Ford Mustang Bullitt
2001, 2008–2009, 2019–2020
The Bullitt is a recurring tribute to the 1968 Highland Green fastback Steve McQueen drove in the 1968 film Bullitt — the most famous Mustang in cinema. Three times Ford has built a special edition around the idea: a clean, badge-deleted GT in Dark Highland Green with retro five-spoke wheels, a tuned engine, and a few subtle nods (no front grille pony, a cue-ball shifter). It is less about maximum power than about restraint and reference — a connoisseur's GT. Each Bullitt is a lightly hopped-up version of the contemporary GT, so its character tracks whatever Mustang was current. Horsepower is SAE net across all three runs.
2001, 2008–2009, 2019–2020
Overview
The Bullitt is a recurring tribute to the 1968 Highland Green fastback Steve McQueen drove in the 1968 film Bullitt — the most famous Mustang in cinema. Three times Ford has built a special edition around the idea: a clean, badge-deleted GT in Dark Highland Green with retro five-spoke wheels, a tuned engine, and a few subtle nods (no front grille pony, a cue-ball shifter). It is less about maximum power than about restraint and reference — a connoisseur's GT. Each Bullitt is a lightly hopped-up version of the contemporary GT, so its character tracks whatever Mustang was current. Horsepower is SAE net across all three runs.
Collectibility
Bullitts are sought-after precisely because they are restrained, well-specified GTs tied to an iconic film — the 2001 car (5,582 built, Dark Highland Green the signature color) is the standout vintage-modern Bullitt and the most collectible non-Cobra fourth-gen Mustang. The 2008–2009 S197 and the 480-hp 2019–2020 S550 are both recognized collector trims, with Dark Highland Green the color to have and manual cars favored. Verify a car is a genuine Bullitt by VIN and documentation, since the package carries a premium over a standard GT. Values are qualitative here by design.
Every production run
Years & eras
| Years | Engine | HP | Production | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4.6 SOHC V8 (tuned) | 265 | 5,582 built (3,041 Dark Highland Green, 1,818 Black, 723 True Blue) |
|
| 2008–2009 | 4.6 3-valve V8 (tuned) | 315 | — |
|
| 2019–2020 | 5.0 Coyote V8 (GT350 intake, 87 mm throttle body) | 480 | — |
|
2001
The first Bullitt, on the New Edge fourth-generation car. The 2001 Bullitt GT got a mildly tuned 265-hp 4.6 SOHC V8, a lowered suspension, Cobra brakes, retro five-spoke wheels, and a deleted rear spoiler — a clean, purposeful GT. Dark Highland Green was the signature color, alongside black and True Blue.
2008–2009
The second Bullitt, on the retro S197. It paired a 315-hp version of the 4.6 3-valve V8 (unique intake and exhaust tuning, a 3.73:1 rear axle) with Dark Highland Green or black paint, blacked-out trim, and badge delete — a natural fit for the retro fastback body. It continued by customer demand into 2009.
2019–2020
The third Bullitt, on the S550 and the most powerful of the three. It used a 480-hp 5.0 V8 — fitted with a GT350 intake manifold and an 87 mm throttle body — in Dark Highland Green (or black), badge-free, with a white cue-ball shifter, and was offered with a 6-speed manual only. 2020 was its final year before the Mach 1 took over the GT-special role.
Worth knowing
Notable
- Every Bullitt references the 1968 Highland Green fastback from the Steve McQueen film — the most famous Mustang in film history.
- All three runs share the formula: badge-deleted GT, Dark Highland Green, retro wheels, a tuned engine, and a cue-ball shifter.
- The 2001 car (5,582 built) is the most collectible non-Cobra fourth-generation Mustang.
- The 2019–2020 car is the most powerful Bullitt at 480 hp; the Mach 1 succeeded it for 2021.
Model years featuring the Bullitt