Classic Car Chase From 1968 Movie Bullitt, recreated

Express & Star ^ | May 19, 2014

[nickcarraway]

The epic car chase from the classic 1968 film Bullitt is still hailed as one of the most dramatic, exciting and influential in movie history.

Now – as a special homage to the Oscar-winning original, which starred Hollywood legend Steve McQueen driving a Ford Mustang GT fastback – a modern day recreation is all set to be a YouTube sensation.

The awe-inspiring, high-speed pursuit featured in the original action thriller was filmed on the hilly streets of San Francisco.

Today’s tribute, however, was shot in Britain at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit where the iconic Mustang will be celebrating its 50th anniversary at this summer’s award-winning Silverstone Classic, July 25-27.

Loyal

The new remake stays loyal to the visual style and events of the revered Bullitt chase. It starts with the McQueen character (US police officer Lieutenant Frank Bullitt) in his Highland Green coloured Ford Mustang GT and two hitmen bad guys in an intimidating black Dodge Charger R/T on the streets of a sleepy Silverstone village. The plot then switches to the Silverstone Circuit where the action gathers pace and reaches a spectacular conclusion with the Mustang forcing the Charger off the track resulting in a fiery explosion.

Adding to the doting imitation, the modern pastiche is full of nods to the original. The baddie buckles up and wears leather gloves plus black glasses, the Mustang pops up in the Charger’s rear view mirror and there’s even a mysterious green VW Beetle in several of the shots.

“It’s hard to imagine a better way for us to celebrate the Mustang’s forthcoming 50th birthday party than by making this special homage to the classic car chase in Bullitt,” said Nick Wigley, Silverstone classic event director.

“As you can imagine, we had a lot of fun making this film – not least as it gave us all a great excuse to watch the original movie once again!”

Both the sixties muscle cars featured in the on-line tribute will be on show at the Silverstone Classic as part of a huge Mustang presence at the event – all supported by Pure Michigan, the tourism division of the US State of Michigan.

The Mustang and Charger will be part of huge displays and a special Saturday on-track parade organised together with the Mustang Owners Club, which has chosen the Classic for its official golden anniversary celebrations.

What’s more the Bullitt pair will be joined by a number of other Mustangs from movies such as Gone in 60 Seconds and American Gangster.

Television presenter Mike Brewer will also be attending in his recently restored 1967 Mustang Fastback while a pair of P51 Mustangs will be wowing fans with a dazzling air display at lunchtime on Saturday.

Adding to the fuel-filled festivities the weekend also includes two thundering Mustang celebration races featuring record numbers of the mighty American V8-powered Fords. It’s a high-octane party no one will want to miss.

Full details of ticket sales for this summer’s edition of the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival – which must be purchased in advance – can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.

[dr_lew]

How about the aforementioned green Volkswagen ? Just watched the Youtube version of the chase, and it’s in three successive cuts. Obviously, multiple shots of one scene.

You’d think somebody would have mapped out the identifiable locations. I doubt they connect up very well.

[yarddog]

He had a recurring role on “The Rockford Files”. He played a sort of sleazy private eye, sort of a competitor to Rockford.

[driftdiver]

Its worse then that, the mustang did so poorly they had to keep giving it headstarts.

[virgil283]

""Before the filming could be done, the Charger and the Mustang required preparation. One of the best wrenchmen in the movie business, Max Balchowsky, recalls the Mustang in particular needed considerable modifications so it could hold up during the relentless beatings it would take during the filming. ...Balchowsky remembers “I hardly had to anything to the Dodge’s engine, but what I was worried about was the strength of the front end.” To shore up the front, Balchowsky revised the torsion bars, beefed up the control arms and added heavy duty shocks. As with the Mustang, all parts were ‘fluxed. For the rear end, Balchowsky told us, “I got some special rear springs, what you call a high spring rate, a flat without any arch in it, and using that spring the car would stay low. It’s similar to the same springs they use in police cars, which makes a good combination. When the police specify a package, they have more spring here, a little bigger brake there, a little bit more happening in the shocks, and it makes a good car. But the director of BULLITT wanted a brand new car instead of an ex-police car, so I got the springs from a friend at Chrysler. We had to weld reinforcements under the arms and stuff on the Dodge. We did lose a lot of hubcaps on the Charger. We’d put the hubcaps back on, but I suppose it probably would have been better if we had lest them off.”...

[Bigg Red]

Lordy, I hate car chases. I guess it’s appealing if you are a guy, which I am not.

[FreeReign]

Lordy, I hate car chases. I guess it’s appealing if you are a guy, which I am not.

How about a Three Stooges car chase? Now that would make me smile.

Haha.

[yarddog]

I don’t care for car chases either but “Bulitt” was something way out of the ordinary.

[Rodamala]

Best Car Chase EVER (Yes, including Bullitt)

[gaijin]

“Short Time” —oh man, that was funny..!!! hahahahha!

Thank you.

[fieldmarshaldj]

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that movie. Problem is, it’s too comedic to be taken seriously... like the wild scenes in “The Blues Brothers.” There’s no “threat” that somebody is going to die (like in “Bullitt” or “The French Connection” or “The Seven Ups”).

[BenLurkin]

Here’s a great one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAhsfAVLj44

[Thorliveshere]

That’s good...

As for comedy car chases, I like this one...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeg85InzoPI

[Neidermeyer]

Best ever was the original Italian Job...

[BenLurkin]

The late great John Houseman!

[21twelve]

I liked the car chase with McQueen in the corn field in his last movie (bounty hunter, liked old things, forgot the name).

Rolling up to the Hertz place with the demolished vehicle on a flatbed, tossing the car keys and saying “I took the insurance - you can check”. (Or something to that effect).

[virgil283]

Thanks ....’Short Time’ is an under appreciated movie.... And fun too.