Mustang Bullitt

Make
Ford
Segment
Coupe

The iconic 1968 Ford Mustang the "King of Cool" drove in the iconic movie "Bullitt" has just officially become the most expensive Mustang ever sold at auction. Mecum has announced the car was sold for a record $3.74 million at its Kissimmee Florida auction, surpassing a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500's $2.2 million sale price a couple of years ago. A video of the auction can be seen below.

In fact, some experts predicted the Bullitt Mustang could have possibly sold for as high as around $4 million, though they admitted putting a price tag on it wasn't exactly easy. Still, the Bullitt Mustang is now the second-most expensive muscle car ever sold at auction. In 2014, a 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda convertible sold for $3.78 million.

Not even Steve McQueen himself could make a deal to buy the 1968 Ford Mustang he drove in the movie. Several years after filming ended, the actor and car and motorcycle enthusiast managed to track down the Mustang's then-owner with an offer.

The late Robert Kiernan paid $6,000 for the hero car after seeing an ad for it and later refused McQueen's repeated attempts to buy it. The owner's son, Sean Kiernan, had not been aware of what his late father had bought and stored in a garage. The younger Kiernan did some research and soon reached out to Ford and the discovery was confirmed. Kiernan and Ford then joined forces for a publicity tour of sorts that began at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show when the new Ford Mustang Bullitt was revealed.

It was there when the 1968 Bullitt Mustang was shown to the world for the first time in decades. A couple of years ago, Kiernan thought about selling the car but was in no immediate hurry. He was waiting for the right time and his patience paid off. Still in its original condition with the camera mount on the lower body, the 1968 Bullitt Mustang now has a new, unnamed owner. Hopefully, they won't restore it because it's perfect as is.