For the 2017 model year, Ford decided to discontinue the color green in the Mustang’s paint palette. Called “Guard,” the tone was a faintly metallic deep green and it was as savory to the eyes as it was rare to see on the street. Fortunately, the automaker is returning the hue to its pony car for 2018. However, it looks like it will only be available on a special edition model known as the “Bullitt” — meaning Steve McQueen’s green machine is also making a return to the lineup.
While not the same 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT fastback from the titular film, Ford has twice offered homage editions of contemporary models. The first movie-inspired Mustang arrived in 2001, with a second launching in 2008.
Earlier this year, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson posted a video highlighting his role as Ford’s new brand ambassador, with sketches of the current-generation green Mustang adorned with Bullitt-like trappings seen in the background. It was a clever publicity stunt and we figured it was just a matter of time before the automaker made an announcement.
While Ford still hasn’t made any official peeps, the Ford-obsessed people at the Mustang6G forum leaked a lightly censored window sticker. We’re inclined to trust that this is the real deal.
As expected, the 2018 Bullitt Mustang will be based on the GT and use the 5.0-liter Coyote engine. The sticker indicates it can be paired with Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission, but we assume there’s a manual variant for those who want to accurately reenact scenes from the film.
The model looks to come equipped with premium features and a handful of accessories to set it apart from mere GTs. In addition to the unique color scheme, the special edition has rear window louvers and a phony gas cap to make it look more like the McQueen’s car. Still, for $56,080, one would hope Ford is providing more than just green paint. That’s roughly three grand more than leaked pricing we’ve seen for a fully loaded 2018 Mustang GT.
However, the forum poster noted that this is just a test sticker from Ford, and pricing might not be representative of the final MSRP.
Update (10/05/2017):
A representative from Ford reached out to us — in response to the article — to deny the company had created the window sticker. Either some really bored forum member decided to toss it together for laughs or Ford isn’t willing to lay its cards on the table just yet.
[Images: Warner Brothers, Mustang6G.com]
Schwiiiiingg….wait, $56k? WTF Ford? You’re, I dunno, $15k high there, boys.
Yeah, I like Dark Highland Green, but I don’t like it ‘that’ much.
Wow. I bought a new ‘09 Bullitt in May of ‘09 for half that price. The sticker was in the 31k to 33k range.
Depends on the content but a fully loaded 2018 Mustang GT with an automatic trans is 54k and the GT350 similarly equipped (well as equipped as you can get a GT350 owing to its intended purpose) is 62k
Wait I thought Ford was going to be eliminating variations and build combos? ;-)
No you need that 10 speed automatic to properly recreate the sound track of the movie.
Nicely done sir, you beat me to it. Has anyone ever counted the number of shifts we hear in that scene?
Actually just a non synchronized transmission. The engine and transmission dubbing for Frank’s Mustang were lifted from the GT40 which utilized at some point a transaxle lacking synchronizers requiring the driver to double-clutch the transmission when shifting gears.
dropping Green Gem from the lineup last year was criminal.
They should sell the Mustang in Bohai Bay Mint. Looks good on the Fiesta at least. ;)
My 15 EB is “Guard Green”. Even with a little accumulated dust it still looks look.
Now if I just find a way to stop people bouncing doors off the quarter panels !!!!!
I have a Guard Mustang as well. Don’t see many of them on the street, but I guess that just makes it more unique. Although it mostly just looks very from a distance.
I meant to day “grey from a distance.”
Had a metallic guard 2016 GT, it was perhaps my favorite color of the bunch.
I really liked the orange. just couldnt have it on a daily driver.
Too bad Ford doesn’t put a 390 ci (6.4 litre) into that Bullitt.
I wonder if the 6.2 would fit? Just bore it out a bit.
too wide, I think. the 6.2 has a tall deck and even with single overhead cams the heads are huge.
Jim is right. The 6.2L is the size of the moon.
“Shoehorn it in”
I think it physically will fit if dropped in from above and with some other stuff relocated, but engines get installed from below on the assembly line. The engine and crossmember(s) come along the line and the body is set down onto it.
Definitely won’t fit that way.
IIRC, Baruth said they should drop the Voodoo engine in–may be hard to live with as a DD, though.
Is the Voodoo 6.2/6.4?
Voodoo is the GT350’s 5.2. Will fit anywhere the 5.0 will.
6.2 is the “Boss.”
I didn’t think the 6.2 would fit but man-o-man, a 390 ci Bullitt would be instantly collectible.
Just not production line feasible. The current Mustang engine bay can swallow any engine with a width of 30 inches or less.
I cant remember who dropped the 5.4 32v in the current car but they said it wasn’t an issue (to be fair the Coyote is 28″ at is widest point) when you put it in from the top but it doesn’t work when going through from the bottom.
yeah, but having to install the engine post-EOL is really, *really* expensive. it’s why the Panthers never got a 5.4 anything.
They just want to price themselves into a “premium” brand!
There’s an update with a Ford rep saying it’s fake. It seems dubious. Rather, it’s all been carefully choreographed: Ford leaks a window sticker for a new edition Bullitt with an absurd amount just to gauge reaction and generate buzz, then quickly denies its legitimacy. It would be a pretty typical marketing ploy to prepare for the car when it really arrives.
Crap … bought my ’08 Bullitt thinking it might be my last chance to get a ‘big’ V8 (I know, I know). Could do it again, but ~$57K is too much; my ’08 was just a few bucks more than a loaded GT.
Still love the color.
Calling it a Bullitt is lame.
OK, I’ll bite. How is it lame?
I’m willing to bet this is a hoax. The 2018 dealer order guide makes no mention of either a Bullitt option or the green paint.
That Bullitt image reminds me of Mustangs at the annual hill climb outside Ottawa almost 50 years ago. The 390 version just didn’t handle worth a damn, partly due to ridiculous front suspension geometry, partly due to the boat anchor FE engine, and partly due to the ground clearance which approximates to today’s SUVs. They used to get wasted by Craig Fisher (two years in a row ’67/’68) in a 427 Chevy Caprice wagon with the A/C on, as he was at pains to point out with some glee.
At least the modern Mustang isn’t 9 inches off the ground – my friend’s two year old GT seems nice but still a bit ponderous, all the same.
The 390 was a heavy lump. None of the big block Mustangs with factory suspensions handled worth a damn. As for the Bullitt movie Mustang, I don’t think the factory cars rode that high. The movie car’s suspension was heavily modified so the car could jump up and down the hills. Even so, the car was trash by the end of filming the chase scene.