Steve McQueen and the Bullitt Movie Chase

Icon of cool and master of car theatre Steve McQueen became synonymous with speed, style, and a '68 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback.

The infamous Mustang and Dodge Charger chase scene, is cinematic chase ballet. Filming this spectacle took three weeks, yet the chase itself unfolded in only 10 minutes and 53 screen seconds.

Navigating the city's hilly streets, the chase almost lost its iconic Golden Gate Bridge backdrop. The feds in San Francisco initially denied permission to film on the bridge, Instead, they gained unprecedented access to other parts of the city, resulting in an unforgettable chase through the streets of San Francisco.

As Bullitt maneuvered through the streets, McQueen kept his head near the open car window during the chase scenes. This was a deliberate move to reassure fans that it was indeed McQueen himself, not a stuntman, behind the wheel. 

One of the most memorable moments in the chase wasn't in the script. Bullitt's Mustang goes into the infamous reverse burnout mode, not scripted, but due to McQueen's missed turn. This unplanned manoeuvre added a nice touch to the scene, showcasing McQueen's ability to merge acting and racing.

Steve McQueen and director Peter Yates brought in some of the best names in the business in preparation for the filming of Bullitt’s chase scenes, 

McQueen was determined to have “the best car chase ever done,” with special camera angles and speeds to make it look fast. McQueen advised the camera crew that money was no object. 

As for the cars, two 1968, four-speed Mustang GT fastbacks were purchased primarily because “they wanted it to look like a cop car”. This was his Bullitt’s personal car and he wasn’t a rich guy, he didn’t have a real nice car. And it was Steve’s idea to put the big dent in the fender, to show that it got banged up and he didn’t have enough money or the time to fix it.

Warner Brothers purchased two four-speed Dodge Chargers… “at a Chrysler dealership in Glendale California, After the success of the movie and the increase in Charger sales, Chrysler was more than willing to be generous with their vehicles to Warner Brothers for future projects.

There wouldn’t be an 01 General Lee in the Dukes of Hazzard if Bullitt and Dodge hadn’t sold so many Chargers???