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Ford Mustang spawns a soupy special edition with Bullitt GT
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Tires drift in the corner as we snap the car's rear end in line turning onto California Street in San Francisco for the dash up Nob Hill with a too-steep assent interrupted only by flat intersections of cross streets like Grant, Powell and Mason.
Rip through the tight first gear, a deep-throated rumble from aluminum-tipped pipes echoing off buildings in the Financial District, then shift to second as we dodge the cable car and zip around a cab to crown the hill.
Now hang a right at Taylor and fly downhill over stair-step sections, our long prow soaring off each flat intersection before plunging down the next steep grade.
Left on Bay with tires squealing and up another hill, but slide to the right on Laguna in flats of the Marina District, where a red light catches us -- as does the red Ford truck that has pursued our racy green coupe for the last several blocks.
Windows are down, a cool breeze off the bay drifts through the cockpit, and the driver of the truck hangs his head out the window to ask: "Man, what is that hot car?"
"It's a Bullitt," we say, "in a special edition of Ford's Mustang GT."
That name comes from Lt. Frank Bullitt, a San Francisco policeman portrayed by the late actor Steve McQueen in the ultimate car-chase movie, "Bullitt." McQueen's character drives a 1968 Mustang GT 390 during a tire-screeching, fender-bashing chase sequence over the same San Francisco streets we travel in the namesake Bullitt GT.
Ford's homage to Frank Bullitt's Mustang is a modern interpretation that tweaks powertrain, suspension and brakes on the Mustang GT coupe, then adds special decorations and interior fittings.
The Bullitt GT will be limited to 6,500 editions for 2001 models, each with a unique serialized identity number stamped on the under-hood frame to guarantee exclusivity -- and future value for Mustang collectors.
Bullitt comes to market with only three color choices -- black, dark blue or the Dark Highland Green that matches McQueen's cinematic Mustang.
This new issue is only the latest take on what has been 37 years of Mustang mania.
When the original Mustang coupe rolled out in 1964, it set a generation on edge with envy. Many iterations followed, from the first variation with Mustang GT Fastback of 1965 and powerful 1969 Mach I to such muscle machines as the Boss 302 of 1970, 1984's GT 350 and a 1993 Mach III.
Current Mustang versions -- including coupe and convertible variations in base and GT trim plus powerful Cobra -- trace to a revival for Mustang in 1994 built off Ford's so-called Fox platform.
All Mustangs gained new styling points in 1999 for 35th anniversary issues cast in classic pose with that elongated front hood and curt rear deck. Exterior lines were reshaped to reveal more creases and sharper angles, as inspired from the original knife-edge Mustang coupe.
Today's Mustang in base coupe trim or daring drop-top variation totes Ford's 3.8-liter Essex V6 engine that produces 190 hp at 5250 rpm.
Mustang GT coupe and convertible carry more power from Ford's single-cam 4.6-liter V8. It delivers 260 hp at 5250 rpm and torque production of 302 lb-ft at 4600 rpm.
Bullitt GT coupe builds on the Mustang GT's V8, but modifications to improve air flow in the engine result in a few more power points -- to 265 hp at 5000 rpm with 305 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.
Powertrain enhancements include a new cast aluminum intake manifold, twin 57 mm throttle body bore and high-flow mufflers that create that aggressive growl of a high performance car.
Twin pipes off the back bumper cap in rolled-edge tips constructed from shiny brushed aluminum.
Bullitt's stance was also changed by dropping the platform three-quarters of an inch to lower the center of gravity and forge a better balance for handling curvy roads.
Suspension hardware from Mustang's performance handling package was also applied, such as re-valved Tokico struts and shocks, specific stabilizer bars in front and rear, and frame rail connectors.
Disc brakes earned the boost too from 13-inch Brembo rotors in front and performance calipers painted red so you can't miss them peeking through spokes of the 17-inch wheels.
Cool changes also occur in Bullitt's cockpit.
Most notable are the hard-bolstered sport bucket seats up front that wrap around a body and pin it firmly in place regardless of how many tight turns you may tackle. Soft leathers tinted to dark charcoal cover the seats.
Between seats, a floor console houses the five-speed manual shifter. Top of the shifter stick looks like a cue ball coated in brushed aluminum, and a bezel ringing the lever is also of brushed aluminum.
The three foot pedals, repositioned for smooth heel-toe transitions during hard performance maneuvers, show perforated aluminum plates to complement other splashes of aluminum in the cabin.
Mustang's interior impresses with twin cockpit positions reminiscent of the original plan. The design defines each front passenger's post with a dash line arching high over driver's instrument panel and rider's storage box, then dipping low in an arc through the center section that clusters controls for climate and audio systems.
Instruments look serious, as grouped in the arched binnacle with six round analog gauges including a larger tachometer and speedometer in white-on-black display.
The exterior form, long and low, conveys vague impressions from the original Mustang -- note the twin ridges off the hood, scooped door panels and a prominent galloping pony emblem in shiny chrome mounted on the honeycomb grille. Set in the center of the hood, an air scoop signifies the slant toward performance.
Following that movie-inspired romp over the streets of San Francisco, our Bullitt tore down the 280 freeway into the Santa Cruz Mountains, where we ran so many twisties on ridges of Skyline Boulevard.
Bullitt's power-assisted rack and pinion steering system felt precisely tuned and delivered impressive driver control. The car cut corners quickly with predictable balance to score this Mustang as the most playful of all.
Ford constructs the Bullitt edition by adding a $3,695 performance package to Mustang GT coupe. The MSRP sticker totals to $26,230, plus a $600 delivery fee, making so much fun a valuable bargain too.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 FORD MUSTANG BULLITT GT Specs |
| Description: |
Compact performance coupe
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| Model Options: |
Compact performance coupe
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| Wheelbase: |
101.3 inches
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| Overall Length: |
183.2 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 4.6-L V8
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5
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| Drive: |
Rear
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
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| Gas Mileage: |
17/25 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 26,230 |
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