Four decades after hitting the big screen and redefining the on-screen car chase, the Ford Mustang Bullitt returns to the streets in 2008, blending the best Mustang ever with the latest Ford Racing technology.
This modern classic delivers a balance of power and performance, thanks to special chassis and suspension tweaks as well as the 315 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque that Bullitt delivers through its 4.6-liter V-8 engine.
The 2008 Bullitt arrives in dealers early next year, with a starting MSRP of $31,075 (including destination and delivery) and limited production of 7,700 units for the U.S. and Canada.
Ford engineers modified the 2008 Mustang Bullitt’s chassis and suspension to fine-tune handling and ensure the extra horsepower and torque from the 4.6-liter V-8 is put to good use. The live rear axle uses a unique 3.73:1 gear that helps launch the Bullitt with vigor.
Stock Mustang GT shocks and struts were swapped out for new units that allowed engineers to dial in a more aggressive driving dynamic while still maintaining the outstanding ride and balance of the base Mustang GT. A tower-to-tower brace lends additional torsional and lateral stiffness to the chassis for improved cornering and holds a unique serial number for each Bullitt.
The brakes also have been improved versus the base Mustang GT’s. More aggressive front pads were developed specifically for Bullitt and improve fade resistance and pedal feel.
The 2008 Mustang Bullitt wears unique cast-aluminum Euroflange wheels, offering a modern twist on the original movie car. The Dark Argent Gray spokes feature a satin finish, while a pight-machined lip completes the look. Calipers are colored to match the wheel. The wheels are wrapped in the same P235/50ZR 18 BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDWS tires used on Mustangs at the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
Engine calipation is designed to increase throttle response for a snappier acceleration feel. The redline has been boosted by 250 rpm to 6,500, with top-end speed bumped to 151 miles-per-hour. Gears are selected via a Tremac 5-speed manual transmission, and the shifter is topped with a polished aluminum shift ball designed specifically for the 2008 Bullitt.
The car features the first use of an open-element air filter in a factory-produced, fuel-injected Mustang. Inspired by Ford Racing, the intake is tucked neatly behind the driver side headlamp, mounted in an air box that was tooled up specifically for the Mustang. The hood liner was extensively modified to provide a full seal to the air box, ensuring that the engine is fed a steady diet of cooler air.
Engine performance is further enhanced through the use of an innovative adaptive spark ignition system, new for the 2008 Mustang.The system can sense, within a few seconds, what type of fuel is being injected into the motor and adjusts the spark to provide maximum torque at any given speed – and as much as 10 pounds-feet more between 1,000 and 4,000 rpm.
Bullitt can run on either premium or regular fuel. Ford recommends premium fuel for optimum performance, but the adaptive spark ignition will adjust the spark to burn regular fuel without damaging the engine.
The custom-designed exhaust system continues Mustang’s traditional use of a true dual-exhaust system with a new H-pipe specifically developed for Bullitt. The all-new mufflers, featuring larger 3.5-inch chrome tips (versus the 3-inch tips on the standard Mustang GT) are tuned to minimize backpressure, maximize horsepower and provide the Bullitt with its powerful exhaust note.
“We wanted to get the exhaust note as close to the original movie car as possible, so we based it on a digitally mastered DVD,” said Randle. “We wanted something that would rumble your heart, literally buzz you – and the Bullitt team delivered.”
The original 1968 Mustang’s stealth-like appearance wasn’t necessarily intentional. In typical Hollywood fashion, the movie crew removed all exterior badges and logos from the car – including the iconic pony badge on the grille. The 2008 Mustang Bullitt calls back the original movie car in painstaking detail – right down to the dark green paint and lack of exterior badges, scoops and spoilers. Non-purists can opt for only one other color – black.
The only visible identification is the word “Bullitt” dropped into a gun-sight graphic in the center of the faux gas cap on the decklid.
The Mustang Bullitt uses the standard Mustang GT’s front fascia. A new black-mesh grille is devoid of the standard chrome pony and is accented by a satin aluminum strip that represents the chrome grille surround on the 1968 car. The rear fascia also is shared with the standard Mustang GT and houses Bullitt’s unique dual exhaust tips. Dark Argent Gray painted pake calipers closely match the wheel spokes, while staying true to the original.
The interior is pure Mustang Bullitt, understated and dressed in Charcoal Black leather and Satin metallic trim. The centerpiece of the interior is the hand-machined, aluminum swirl dash panel appliqué.
Satin aluminum bezels circle the air vents and gauges, complementing a satin aluminum shift ball that replaces the standard leather-wrapped shifter on the Mustang GT. The pedals wear race-inspired aluminum covers that further reinforce Bullitt’s performance intentions.
The Dark Charcoal leather seats pick up the diamond perforation inserts from the base Mustang GT. The seats are patterned after those in the Shelby GT500 providing added lumbar and bolster support. The seats are constructed using the new soy-based foam developed by Ford and introduced on the 2008 Mustang. The soy foam, made up of 24 percent renewable content, is produced through a process that requires less energy and emits less CO2.
The 2008 Mustang Bullitt will be built at Ford’s Automotive Alliance Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. It goes on sale early next year. Press materials and visuals of the new 2008 Mustang Bullitt are available at www.media.ford.com
I would LOVE to have this car, when I seen it in the dealership my mouth dropped like a sack of potatoes, then I read about it and I was even more impressed! Definately one car I’ll have to keep my eye on for the future.
By Justin Wheeler. May 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 amSo Ben, when Ford (Mercury) came out with the Marauder for 2003, did you buy one?
By FordFan. May 17th, 2008 at 2:34 pmHopefully you did to encourage Ford to keep developing interesting performance cars other than the Mustang.
Just took delivery of my Bullitt on 2/24, car number 1339. It is awesome. The slightly beefed 4.6 engine via an amazingly tuned exhaust along with a it’s modified suspension puts the car in perfect balance. Not only is it fast but it corners well also. A definite wolf in sheeps clothing. Ford finally got it right this time. The shelby type seats are a most welcome surprise. If you are a retro car person, try it before passing judgement. I’m 57 but not when I’m behind the wheel.
By Ob1knobe. February 29th, 2008 at 7:02 pmHello, realy like the new bullitt can a normal guy order one or how would one go about doing that ? Thanks for your site.
By The Shifter. January 29th, 2008 at 7:12 am“The Ben” doesn’t like seeing his favorite struggling auto manufacturer sticking all its eggs in one basket of rubbish.
By Ben. January 25th, 2008 at 12:08 amThe Ben doth protest too much, methinks.
with apologies to Wm. S. and Gertrude, Act III, scene ii
By Norm. January 21st, 2008 at 6:10 amI dont care what you say that car rocks!!!
By Kegan Minney. January 11th, 2008 at 10:49 amI dont acre what you say that car rocks!!!
By Kegan Minney. January 11th, 2008 at 10:49 amAh yes.. when all else fails, attempt to paint the other guys as part of the “grasping lower orders”.
I’d rather have the ‘07 Fusion sitting in our driveway than that Bull**** Mustang.. but frankly, I’d rather have a ‘78 Pinto running on 3 cylinders than that Bull**** Mustang. But that’s just me.. I hate Mustangs.
By Ben. January 7th, 2008 at 3:05 amIt’s interesting to see how many haters hang out on this site to post petty uninformed opinions about vehicles they will never qualify to buy (or it’s unveiled competition), I’d like to see what they might be driving today and how it compares.
By 64post. January 6th, 2008 at 10:49 pm[…] Murilee Martin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptFour decades after hitting the big screen and redefining the on-screen car chase, the Ford Mustang Bullitt returns to the streets in 2008, blending the best Mustang ever with the latest Ford Racing technology. … […]
By Mustangs » Blog Archive » 2008 Mustang Bullitt Unveiled. January 6th, 2008 at 12:20 amOnly the truly ignorant would ASSume that anyone who doesn’t like Mustangs would rather drive a Chevy. This is one of the reasons I hate Mustangs.. all the Mustang fans who have no clue about anything else Ford has ever made.
I’ve owned 6 Fords, 2 Mercurys, and 2 Lincolns. (7 Fords if you count an engine-donor Fairmont many years ago) I’ve only owned 5 cars that weren’t built by FoMoCo. Of those five, two of them were free (if you consider losing a grandparent “free” for one of those) and one cost $100.. and that’s why I owned them. To do the math for you, since I imagine you can’t count to 21 without unzipping, that’s 2/3rds of my cars being FoMoCo products. Do I sound like I want to drive a f’n Vega, Einstein?
I’d still rather walk than drive a Mustang.
Think before you speak. I know it’s hard. Stamp it out with your hooves if you have trouble in the thinky parts.
By Ben. December 17th, 2007 at 11:26 amTHE MUSTANG IS AN ICON AND ALWAYS WILL BE, MY FIRST CAR WAS A 1968GT FASTBACK AND I HAVE BEEN HOOKED EVER SINCE , I HAVE OWNED 10 MUSTANGS AND LOVED EVERY ONE OF THEM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT LIKE THE MUSTANGS, THEN MAYBE GM WILL DO A REMAKE ON THE VEGA,FORD IS DOING A GREAT JOB, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK GUY’S.
By MUSTRICK. December 13th, 2007 at 1:41 pmWhen calling people names, it helps to spell the term properly. It’s “inbreds”. Way to own yourself there, as the kiddies would say.
You can keep your wall-eyed Rustang that looks like someone’s grandmother with her sad sunken eyes looking in two different directions. Now when I see a new Mustang I feel like I should be helping it cross the street with its groceries.
Ford, please have the sense to kill off the Rustang before you have the bright idea to do a “retro Rustang II”.
By Ben. December 2nd, 2007 at 4:06 pmmost of you inbreads who dont know how to apreiate a bad ass car need to be wearing long sleeve shirts because if i had arms that skinny i wouldnt want anyone see um
By michael knight. December 1st, 2007 at 2:39 amSomebody put a bullit into that john guy before the mustang gets the embarrassment of a downsizing like my blessed clydesdale.(72) tstsstsst! All they’ve got to do to please these tree huggers is to use the Gt as a platform for mustang’s preformance engine. If you can’t increase cubic inch capacity, then supercharge the heck out of a smaller motor. I’m still the biggest fan of the 351 cleveland. One of the most powerful engines made. But, it’s just not meant for the street in this day and age.
By gar. November 29th, 2007 at 11:04 ami love bullitt hahahahahahahah
By jeff. November 21st, 2007 at 3:01 pmIve seen them driving around town “San Francisco” that is. I want one I already have a mustang and love it. However is this a preview of things to come? Can someone say remake the movie bullitt OH BOY!
By Enorym. November 19th, 2007 at 2:24 pmJust another Mustang for the greedy dealers to mark up over book or for rich guys to store and hope it’ll increase in value. I have an ‘06 Mustang GT with painted stripes (not the cheap tape stripes), even rear window stripes, 18″ Ford polished ‘bullit style’ wheels, sequentials, and an Eleanor grill. People can’t figure out what kind of a Mustang because it’s my own. I love the car and the puzzled look on peoples faces when they see it!
By Terry Smith. November 14th, 2007 at 7:03 amI’ve been telling my friends, ford should build a cougar eliiminator. There is a market out there. I own a 1968 cougar now and would definitely purchase a new cougar if ford develops one.
By bud burgess. November 12th, 2007 at 7:29 am..or Ford could stop relying on the Mustang and build a wide selection of interesting cars. They have no problem building interesting cars outside of America.. the Falcon Ute, the hot Focus in Europe, the hot Mondeo.. all I ever hear about over here these days is the Mustang.
By Ben. November 12th, 2007 at 6:53 amWoW ! Sure a Falcon reincarnation might be nice, with 450hp but the Mustange is the Ford Icon . I remember when ford was talking about making it front wheel drive. and Thousands of enthusiast complained so they tested the market with a Probe. There is nothing to Compete with the Pony Car.. And I am glad Ford Cares what the people think.. Dodge Charger my Ass…
By Ralph. November 12th, 2007 at 6:46 amAs I read John post, He has a real problem and needs some help== His real motives are unknown. But I do know the new Bullet Mustang looks great and its time for some more forward thinking — I want a choice of a Hybrid Mustang, something more sporty than the shoe box. — Laugh, but the numbers of people buying Hybrids are growing and unless Ford comes out with a First Strike and stops playing catch up, its in troble. Im ready for a Sporty Mustang 40 -60 Mpg Hybrid. Eventually even an Electric car can be Juiced up
By woody. November 12th, 2007 at 6:12 amI agree…Bring back the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, in the reincarnated form. The platform is already built and I believe the market is ready. I know I’m ready.
By Radex. November 12th, 2007 at 4:18 amWOW, for this being a “FORD” website i have never seen people so negetive about FORDS!!! oh and by the way F.O.R.D. stans for First On Race Day. as in thee FR500 Trans-am series car, which has done just that been First On Race Day! in case you all did not notice We (as in TRUE Ford Fans) stick with FORD because we know what the best is. if you don’t like ford, as Mr. Johnson said “go somewhere else!!! END OF CONVERSATION.
By Dan. November 12th, 2007 at 1:21 amHooray for you and your pony-car wanking time. Frankly, I’d rather drive a 1983 Fairmont Futura 4-door than anything with that stupid little horsie on it. Oh wait, I do..
I’ve loved Fords for a long time but I hate Mustangs. I hate that Ford won’t let anything reasonable compete with that stupid little horsie. Bring over the Aussie Falcon with the turbo I6, tart it up a bit, and call it the new T-bird. Build a new Cougar like the original, based on the Mustang but somehow nicer. I find it sad that the only thing Ford could do to interest me right now is put the 3.5 V6 in the Fusion. I see the new Mustang, and I think of old women with sunken eyes too far apart. I see the 25 years of Mustang before that, I see my Fairmont but with more ego.
So you see an opinion different than your own and you try to shout it away. How very American. You do me proud, neighbor.
By Ben. November 11th, 2007 at 11:44 pmWell, with every good thing that Ford does for those of us that are greatful, you always get some individual that has to make a , well, ” stupid” comment. The heritage of the most successful pony car of all time is playing out all over again for those who saw it the first time. The “GT”, Mach 1, Boss 302, Bullet, and Shelby. For Gods sake pinch me for I have another shot at life ! Now for those who are just plain anti Ford or live their lives by the front page of USA today, please get a life before it’s too late. You can in no way talk us Ford Guys and Gals out of a good thing. Or, perhaps you should turn your energy towards GM and Chrysler that are about to release the Camaro/ Challenger to combat the Mustang popularity boom. By the way, ask a Toyota Tundra V8 owner what that company policy is on $ 100 a barrell oil is. I rest my case so just go away and show your I.Q. to some one who cares.
By Stan Johnson. November 11th, 2007 at 11:08 pmStan Johnson
Is Laura Wydick a real person?
By Bill. November 9th, 2007 at 2:00 amToo bad it’s still a Mustang.
Make a Cougar Eliminator based on it and then we’ll talk.
By Ben. November 8th, 2007 at 9:19 amJohn, John, John. Didn’t your mother ever tell you that if you had nothing nice to say, don’t say it? I would hardly call 281ci large for a V8. In four cylinder terms, that’s 2.3L which is close to the average size in this country. Plus, gas mileage is better than most vehicles out there. As for being a firball, grow up. Every auto maker has recalls. How about Chrysler’s recall a while back on the transmissions shifting automatically into reverse while in park? And who cares about the price of oil. If anything, what is done to the Bullitt, just like the Shelby GT improves the mileage of the stock 4.6 by making the engine for efficiant.
By bassman97. November 8th, 2007 at 6:15 amMan I wish I lived in your country! For the same money out here in Australia all we can buy is a Mazda SP23.
By Bill. November 8th, 2007 at 4:00 am[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe 2008 Mustang Bullitt will be built at Ford’s Automotive Alliance Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. It goes on sale early next year. Press materials and visuals of the new 2008 Mustang Bullitt are available at www.media.ford.com. […]
By Automotive Blog » 2008 Mustang Bullitt Unveiled. November 7th, 2007 at 7:56 pmHas Ford issued a recall on it yet? It’s only a matter of time….F.O.R.D.: Fix Or Repair Daily. With an engine that large and the amount of fuel it will suck through it, it’s sure to make a nice fireball when one of the many wiring glitches causes a short. And the timing couldn’t be better, with oil prices reaching $100 a barrel.
By john. November 7th, 2007 at 7:14 pmHello there, just wondering if you need to give the new mustang bullitt away to any one……….can I please have it? I want it soo bad, but only in my dreams…..please..
This is for real,
By laura wydick. November 7th, 2007 at 4:39 pmLaura Wydick
[…] Editor placed an interesting blog post on 2008 Mustang Bullitt Unveiled.Here’s a brief overview:A new black-mesh grille is devoid of the standard chrome pony and is accented by a satin aluminum strip that represents the chrome grille surround on the 1968 car. The rear fascia also is shared with the standard Mustang GT and houses … […]
By www.bestcarsforyou.info » 2008 Mustang Bullitt Unveiled. November 7th, 2007 at 9:53 amNow that Shelby is making the Shelby GT, this seems very similar to when Ford realesed the Cobra Jet 428 when Shelby was making the GT500. Ford should have just stuffed a NA 3V or 4V 5.4 instead of another modified 4.6 to give more of a distinction from the other models.
By bassman97. November 7th, 2007 at 7:13 am[…] mc wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIn typical Hollywood fashion, the movie crew removed all exterior badges and logos from the car – including the iconic pony badge on the grille. The 2008 Mustang Bullitt calls back the original movie car in painstaking detail – right … […]
By Hollywood » 2008 Mustang Bullitt Unveiled. November 6th, 2007 at 8:11 pm