You may be surprised as to the shear number of calls I get from people all over the world. There is PLENTY of interest, believe me. As to the GS Showcar, I cannot say exactly why it is falling so short on value. Could be the lack of maintenance, the wrong carpet being installed or the fact it has been up and down every stage there is. Kind of leaves me scratching my head...
I wouldn't be at all surprised, hence the reason I put your car and that old worn out Mustang in the same conversation. Bullitt couldn't be remade today without making homeless into road kill...at the very least rogue Charger hub caps would nick a few.
It's well documented that Steve McQueen tried several times to buy this car from the current owners father when he was alive but was turned down each time. The story behind the car through the years is without a doubt a great human interest story even if a person isn't necessarily a car guy but rather a movie buff and/or just a big Steve McQueen fan. It is also on track for another historical turn come Mecum's Kissimmee auction in January. I can't help but wonder if the car would be as high profile or as interesting to as many people if McQueen had been successful in buying the car back when he offered. Hard to say, but I believe the story itself is excelled the fame of the car more than if the history of it had been different.
But for its movie history, the condition of this particular 390 mustang is such that I do not see it bringing more than 10-15K. There is not a straight panel on the car.
No doubt about that. Except for the movie history, it'd be a cool car but nothing real special even mint.....I'd very much rather have even a "regular" GSX of any year or powertrain.
That was 2007, years before someone decided the "Dukes of Hazzard" were worse than Hitler. Maybe the same will happen to "Bullitt" (not entirely joking)
I do believe you are onto something ...had its where abouts been known for decades, the story might not hold as much appeal. Perhaps too, this maybe the last chance to cash in because young folks won't think much of McQueen's former fame and even less of Bullitt. I wonder what the family had been offered before going with Mecum? Leno drove it, I can't believe he wouldn't have hinted at some sort of proposition.
One other thing that I don't think many have considered is the 'patina' on the car. Obviously it's the original movie car and there is clear evidence of that but most of the wear and tear on it has happened long since Steve McQueen sat in that seat. After all, it was a daily driver for years after that. The badly worn original paint can't have been that badly worn when it was sold to the current owner's father. I believe a lot of people are under the misconception that the car has been found untouched in a barn since Steve McQueen last drove it. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great thing, much like the original American Graffiti coupe has remained exactly like it was in the movie. All this reminds me of that Lambreckt (sp.) Chevrolet dealer auction several years back in Nebraska (?) where those cars sold for absolutely stupid money, many times more than they would have been worth without the story behind them. I'll bet most of those people couldn't get half their money back if they tried. A plain jane Vega sitting out in a field for $10,000. Really? And this Bullitt car is going to top all of it by far because it's history. Cool history for sure, I just feel it's been a little distorted.
Yep...it was nearly perfect when the New Jersey police detective sold it to the family that owns it now. If it were still like that, I would think it could add tremendously to the value. The "stupid money" would almost make sense. The detective and his car circa 1972, I think the family bought it in '73.
How cool is this picture??? We can probably assume this is the stunt car from Mexico and not the Hero car we can expect at Kissimmee.
Personal preference for me is that red show car, even with the black carpet. But a GNX would be the first thing is buy if the lotto numbers came up. The red car has street cred and that is real cool to me. No offense to the GSX prototype, just not my style.
Oh, the GSX was driven and driven a lot. If I remember correctly, around 85,000 miles on it. And we did our share of street racing, I was on the north side of Columbus and Ed was on the south side. Killed a 427 Camaro "Z-28", '68 Hurst Olds (that happened to be at MCACN last year) and many, many others. Not to take anything away from the red car but we both have street cred.
How's about the (was it blue?) '71 440+6 RR in Bowling Green (was it '83?) picked out of the Kmart lot?
Nobody has really gave a number that they think the Mustang will sell for , I have an idea , will prob get laughed at for saying . But I believe this car will pass into the millions ,I'm thinking +/- 2 mil , some on other venues are thinking 4-5 mil . If this is true , holy cow !!!!
Oh, a million is probably going to be the starting bid. I'm betting it gets 7 million or thereabouts.
