Bullitt has always been a film remembered more for its iconic car chase than the story. Honestly, every time I watch it I lose interest in the convoluted plot and focus on the two stars of the film: the 1968 Ford Mustang GT fastback and 1968 Dodge Charger. Both of their performances are Oscar worthy; their V8 growls enough to rattle the asphalt under them.
Aside from these two American muscle cars, the film stars Steve McQueen, no stranger to high-speed cars and Triumph’s. McQueen insisted on doing all the driving himself, and initially Director Peter Yates knew better than to get between a man and his motors. However, as veteran stunt driver Bud Elkins remembers it, McQueen lost control of the car during one run and “overshot a turn, smoked the tires and everything.” After that, McQueen was yanked from the driver seat, replaced by Elkins.
Read the rest of this fascinating story about real cars and real driving in the good’ol days of Hollywood, here.