Car Owner: Gary Eve Words & Photos: Clive Branson
“It is 51 years old, and not a day goes by when I’m driving it that someone doesn’t make a reference to what they liked about the movie,” declares Gary. We gaze at his assiduously restored replica of the Mustang used in the movie Bullitt. “The car is an homage to the film, to actor Steve McQueen and, in my opinion, to the best car chase on celluloid.”
It is remarkable how a movie can sear an impression that becomes etched into a nation’s psyche, be it about a character, animal or even a vehicle. Such is the case for the film Bullitt, made in 1968 by Peter Yates starring Steve McQueen as Frank Bullitt, a hard-nosed police lieutenant. Our protagonist drives a modified ‘68 Ford Mustang GT 2+2 390 Fastback that, intentionally or not, became a metaphor reflecting America in the 1960s as a rugged, confident and uncompromising nation.
Bud Ekins, one of the stunt-drivers, recalls the film producers choosing a Mustang specifically because “they wanted it to look like a cop’s car. This was Bullitt’s personal car and he wasn’t a rich guy, he didn’t have a real nice car. And it was Steve’s (McQueen’s) idea to put the big dent in the fender, to show that it got banged up and he didn’t have enough money or the time to fix it.” The image of this Mustang resonated with audiences with its compact, muscular tone, in what has become a celebrated and influential 10-minute chase scene, a role that helped propel Mustang as an American icon to legendary status. Director Peter Yates didn’t want a cliché of predictable accidents; instead, his concept of a chase “is that it’s more exciting to see a succession of awesome near-misses than a costly series of collisions.” The rollercoaster geometry of San Francisco simply heightened the drama.
Two Mustangs and Dodge Chargers were used in the making of the film. Of the two Mustangs, only one remains intact. Owned by the Kiernan family, somewhere in the boondocks of Tennessee, the car emerged after 40 years of hibernation in a garage to be showcased for Ford Mustang’s 50th anniversary. Sean Kiernan, the son of Roger, maintained enough of the car to be roadworthy, but refrained from interfering with the car’s originality and patina. The car had a marginal yet emotional impact on the storyline, but touched a visceral nerve with its viewers and so it remains one of the most sought after models for serious car collectors and pony car enthusiasts.
In 2018, it made its circuit tour – dents, rust, warts and all. When unveiled, it drew the biggest crowds at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. It was distinguished and presented in a glass case for a week at the National Mall in Washington D.C.,and highlighted at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. Spectators erupted in fervent displays of excitement wherever it appeared. The car will be inducted into the Historic Vehicle Association roster this year, akin to car nirvana. It’s only the 21st car to be so honoured.
As founder of the Historic Vehicle Association and CEO of the world’s largest insurer of classic cars, McKeel Hagerty’s sentiments are a testament to its allure. “It’s not often in life when you run into a Mona Lisa lost in a garage somewhere. That’s what this is. It’s a Mona Lisa car.”
“This is what makes this car unique. It is its aura,” confirms Gary with an emphatic nod. “I bought this Mustang in 2000 from a gentleman who had accepted it as payment for contract work. If I purchased it, he agreed to trailer it to Thunder Bay from Dryden. The owner picked my brother and me up at the airport and drove us to the hotel where we were staying. I test drove the car and bought it.”
As far as Gary was concerned, the car had some aged liver spots (rust) on its hind quarters, but otherwise, it was in good shape. Gary and his brother drove the car home to Jasper, Ontario in 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
“I have always been obsessed with the movie Bullitt,” confesses Gary. “I remember when I was young, watching this movie and realizing that the chase scene was filmed at top speed. I found that very impressive.” Bud Ekins, one of the stunt drivers, stated in an article for Hagerty Magazine that the complete car chase was shot at normal camera speed (in some takes over 100 mph).
“Folks didn’t believe that McQueen did most of the driving.” And they were right. Stunt driver Loren Janes described it differently: “Most people think Steve McQueen did his own stunts in films. Steve was a hell of a driver, but he was only behind the wheel for about 10 percent of what you see on screen, mostly for the close-up shots.” No sensible studio would allow their star to perform such perilous stunts.
When Gary purchased the car, it was red (from a previous gold) with a 390 powerplant that had replaced the original 302. Gary had it painted Highland Green, similar to Bullitt’s Mustang.
“When I purchased the car in 2000, I started the restoration. It took about eight years to restore. I was helped by my wife, my brother and my nephew in furnishing the car with new quarter panels, a new wheelhouse, new rockers – the works. The front of the car and floor were not touched, but the bodywork was done by a local body shop. The bodywork alone took 2 ½ years to complete (due to time and financial constraints).”
The other difficult part was the transition from automatic to manual. “It was tough, as the top loader transmission was hard to find. Pretty well everything else is available through Mustang supplies.”
Though this is the only car Gary has restored, it fits in nicely with his three modern Mustangs, and as far as Gary is concerned, this is his favourite. “You can only imagine the time, patience and effort it took to restore a car to this condition. The ultimate pleasure is that there are very few Bullitt replicas out there. It is not just a restored Mustang, but restored to represent an iconic movie car.” And that it is. Looking at the car, I feel like I’m on the actual movie set.
Of course, viewers are misled to believe the film’s Mustang was a car straight from the floor of a dealership. “Keep in mind, those weren’t ordinary cars,” emphasized Loren Janes. “Many people who have watched the film think that any fast muscle car can do what we did. No way. Both the Mustang and Charger in Bullitt were heavily worked on. They needed to be faster than street cars but also be able to take an enormous beating. That required heavy-duty parts and additions like race-car shocks, skid bars to protect the underside and special overinflated tires.”
But this is not to belittle Gary’s version. Virtually everything is similar right down to the stick shift, the gauges, the tires, the engine – everything. The only thing missing are the dents.
“People are always asking me if the car is for sale. My answer is always the same: ‘No way.’ This car will be handed down to my son, who also owns three Mustangs.”
When Gary starts the car, the rumble slaps the wind and sounds like it wants to be unleashed. “The car drives great for an old car. It’s loud, noisy, doesn’t have A/C or power-steering, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s perfect. It’s my Bullitt car.”
