The 390ci V-8 in the 1968 Ford Mustang GT, the same car in the Steve McQueen classic “Bullitt,” had a compression ratio of 10.5 to 1. But the Bullitt Mustang’s impression ratio, as in the number of imitations compared to the two authentic stunt and “hero” cars, is probably 10,000 to 1. It took decades to track down that pair of Mustangs, so when it came time to authenticate them, guess who got the call? That’s right — Kevin Marti.
In case you’re a diehard Chevy fan who blocks out all goings-on in the Ford world, Marti is the man behind Marti Auto Works, a service with access to Ford Motor Company’s entire production database for the 1967-2017 model years. According to the company, “We can tell you everything about any Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury made in the United States or Canada during 1967-2020” in a Marti Report, such as its build date, DSO (District Sales Office), original exterior and interior colors, factory engine and transmission, and more. Let’s just say Marti knows a thing or two about a thing or two.
So it’s not surprising that Marti was consulted to authenticate the two Mustangs used in the filming of “Bullitt.” How exactly did he do that? The VIN tag was a logical go-to. But those movie cars had certain modifications for filming, so Marti had to look for those. The cameras that filmed some of the legendary car chase drew their power from a pair of Briggs & Stratton generators, which vented their exhaust through a hole cut into the wheel well housing. That gear was heavy, requiring mounting points underneath the cars. The abuse the stunt car’s suspension endured leaping over the streets of San Francisco caused the metal above one of the shocks to bulge out. Given how many people have claimed to own one of the original “Bullitt” Mustangs, Marti initially had his doubts that the ones he analyzed were going to be the real deal, but his careful inspections showed him what he needed to see.
The importance of Marti’s work extends beyond the world of automotive and even movie history, and into the watch hobby. REC Watches, the company that posted the interview below, has an upcoming 1,486-unit production run of Bullitt 558 models (as in VIN 8R02S125558) that incorporate a piece of the stunt car’s taillight panel around the in-house, 25-jewel movement. To pre-order one, check out the REC Watches website by clicking here. Deliveries will start rolling out in February 2027.
