Bullitt Mustang and my Cougar

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Community Discussion
1

The Bullitt Mustang was in town at the SF Int’l Auto Show for the last week, so I took the kids to check it out. It was fun to see and the kids liked the connection to our Cougar.

After we left, I was reading an article about the car and I saw a photo of the door tag for the first time:

Doesn’t really mean a lot, but I noticed that it’s a San Jose build, R paint code (Highland/Augusta green), S code, wide ratio 4 speed car, scheduled for build on January 9, 1968. My Cougar shares all those exact codes on the door tag:

So a fun bit of connection for me. It’s neat to imagine the Bullitt Mustang and my Cougar making their way through the San Jose plant on the same day, being built by the same people. I don’t know what the actual build date was on the Mustang, so it might not be true (my Cougar was actually built on January 12 according to the Marti report), but still fun to think about.

2

That is pretty cool… The same hands that built yours built that Mustang and the same color to boot!

3

…50 years later…, unbelievable. :clap: :thumbup:

4

I’m not at home to check, but I think the DSO number is from the same office too.

5

Per the Historical Vehicle Society and the Marti report, car number 559 (the one you saw) was built on January 8, 1968. I haven’t seen confirmation that 558 was built the same day, but it’s very likely. I’ve been a Bullitt fan ever since I saw the movie (at least the car chase) on my 13th birthday. About 2 years later I bought my Augusta Green '68 and have wanted a 390/4-speed version ever since. I think yours is the first one I’ve actually seen. I think the connection to the Bullitt car(s) is really cool. I’ve felt a bit of a connection having the same color car, but yours takes it to a completely different level. Thanks for sharing your story!

Also, according to the Marti report, DSO 71 is Los Angeles for the Mustang.

I’m hoping to eventually see 559 in person, but it hasn’t made it’s way anywhere within driving distance of my home. I’m hoping he’ll take it to the Mustang 55th in Topeka, KS next year, as that’s only about an hour away. That would be pretty cool, as we are having the Bullitt Nationals at that event as well.

6

Thanks for the info. Do you have a photo/link to the Marti for the 559 car?

I’m guessing 558 is the stunt car they pulled from a Mexican junkyard recently?

7

I know I’ve seen the Marti report, but I can’t seem to find it. If I do then I’ll send you a link to it. Here’s a link to the Historic Vehicle Association page:

https://www.historicvehicle.org/national-historic-vehicle-register/vehicles/1968-ford-mustang-fastback-bullitt-559/

558 is the stunt car. I was actually able to talk to Kevin Marti about it after he had been to look at it (we happened to be in Detroit standing beside his '67 Cougar convertible) and he said there really wasn’t much left of the car. They were going to try to salvage as much as they could, but it was pretty far gone. I haven’t heard an update on it for a while now. I’m sure it’ll show up and be for sale for an incredibly high price at some point.

8

This is cool! So many similarities and only 4 days apart! It raises a question for me. What was the takt time for the '68 Mustang and Cougar from serial number generation to when it rolls out the door? With only 4 days apart could they have been on the line at the same time?

Btw, I just looked it up and Jan 8, 68 was a Monday and the 12th was Friday.