar XK-SS roadsters for Jag's 75th

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Jaguar

Jaguar XK-SS Gathering at Pebble Beach - Click above for high-res image gallery

Okay, full disclosure - We have to tell you that we have a conflict of interest on this one. The Jaguar XK-SS is one of this author's top ten sports car designs of all time. This partially-civilized, D-Type-derived, semi-comp car is just plain awesome. Seeing one of them at a museum or event is like glimpsing the Pietà as you enter the Vatican - Its beauty can overwhelm you if you're not prepared to see it. Imagine our delight, then, when we learned that the organizers of the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance had put together a small gathering of XK-SS roadsters to celebrate Jaguar's 75th birthday. It's their birthday, and we get the presents.

Just 25 of these incredible machines were built during their short run - a tragic fire at the factory took nine of them and halted development of not just the XK-SS, but of the D-Type as a whole. Try as they might, the Pebble Beach folks simply couldn't get all 16 of the survivors together for this occasion...but how does a full dozen sound? Any event that has one SS in the field is pretty remarkable in our books. Having more than one is almost unheard of. Having a dozen on hand, all in one place at one time... in an almost perfect line on the Pebble Beach golf links with nothing behind them but the course and bay? Sublime.

Why does the XK-SS draw such admiration? Well, all you need do is look at it and you have your answer, but there is much more to the story. When Jaguar withdrew from racing at the end of 1955, they had a few spare D-Type chassis on hand. They also had something of a budget crisis at the time. Why not make a few changes for road use and offer the unfinished cars to the public? Jaguar added an extra seat, another door, a full-width windshield, luggage rack and folding top and the SS was born. It weighed but 2,000 pounds and had the D-Type's 250-horsepower 3.4-liter straight-six under its shapely bonnet. It only weighed about 100 pounds more than the full-on racer and was sold at a 30 percent discount over the D.

Doesn't that strike you as something of a bargain for a wild, hairy beast for the street? Steve McQueen thought so. In fact, the legendary actor and racer owned the same example twice. After buying one new, he had the interior customized by artist Von Dutch. He later sold the car but missed it so much that he bought it back a few years later. He had the car in his collection until the day he died. It's now in the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, but was in Pebble Beach for the Concours on Sunday...along with eleven of its friends. Check out our stunning gallery of high-res images below.

Gallery: Jaguar XK-SS Gathering at Pebble Beach

Monterey 2010: Pebble gathers a dozen Jaguar XK-SS roadsters for Jag's 75th originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy 80th Birthday, Steve McQueen

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Celebrities

Steve "King of Cool" McQueen - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Odds are, your nickname is not "The King of Cool." Of course, odds are that you never ran away from the farm to join the circus, worked as a towel boy in a brothel, jumped ship from the merchant marines in the Dominican Republic, were a lumberjack, joined a street gang or bought your first motorcycle with winnings from motorcycle racing. Nor were you busted down to private seven times while a Marine only to redeem yourself by saving the lives of five men in frosty arctic waters and then being assigned to guard Harry Truman's yacht. Oh, and you're first film role wasn't in a Paul Newman movie. In other words, we know something about Steve McQueen, and you're no Steve McQueen. Sadly, neither are we. For that matter, neither is anyone else. Oh, and today would have been his 80th birthday.

McQueen is most famous for being a Hollywood heartthrob and anti-hero, rising to prominence as a hunky, square-jawed outsider. His first big screen success happened when none other than Frank Sinatra replaced (none other than) Sammy Davis Jr. with McQueen in a film called Never so Few where McQueen's character was required to drive a Jeep at high speeds. Then came one of his most memorable roles as Vin in John Sturges classic western The Magnificent Seven, where he shared the screen with Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson, Eli Wallach, James Coburn and Robert Vaughn. Then came The Great Escape and the rest, as they say, is history.

Being supremely and ridiculously cool is all well and good, but it's still not enough to get your birthday mentioned on Autoblog. No, you've got to have a pretty strong connection to cars to wind up here. Did we mention Steve McQueen was the car guy's car guy?

Gallery: Steve McQueen

Continue reading Happy 80th Birthday, Steve McQueen

Happy 80th Birthday, Steve McQueen originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Triumph and TAG Heuer honor Steve McQueen with special Bonneville

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle, Celebrities

Triumph Bonneville Heuer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Triumph and TAG Heuer have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind Bonneville Heuer motorcycle. Inspired by Steve McQueen and the Porsche 917 K that the famous actor, racer and motorcycle rider piloted in the classic film Le Mans, the Bonneville Heuer is painted up in the classic Gulf Oil blue and orange scheme and will be used for promotional purposes.

McQueen famously wore a Heuer Monaco watch in the aforementioned silver screen race drama and was a renowned Triumph enthusiast. Says Neil Morley, Triumph's Head of Brand Communications:

We are delighted to play our part in this exciting project. The Triumph Bonneville and TAG Heuer Monaco are both timeless masterpieces, celebrating their respective 50th and 40th anniversaries this year. We also both have a natural connection with Steve McQueen, who famously wore a Monaco watch in the film Le Mans and was renowned for his love of our bikes, making this a very natural collaboration.

As much as we'd like to tell you this will be an optional color choice for the production Bonneville, that's not currently the case. If you like it as much as we do, perhaps a phone call to your local Triumph dealer is in order.

Gallery: Triumph Bonneville Heuer

[Source: Triumph]

Continue reading Triumph and TAG Heuer honor Steve McQueen with special Bonneville

Triumph and TAG Heuer honor Steve McQueen with special Bonneville originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: 'Making Of' Bullitt short is period awesomeness

Chris Shunk — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Videos, Ford, Celebrities

Making of Bullitt - Click image above to watch the video

When megastar Steve McQueen and director Peter Yates set out to make Bullitt, the object was to make a "real" film with one of the most ambitious chase scenes in the history of cinema. And they did it before computers and CGI enabled filmmakers to do the lion's share of the dangerous work with the click of a mouse. The chase scene in Bullitt remains an all-time classic, with McQueen's 1968 Mustang Bullitt going head-to-head with a black 1968 Charger R/T 440 Magnum.

The chase was real, with speeds surpassing 100 mph on the hilly streets of San Francisco. Steve McQueen teamed up with stunt driver extraordinaire Bill Hickman, and the other cars in the scene were driven by eight of the best stunt drivers around to create an epic high speed chase for the ages.

Hit the jump to view a 10-minute "making of" documentary of the movie Bullitt. It's an excellent work that shows how much thought and emotion was invested in the making of the film. Our favorite part comes when McQueen describes the chase scene in Bullitt:

"The big problems, of course, with doing a chase as dangerous as this on the street is that nothing comes off like wheels, axles, shock absorbers, because the things we did on the streets with automobiles I don't think will not be done again for a long long time."

We're still waiting, Steve, and we're not holding our breath. As an added bonus, we've added the video from the chase scene in Bullitt to refresh your memory. Hat tip to Richard!

[Source: MySpace via Auto-Focus]

Continue reading VIDEO: 'Making Of' Bullitt short is period awesomeness

VIDEO: 'Making Of' Bullitt short is period awesomeness originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: TAG Heuer names a winner in McQueen vs. Hamilton Duel

Noah Joseph — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos

Click above to watch the video after the jump

It's the stuff that dreams are made of. Gearhead dreams, anyway: Who would be the fastest between a racing icon of yesteryear and a champion of today? That's the question which Swiss watchmaker and longtime F1 sponsor TAG Heuer posed with its latest contest, The Duel.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the timeless Monaco wristwatch, TAG pitted two of its most famous brand ambassadors - the late great Steve McQueen and reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton - against each other with trick video editing. Online contestants registered their bets on who would win the virtual race, and three winners received a Monaco wristwatch, Hamilton helmet or a test drive in an F1 car. Follow the jump to watch the video and see which of the two TAG Heuer crowned as all-time champion of our imaginations. Thanks for the tip, James!

[Source: TAG Heuer]

Continue reading VIDEO: TAG Heuer names a winner in McQueen vs. Hamilton Duel

VIDEO: TAG Heuer names a winner in McQueen vs. Hamilton Duel originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brad Pitt to play Steve McQueen in new biopic?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Celebrities

It's been almost two years since the rumors first arose and were subsequently put to rest, but they're back again. Following earlier reports that Brad Pitt was set to reprise the legendary Steve McQueen's role in the timeless classic film Bullitt, new reports have now emerged saying that Pitt has been contracted to play the beloved actor/racer in an upcoming biographical film of McQueen's life.

The as-yet-untitled McQueen biopic is reportedly being produced by Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters (who are currently collaborating on the upcoming film Art of the Devil), and the film is reportedly set to begin production next year. Together with upcoming biopics on Phil Hill and Ayrton Senna, it looks like racing fans have a lot to look forward to on the Big Screen.

[Source: Examiner | Image: Chris Graythen/Getty]

Brad Pitt to play Steve McQueen in new biopic? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: TAG Heuer pits Lewis Hamilton against Steve McQueen

Noah Joseph — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Click above to jump to the video

Pass by the local schoolyard and you're likely to hear a couple of kids arguing over which superhero would win in a fight, but continue down the street to the corner pub and the debate won't sound much different: Could __XX__ modern athlete beat ___XX___ legend. Of course, for both child and adult, the debate is entirely pointless, but imagination knows no bound... and modern technology can at least heighten the fantasy.

In this case, watchmaker TAG Heuer has taken two of its most famous brand ambassadors, the late, great Steve McQueen and reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, and put them together on screen in a fictitious face-off around Le Mans. The race results haven't yet been determined - there's a contest you can enter at the link below for a chance to win a new Monaco Gulf Chrono Limited Edition, one of Hamiltion's F1 helmets, or a chance to participate in an "F1 driving day." But even if you're not interested in the contest, you can watch the Robbie Williams-esque video after the jump for a good minute-forty's worth of entertainment.

[Source: TAG Heuer]

Continue reading VIDEO: TAG Heuer pits Lewis Hamilton against Steve McQueen

VIDEO: TAG Heuer pits Lewis Hamilton against Steve McQueen originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve McQueen's stolen Cadillac recovered

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Cadillac, Celebrities

A busted car theft ring has turned up a vintage Cadillac once owned by one of the Magnificent Seven. The five-finger-discount drivers out of Colorado, headed by Jeffrey Earle Piper, would steal expensive rental cars, change their VIN numbers and "sell" them. The new "owner", who was in on the whole thing, would then report "his" car stolen and collect on the insurance policy. One of the cars found among the loot: a $133,000 1959 Cadillac - looks like a Series 62 convertible - that once belonged to Steve McQueen. It's other claim to fame: a guest spot on the TV show MacGuyver. The mystery we're still trying to solve is which one of its owners put the Yeti pelt over the driver's seat? Hat tip to Derek!

[Source: Denver Post]

Steve McQueen's stolen Cadillac recovered originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McQueen family authorizes Bullitt replicas

John Neff — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Celebrities

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time driving Ford's modern day interpretation of the Mustang Bullitt and came away wanting one in the worst way. It's true that the late model Mustang has issues, but no other car is able to channel that much soul, charisma and character through its steering column. The only thing better would be an actual 1968 Mustang GT 350 Fastback like the one Steve McQueen actually drove in the film. Fans of the car and McQueen are one step closer to realizing this dream thanks to the McQueen estate, which has authorized the building of official replica Bullit Mustangs in honor of the film's 40th anniversary. Ownership of the Bullit name is shared by the McQueen family and Warner Bros., so we're not sure who would actually build these replica Bullitts, but we'll be first in line when they eventually surface.

[Source: TheMustangSource.com]

McQueen family authorizes Bullitt replicas originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve McQueen's famous T-shirt revived by Triumph

Noah Joseph — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lifestyle

Triumph makes some of the most beautiful creations on two wheels, and they're latest release is... a t-shirt. But not just any t-shirt, this is the tee made famous by Steve McQueen, the dearly missed embodiment of the rough-and-tumble classic racing, and could be the perfect thing to wear under your retro Gulf Le Mans racing jacket.

To mark what would have been his 78th birthday, Triumph is launching a throwback edition of the iconic t-shirt popularized by the late McQueen. And they're not just capitalizing on the icon: the product is officially licensed by McQueen's estate. It's all vintaged-up, with the weathered Triumph logo on the front, "Steve McQueen Special Edition" on the back, and his signature on the sleeve. The 100% cotton tee is available from Triumph dealers in either black or white, both for those who want to be like McQueen (men) and for those who would have wanted to be with McQueen (women). It hits the market on March 24, after which Triumph will debut some summer styles too.

[Source: Triumph]

Continue reading Steve McQueen's famous T-shirt revived by Triumph

Steve McQueen's famous T-shirt revived by Triumph originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flashback: Steve McQueen reviews eight rides in 1966 Sports Illustrated

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

For a bit of year-end nostalgia, it would be hard to beat reading Steve McQueen reviewing eight grand tourers in the August, 1966 issue of Sports Illustrated. The cars that get the nod from the man behind Bullitt and Le Mans are the Jaguar E-type 2+2, Aston-Martin DB6, Ferrari 275 GTS, Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider, Porsche 911, Mercedes 230 SL, Corvette Sting Ray, and 427 Cobra.

And, of course, he starts off just as you would expect, saying that having only two American cars is about right in a field of eight, because American makers "have been a little backward about building sports and Grand Touring cars." He also talks about a lot of the cars he's owned, as well as his time racing. He doesn't choose a particular favorite among the cars he drives -- none of them appears to make him as happy as the Jaguar XK-SS he has in his own garage.

Our two favorite quotes: on the Alfa Romeo Duetto, "McQueen also admired its looks but would have liked more power from a $4,000 car"; and on the Porsche 911, "The Porsche 911 delighted McQueen with predictable handling in furious cornering, proving that Porsche has solved [the] oversteer problem Steve remembered from [his] racing days." And incredibly, the only car that Steve drives without a helmet: the 427 Cobra. Click the link to get the full story from The Cincinnati Kid himself.

[Source: McQueen Online via Chuck Goolsbee]

Flashback: Steve McQueen reviews eight rides in 1966 Sports Illustrated originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lights, Camera, Action! Ford's official Mustang Bullitt video

Chris Shunk — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Ford

On the Mustang front, the past seven days have been the week of the Bullitt. The media rush is in stark contrast to the Bullitt's understated demeanor, but with its 315 HP engine and track-tuned suspension, Steve McQueen's chase machine reincarnated deserves it. Yesterday we showed you Popular Mechanics' video of the Bullitt in action, and today we've got Ford's shot of its newest Mustang in motion pictures. The Blue Oval's piece has a lot less substance, but it still features the Bullitt sliding on pavement as if it were wearing ice skates. Check out the Mustang slip and slide after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Lights, Camera, Action! Ford's official Mustang Bullitt video

Lights, Camera, Action! Ford's official Mustang Bullitt video originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Mustang Bullitt melting tires courtesy of Popular Mechanics

Chris Shunk — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Ford, First Drives

The original Bullitt Mustang was one of the original sleepers, as all flash and flare were stripped in favor of a clean slate that could fly through the streets of San Francisco with the greatest of ease. The 2008 Bullitt has shed all the frivolities of the Shelby models, or even a stock GT, for that matter. What Ford did do was to add 15 HP through cold air induction and an engine re-calibration, made the ride more track-ready, and slid in the visual cues that brings us back to Steve McQueen's 40 year-old original.

The Popular Mechanics film crew was front and center for a sweet peak at what the 2008 Bullitt can really do, and it's a blast to watch. The newest Mustang spin-off dazzles out of the gate with an impressive array of wasted rubber while the green pony car keeps a tight orbit. We then learn some interesting facts about the Bullitt, like how Ford engineers designed the 4.6L V8 to deliver 315 HP on regular fuel, but the performance quotient increases if premium fuel is added. The extra .20 for 94 octane doesn't sound as bad when it's paying you back with extra ponies. Take a look at the video by clicking here, or hit the read link below. If you watch it and don't want to at least take a Bullitt for a spin, we're inclined to believe your interest in cars will one day pass.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

VIDEO: Mustang Bullitt melting tires courtesy of Popular Mechanics originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2007 Preview: It's a green Mustang! The Bullitt is back!

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Ford

click above image for high-res gallery of the 2008 Mustang Bullitt

The latest edition of everyone's favorite green Mustang is back and this one won't be featured on AutoblogGreen. Just in time for the 40th anniversary of one of the quintessential cinematic car chases, the 2008 Mustang Bullitt is coming to a Ford showroom near you. As expected, the new Bullitt is available in the Highland Green of Steve McQueen's original, but it can also be had in black. The goal according to Mustang design chief Doug Gaffka was to provide a more restrained alternative to some of the more flamboyant 'Stangs while providing great overall performance.

On the outside, the Bullitt is the first of the current generation of S197 Mustangs to be devoid of a pony badge anywhere on the car. The plain black grille is encircled by a simple chrome trim ring. The 18" Bullitt wheels recall those on the original, but the brake calipers are now painted a dark grey so as not draw attention to themselves. A round faux gas cap on the trunk lid wears a Bullitt badge centered in a gun sight graphic. A similar badge adorns the center of the steering wheel. Unlike the last Bullitt, this one keeps its standard fuel filler door. Spoilers, wings, fake scoops and all other such puffery are thankfully banished from this Mustang.

More after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

Continue reading LA 2007 Preview: It's a green Mustang! The Bullitt is back!

LA 2007 Preview: It's a green Mustang! The Bullitt is back! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At $2.3 mil, Steve McQueen Ferrari doubles auction estimate

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Ferrari

That gorgeous brown Ferrari we told you about a few days ago brought an incredible $2.3 million when it went across the block at the Christie's Auction last night. While this was one very special Lusso, the final bid doubled the auction estimate. This 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso was one of only 350 made and had a unique metallic brown paint job that you either loved or hated. Certaily the lines of this classic Ferrari couldn't be faulted. While regular Lussos can get into the $500,000 range, this one happened to have been ordered by legendary actor/racer Steve McQueen. It was his pride and joy until he traded it in for another classic Ferrari in 1973. Michael Regalia had purchased the car several years ago and after a full restoration it had emerged looking as good as the day McQueen took delivery. The catalog estimate for this car was $800,000 to $1.2 million, so the seller and auction house must be extremely pleased with the result.

Gallery: Pebble Beach Week 2007: Christies Auction preview

At $2.3 mil, Steve McQueen Ferrari doubles auction estimate originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pebble Beach Week 2007: Christies Auction starring Steve McQueen's brown Ferrari

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Bugatti, Ferrari

This year's Christies Monterey Auction has a very special Ferrari Lusso as its star car. Finished in a rather un-Ferrari-like brown, it was the personal car of actor/racer Steve McQueen from new. Actually, the official name for the color is Marrone Metallizzato, and although a bit unexpected, it looks quite handsome on this very elegant Ferrari GT. The catalog description tells us that McQueen got the car in mid-1963 and that it was his daily driver for almost four years until he picked up another special Ferrari that took its place in his garage. With that kind of history, the seller expects it to easily fetch $1 million.

Gallery: Pebble Beach Week 2007: Christies Auction preview

Continue reading Pebble Beach Week 2007: Christies Auction starring Steve McQueen's brown Ferrari

Pebble Beach Week 2007: Christies Auction starring Steve McQueen's brown Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Bullitt Mustang specs leaked

Alex Nunez — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:34:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Ford

For all our joking about the seemingly endless parade of special edition, aftermarket, or niche-built Ford Mustangs, there is one that we're all waiting for: the Bullitt. We daydream about donning a turtleneck, popping in the jazzy Lalo Schifrin score and cruising around, looking for bad guys in black Chargers. And while there hasn't been a single photo leaked yet, the car's specs have finally made their way onto the web over at Mustang Evolution.

Like the last Bullitt-edition 'Stang, power output is bumped only slightly -- in this case, it's going to come in at 312 horses, thanks to the Ford Racing Power Pack. Other Bullitt mods include a retuned suspension, strut tower brace, x-pipe, new exhaust tips, V6-style grille (we hope that Ford deletes the pony badge, too), red brake calipers, 3:73 rear, 18" "Bullitt" wheels (our money's on black ones), and, of course, Highland Green paint. The car's also going to be available in black for the non-purists out there.

Pricing is still a mystery, but we now know that the program will go on for seven months and produce 7,000 cars for the US, and 700 for our Canuck friends. The full "Bullitted" list of known leaked info can be read here.

[Source: Mustang Evolution]

2008 Bullitt Mustang specs leaked originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2007 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Steve McQueen Ferrari to be auctioned in Monterey

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Ferrari

In addition to being one of Hollywood's coolest actors, Steve McQueen was also a racer and car collector. This stuntman-turned-actor liked to play hard, and his personal vehicle collection showed that. He actually owned one of the Bullitt Mustangs, plus the Porsche 917 and 911S from Le Mans. And McQueen was also fond of Ferraris. His very first one, in particular, was among his favorite cars by most accounts. It was a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. The Lusso, or "Luxury" Ferrari was a derivative of the 250 GT platform that spawned the legendary GTO and SWB. With its long flowing lines, it is considered to be among the most elegant GT cars of all time.

Steve's personal Lusso was finished in a metallic brown that was allegedly custom-ordered for its understated good looks, and it became his daily driver for more than ten years. Since leaving McQueen's collection, it has has passed through several hands before landing with its current owner in 1997. Since then, it has undergone a 4,000-hour concours-quality restoration and is considered one of the finest Lussos in the world. The car has been shown regularly on the West Coast since then and is now about to cross the auction block. Christie's will be offering it at Monterey in August, and estimates predict a sale in the $800,000 to $1,000,000 range. Before heading to Monterey, however, the car will be touring with the Christie's auctions when they hit New York in May, and in Greenwich in June.

Follow the jump for the Christie's press release. Our buddy Duane Steiner of SoCalSpeedZone has also provided us with a video clip of the car being described by its current owner, Michael Regalia.

Thanks for the tip, Luigi!

[Source: Christie's via Sybarites]

Continue reading Ex-Steve McQueen Ferrari to be auctioned in Monterey

Ex-Steve McQueen Ferrari to be auctioned in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bullitt Mustang engine details emerge

Chris Tutor — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:10:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Ford

You may remember last summer when we brought you news from Stangs Unleashed about 2008.5 Mustang Bullitt rumors. Well Stangs Unleashed says Ford has a date set for the Bullitt's unveiling (though won't tell us when). The site also divulges more detailed information about the car as well as a spy photo of the supposed Bullitt's 4.6L, DOHC 400HP engine. According to Stangs Unleashed's sources, the aluminum blocked motor will feature Ford GT-type cylinder heads and valve covers, and special exhaust and intake manifolds.

The site goes on to provide further details of the car that seem to indicate the Bullitt will be set up more for road racing than drag racing, which should make Steve McQueen happy. One more rumor Stangs Unleashed throws out concerns Carroll Shelby. Could Ford be planning to ship semi-finished Bullitts to Shelby for further road-racing mods? Stangs Unleashed stops short of saying definitely, but hints heavily at the possibility. The site is also careful to point out any of these details could change before an actual product (Bullitt or otherwise) is released.

[Source: Stangs Unleashed]

Bullitt Mustang engine details emerge originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Steve McQueen and the Ford Puma

Alex Nunez — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford

One of the best TV commercials ever made by an American automaker was Ford's "Cornfield" spot that introduced the then-new 2005 Mustang. You know it well -- Field of Dreams references, Steve McQueen emerging from the corn, the retro 'Stang -- it was brilliant. I wish I had it on DVD. It's just that good.

Some of you may be surprised to learn that "Cornfield" was not the only TV spot for which Ford summoned the digitally resurrected McQueen. In fact, it wasn't even the first. The European division had done it earlier, putting McQueen behind the wheel of the Ford Puma (1997-2002). Set to Lalo Schifrin's score from Bullitt, the ad follows McQueen as he takes the Puma on a familiar route through the streets of San Francisco (familiar to McQueen, that is, but not to the Puma, which was never sold here). When he finally garages it at the end of the spot, two familiar vehicles make a cameo in his garage. It's a great commercial. Note to Ford: less Kelly Clarkson, more stuff like this, ok?

Enjoy.

("Cornfield" embedded after the jump to ensure full daily allowance of McQueen)

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Steve McQueen and the Ford Puma

VIDEO: Steve McQueen and the Ford Puma originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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