The 2006 Bullitt Nationals - Bullitts by the Bay

A collectible classic right off the showroom floor, the '01 Mustang GT Bullitt is among the coolest factory-built Mustang specials of all time. With clean styling, a quasi-movie-star status, and excellent balanced performance, the Bullitt GT is possibly the best overall SN-95 Mustang produced during the platform's 1994-2004 run, a fact not lost on the passionate "Bullitt Heads" who recently held their fifth Bullitt Nationals.

This time, the Bullitt Nats was truly special, not that the previous shows in Texas, Arizona, Virginia, and Bullitt County, Kentucky-yes, there really is one-weren't fun in their own right. Held in July 2006, the event made a homecoming with festivities taking place in San Francisco, where the classic Steve McQueen movie Bullitt was filmed in 1968. A number of events could take place here that wouldn't be possible anywhere else, such as driving the route where the legendary chase scene took place. This included many of the streets in Knob Hill and Marina areas of San Francisco, as well as Guadalupe Canyon Parkway where the fiery conclusion was filmed in the nearby suburb of Daly City.

Other than that, the big event was the show 'n' shine day, taking place on an unusually hot day for the Bay area. Crystal-clear skies and temperatures well into the 90s had us seeking shade or sneaking into Serramonte Ford's dealership showroom, located in nearby Colma, just south of Daly City.

The '07 show is being planned to coincide with the Mid-America Performance Ford and Shelby Meet in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 14-17. Whether event will return to San Francisco remains to be seen. It's too bad in one way, but it's a good idea to have the show in different locations so owners nationwide can participate and share their love for these unique Mustangs.

For more on the '07 Bullitt Nationals or anything Bullitt related, point your Web browser to the International Mustang Bullitt Owners Club at www.imboc.com.

On Friday afternoon, participants retraced the route of the Mustang and Charger chase in the movie; they also drove by VJ Grocery and Liquor, the store across the street from Bullitt's apartment. This sign is unchanged from when it appeared in the film and is still visible at the intersection of Taylor and Clay Streets in the Knob Hill section of San Francisco. The '05 Mustang GT shown here,owned by Doug Ross of New Haven, Connecticut, was changed to its Highland Green hue for a Motor Trend cover story.	On Saturday morning, it was Bullitt Mustangs as far as the camera lens could capture. The 10-mile drive from the host hotel in south San Francisco to Serramonte Ford in Colma incorporated Guadalupe Ridge Parkway, where the final high-speed sequences were filmed for the chase scene.	Showtime commenced on arrival. The numerous rows of Dark Highland Green, Black, and True Blue Bullitts was a sight to see in the dealership parking lot.
Three Green '01 Bullitts make us wish for the days when these cars were new on dealership parking lots. Can it be six years already? The word is, Ford will be releasing an '08 Bullitt.	Our friend and Los Angeles-based KABC TV automotive reporter Dave Kunz owns what is considered to be the most accurate '68 Bullitt movie-car replica. Dave has owned this '68 GT fastback for nearly 15 years and has all the details down, from the skinny Torque-Thrust-type wheels, narrow tires, and drab stick-out tailpipes to the clean fastback skin with all ornamentation removed. It helps that the car is original Highland Green example and factory-equipped with an S-code 390 four-barrel and Toploader four-speed trans.	While the '01 Bullitts are cool, there wouldn't have been any if not for the '68s that came first. These '68 fastbacks reminded everyone where this madness started. The car on the right was nicely finished in a color resembling the True Blue '01s, of which only 723 were made.
Most of the Bullitts at the show were in showroom stock condition. But Teri Temeyosa decided to make her Black Bullitt stand out from the rest. Upgrades include a Hypertech Power Programmer, a Steeda Tri-Ax shifter, a Densecharger cold-air kit, a K&N filter, Flowmaster mufflers, custom side splitters in front of the rear wheels, and a set of 18-inch wheels that retain the Bullitt wheel appearance.	Mike O'Donnell's Bullitt is extensively updated with an intercooled Allen supercharger, BBK headers, a BBK X-shape crossover, a T56 six-speed, and a Maximum Motorsports six-point rollbar. A full complement of suspension bits, also from Maximum Motorsports, includes a tubular K-member and lower control arms, a K-member brace, caster/camber plates, coilover shocks and springs, a rear torque arm, a panhard bar, and rear lower control arms.	After the show, a lucky few got the chance to see Dave Kunz's '68 follow the Guadalupe Canyon Parkway back to the hotel with Scott Ulirich's equally accurate and cool black '68 Charger. It was a great way to wrap up a fascinating and unique Bullitt weekend.