4 posts tagged “bullitt”

There was quite a bit of buzz with the Ford Puma TVC in 1997, which used visual effects to bring Steve McQueen back to life, driving the newer car. The original footage and music are from Bullitt, and a body double was used in some shots, with McQueen’s face mapped on to him. I read some of the YouTube comments and they were quite critical, saying McQueen would never have driven this car, but I beg to differ. Plus, it was done with the permission of Steve McQueen’s children.

   The director even got asked, ‘What was it like to work with him?’ by people who did not realize that, by that time, Steve McQueen had been dead for some 16 years.
   I was very surprised to see Ford used a similar idea when selling the 2005 Mustang a few years ago. Maybe it’s because I knew of the Puma ad for such a long time that this newer one seems less clever. Make a track in your field and dead people will begin emerging. And take your car.

Here was what I wrote about the ’69 and ’70 Mustang on Autocade. Corrections welcome: most of this is from memory with the odd fact (like production numbers) checked in books or specialist sites. The pic, obviously, is of a ’69, as one can tell from the grille. PS.: I have added what I wrote about the ’67s and ’68s at the bottom of this post so we can see the evolution from the original models.

Ford Mustang (1969–70)

Ford Mustang. 1969–70 (prod. 494,334). 2-door coupé, 2-door fastback, 2-door convertible. F/R, 200, 250 in³ (6 cyl. OHV), 302, 351, 390, 428, 429 in³ (V8 OHV). Enlarged Mustang as muscle-car battle heats up. Semon ‘Bunkie’ Knudsen, new Ford president, ordered that Mustang had to be the ‘killer street machine’, losing its compact origins. Wheelbase unchanged but car longer and wider. Fastback called Sportsroof. Ford attempted to lure buyers from the personal–luxury market of the Pontiac Firebird with the Grande, with Cobra Jet 428 at top of range vying for muscle-car market. Mach I and Boss models became collectible additions. Styling cleaned up for 1970, though sales fell considerably, to 191,363—performance bent, which seemed right for ’69, seemed to suit the new decade less.

Ford Mustang (1967–8)

Ford Mustang. 1967–8 (prod. 789,525). 2-door coupé, 2-door fastback, 2-door convertible. F/R, 200 in³ (6 cyl. OHV), 289, 302, 390, 427, 428 in³ (V8 OHV). Mustang’s first revamp saw improvements in most areas, slightly muscular styling, and more cubic inches as horsepower war began. Wheelbase identical but car wider by 2·7 in. Shelby GT-350 returned, but Carroll Shelby also introduced GT-500 with 428 in³ with claimed 355 hp—though it probably had more. Emissions’ regulations began to affect ’68s, even Shelbys, though cars themselves had detail improvements. Bullitt fastback among the ’68s; 428 Cobra Jet introduced for this model year. Shelby GT-500KR (King of the Road) took muscled-up Cobra Jet engine: Consumer Guide suspected close to 400 hp rather than claimed 335. Sales fell more for ’68, however, probably due to increased competition from GM and AMC.

I read some disturbing news: Hollywood is thinking of remaking Bullitt, one of my all-time favourite films, and putting Brad Pitt into the Steve McQueen role.
   I don’t have much against remakes. I am looking forward to Life on Mars set in Los Angeles, unlike a lot of my Brit friends who have not been this aghast since the Germans bought Rolls-Royce. I even went to see 2003’s The Italian Job set in Los Angeles, and told my Brit friends, who had not been that aghast since the Germans bought Bentley.
   But Bullitt?
   I’ve nothing personal against Brad. I like the social causes the bloke is getting into. But even he must be smart enough to know that there will be a certain proportion of Earth’s male population who think that this is sacrilege. We are talking Holy Grail stuff here. And there are more reasons against this idea.

10. Most straight men (and let’s face it, most gay men) would prefer Daniel Craig in the role.
9. The bad guys will not look as menacing in a 2008 Dodge Charger.
8. You cannot re-create the scene where Jacqueline Bisset drives Steve McQueen back into the City on 101 because they would be stuck in gridlock.
7. Because of his personal interests, Brad would spend too much time filming the architects’ office scene.
6. The crew would be distracted when Angelina comes to visit on set.
5. Bullitt and Delgetti would be arrested as terror suspects at San Francisco Airport for leaving their car and running inside.
4. That annoying creaking sound heard on the soundtrack (it’s the noise of Steve McQueen turning in his grave).
3. ‘Hotel Daniels’ on Embarcadero is now the site of the HQ for the Gap, and it would be seriously bad publicity to kill the witness there.
2. The serious risk that Robert Vaughn’s character will be played by Tom Cruise as a Scientologist seeking respectability.
1. No dude who has worn a skirt (Troy) can replace Steve McQueen.

Time for our commercial break. The first is a series of UK adverts, and watch out for the second in this collection. You think it’s the old Levi’s 501 Laundrette commercial from Bartle Bogle Hegarty, but keep watching. The Brits reading this will already know the ending.

   The second is a personal favourite. I am a big Bullitt fan, and it was great seeing Steve McQueen resurrected for this 1999 Ford Puma commercial using some clever special effects—and the permission of McQueen’s heirs. The Lalo Schifrin theme contributes to the feel as do the titles, reflecting Pablo Ferro’s original work. Even I wanted a Puma after this—it was the only way you could get me driving a Ford Fiesta, which the Puma basically was, but in a party frock.