Interview: The team behind the 2008 Mustang Bullitt
Posted November 16, 2007 at 4:40 pm
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- Mustang Bullitt.
The 2008 Mustang Bullitt hit the streets of California at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto show. Paul Randle, the chief engineer of Ford Mustang thinks “It’s absolutely fantastic.” Standing in front of the sleek homage to the 1968 icon, Randle is proud of this latest creation that combines classic looks with the latest in Ford Racing Technology. “We went as far as we could with a track car while maintaining a level of plushness for a daily driver.” Randle says. Plus, it’s stealthy: “like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Doug Gaffka says that the design team became similarly obsessed “We pored though hours and hours of film to get as authentic as we could while on a very modern platform.” Gaffka, the chief designer for Ford SV, has been responsible for the design of many of Ford’s Living Legends vehicles. One of his favorites is the 2005 Mustang, but the 2008 Bullitt is a departure. “Other Mustangs are all about ‘look at me’” he says. “This one we took a step lower—it’s a car you can drive fast and probably not get caught all the time.”
The Bullitt has not stopped being an influence after 40 years and revisiting a classic is a challenge and a pleasure for Gaffka and his team. “Any time you get to work on a Mustang, you come to work happy.” says Gaffka.
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20 COMMENTS ABOUT Interview: The team behind the 2008 Mustang Bullitt
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Quincy Damphousse says (June 7, 2008 at 12:51 pm):
Just got mine today.Its everything and more than I needed
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steve says (May 18, 2008 at 1:38 pm):
picking up my new bullet tomorrow and would like to know how to find what #it is. thanks
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john jingle himer smit says (May 17, 2008 at 5:27 pm):
this carrrr is phattt sooooooon
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RICHARD BROWN says (April 23, 2008 at 2:31 pm):
I forgot in my previous comments, I am looking at the picture of this beautiful car. The question is I wanted to know does this baby have fog lights. It look like it does, but then again it may the vents.
If they are the vents, then would see come with fog lights?
Thanks again!!!!!
Lee Wyman says (April 27, 2008 at 10:27 pm):
No fog lights because the 68 Bullitt car did not have fog lights. If you add fog lights you take away the whole concept of the car.
Anonymous says (April 26, 2008 at 8:42 pm):
Sorry they took out the fog lights but I think in my Bullitt they put in in with the regular lights... I'm not entirely sure....I would ask a dealer
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RICHARD BROWN says (April 23, 2008 at 2:21 pm):
I THINK I HAVE FOUND MY CAR. I BEEN PLANNING TO GET THE SHELBY GT50O COBRA MUSTANG, BUT IT'S TOO HIGH A PRICE AND I LOOKING ALSO AT THE FUEL.
I ALSO WAS LOOKING AT THE MUSTANG GT, IT APPEAR TO TURN ME ON, BUT KNOW WE HAVE THE BULLITT, WOW SHE SOUND HOT AND SHE A LITTLE OF BOTH THE SHELBY AND THE GT. I ALSO LOVE THE COLOR AND HOW IT SOUNDS, I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT GOD WILLING THIS WEEKEND. LOOKING TO ADD A SUNROOF. I THINK THAT i WILL NOT REALLY PURCHASE IT UNTIL DECEMBER TIME FRAME. ALSO I LOST SOME INTEREST ON THE COBRA SHELBY BECAUSE THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT LIKE THE 67 1/2 SHEBLY ALSO THE COLOR ARE NOT WHAT I WANT.
ANYWAY WHAT REALLY KILLS ME IS THE PRICE AND FORD COULD SELL MORE. YOU GUYS ARE FORGETTING THE HOW FUEL IS RISING SO HIGH!
I LOVE THE MUSTANG AND THE BULLITT IS PROBABLY THE CAR THAT I WILL ACTUALLY PURCHASE.
GOOD JOB AND KUDDOS TO YOU ALL.
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Ken S. says (April 8, 2008 at 8:51 pm):
I doubt that anyone of importance at Ford reads these posts, but if someone does, surprise me with a response. I am pretty ticked off about the fact that when I bought a Bullitt Mustang only less than 3 months ago, I had to pay thousands more than people are paying right now. I wanted to use my X-plan discount, and take advantage of 5.9% financing from Ford Motor Credit that was being offered on other Mustangs in January. Now I guess the Bullitt is not as successful as anticpated, since you can now get rebates, X-plan pricing, and incentive financing. I was forced to pay MSRP, was told I was being done a favor by being charged (a repeat customer) 7.99%, and I took a bath on my 2007 Mustang GT trade in with only 5K miles. I should have walked out that day, but I fell for the hype of the "special edition" (I am hearing rumors that there will be a 2009 Bullitt). I should have walked out that day, so I suppose that I am to blame just as much as Ford, Ford Motor Credit, and the Ford dealership for taking advantage of me. I love my Bullitt, but this experience has cured me: I will never fall for any more Ford vehicle hype; I will never again pay MSRP for a car, or buy one any time except near the end of the model year. Enjoy my money, since this may turn out to be my last Ford product; I was a life long GM customer until last year. I might as well go back to driving GMs, since they seem to have some very nice cars lined up during the next several years.
Ken S. says (May 14, 2008 at 10:22 pm):
Hi Frank, I have posted a few tidbits of information on the other Bullitt page about production and rebates (which it sounds like you read). I still wish that I could have saved some money, but I am very pleased with my car. Anyway, I got a little satisfaction by punishing Ford Motor Credit- I took the loan away from them by refiancing for a slightly lower rate and free gap insurance. If you haven't already, visit IMBOC.com and become a member- the Bullittheads are a great bunch of people.
Frank says (April 30, 2008 at 4:49 pm):
Well , I'm going to answer my own question. It's official-5600 Bullitts for 2008 and 2100 for 2009. Grand total 7,600. To me , this is a broken promise of this car being the 40th annivarary of the 1968 movie Mustang. I say put the surplus " Bullitt parts "in stock and only allow verifiable owners to buy them as replacements to prevent cloning.
I see Ford yanked the $1,500 / low financing for this vehicle- I'll believe many, many purchasers prior to 3/31/08 complained. Ford should keep the rebates/financing going and extend it to those who bought the car earlier. That will never happen, though.
Still a great car , design team !!
Frank says (April 20, 2008 at 9:21 pm):
Ken, not only does Ford not read this site , but they don't respond to e-mails at HEADQUARTERS regarding such matters as what you , I and others have experienced with their pricing policies.
Fortunately for me , the dealer gave me a great deal on the car I ordered in mid- November and took posession of in mid- January ... BUT I was told That the "D" plan for family members of Ford employees was disqualified along with low financing and the $1,500 rebate. I argued with Ford headquarters that the Bullitt is a GT with an option package, much like a Cal. Special is also GT.
Now for this rumor about a 2009 Bullitt ? Well , that's possibly going to bring some lawsuits if it happens ! I , for one, don't believe it will happen , but time will tell.
BTW, the car is awesome and stays no matter what. This is only my second Ford ( first was an 82' Mustang GT) . I've been a GM guy since 1968 , have bought over 20 new GM vehicles including 3 70s vintage Vettes and a great 1971 Nova SS.
My son graduates from college next month and wants a new car to go along with his new job. We're driving past the Ford dealer to the Chevy/Buick/ Pontiac dealership !
Thanks for a great car , Ford, but your market people are screwing buyers much like they did with their overpriced 2002-2004 T-Birds.
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Ray Trosper says (March 28, 2008 at 4:28 am):
Well now..........just an update to my original post to Ford. Fritts Ford in Riverside got in another Bullitt Mustang in the Dark Highland Green last week and the car is now owned by me. I bought it on Sunday, the 23 of March and will pick it up maybe tomorrow. Had the Saleen Super Charger added to the engine as I stated before, I thought this Pony should have had some more HP. Looks like it should end up wth about 440 vs the stock 315. The only thing left for me to do is to pick up a Black Dickie Sweater and Suit so I can do my imitation of Steve McQueen when I pick up the Bullitt. So, now I have 6 Fords. Got that? F.O.R.D. And I want to say hi to Michael K. Brier who responded to my first post back in Dec. and Congrats on your purchase of the 01 Bullitt. Us Ford people just have to stick together. Not that it matters much, but the production number on my Bulllitt is #1690. I even told Fritts Ford that I'd like to get my hands on the last Bullitt rolling of the production line in 2008. That could be tough. If not, I'm sure going to enjoy taking the picture of my Bullitt next to my daughters 2007 Mustang. Keep it up Ford.
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MICHAEL MANNING says (March 19, 2008 at 11:32 pm):
Our 3rd Annual Steve McQueen Film Festival begins this Sunday and I featured the "Bullitt" Ford film footage yesterday. I look forward to a personal test drive! This effort by Ford shows me that ingenuity and imagination is back!
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Don Stilwell says (December 9, 2007 at 12:57 pm):
I was originally very skeptical of the Bullitt concept when the first pics were made public, too plain, too ordinary, just not exciting enough for what I was wanting in a "special" car. But the more I read about the engineering changes (brakes, engine, suspension), the more I could see the improvements that the Bullitt has over a standard GT. And after reading the comments from the design team, the end product matches that "stealth" philosophy on the money. I like the idea of the Bullitt - what looks like a base model of the Mustang can literally leave a non-believer fading in the twilight of the rear view mirror. Also, the MSRP is very reasonable for such a limited edition Mustang.
Needless to say, if a hands on check out of a new Bullitt at my local Ford dealer is a positive experience,
that "stealth" car will be in my driveway. Like a kid at Christmas, the hardest part is waiting for the model to arrive at the dealership.
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Ray Trosper says (December 9, 2007 at 10:16 am):
I look forward to the Bullitt, however I wish Ford would have put more horses under the hood of this car. I also hope they aren't going to tease the public with the production of this car and get it out in a timely manner and not ruin the excitement the way Ford did with the retro Thunderbird. Speaking of Thunderbird. When is that great car coming back? Also Ford.......isn't it about time to do something with the Ranger? It's time you re-design that vehicle and keep up with the competition. Lose the jump seats in the back and build a slightly different model with more room in the back. Yeah, go ahead and laugh at my suggestions, but as a loyal Ford owner for YEARS, lately my attention is getting weak staying with you. A New Ranger Design, A New Thunderbird, More horses for the Bullitt and then bring back the commercial, "Have you Driven a Ford Lately"? If I had to give priority to the above 3 ideas, I feel a newly re-design Ranger could help sales. But what the hell do I know. I only own currently 5 Fords. 2003 Explorer, 2004 F-250, 2005 F-350, 2007 Ford Mustang and my favorite.......1979 Ford E-150 that I have owned since the day it left Detroit. That's right Ford. How many Econoline owners do you have on record owning an Econoline Van for almost 30 years. I ordered that Van in Oct. 78, picked it up in Madison, Wi. at Kaiser Ford on Dec. 26th, 1978 and its never left me since. I still have my original warranty card. I have to admit, I did look at other Dealers and Manufacturers this past year, but I certainly loved pulling out my insurance card showing them proudly my 5 Fords on the card and telling them, "What the hell can you have that can get me away from Ford"? You gotta love them salesmen for trying. Okay, I admit. The Mustang is for my Daughter, but she's all about Ford too. In Fact, for her Graduation of H.S. I got her Ford Stock. Just to get her started. Cert. # F123815. So with that my Dear Ford, I'll be seeing the showroom in Fritts Ford/Riverside, CA in January as I feel I have a storage facility for my Bullitt. Ray Trosper
michael k. brier says (December 10, 2007 at 10:17 pm):
Enjoyed your comments, a real ford man. I recently bought a 01 mustang "BULLITT". It doesn't get much better for an old guy of 55.
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GAry Asano says (December 9, 2007 at 1:45 am):
Steve McQueen would be proud! And his
family can once again revel in his being
an icon. This is ultimate cool car, to
mirror "Mr. Cool".
sam grubb says (April 3, 2008 at 8:42 am):
it is a nice looking car and it sure does have a good price tag for it to
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Jerry Smith says (December 6, 2007 at 8:02 pm):
Gentlemen, you've done something holy. I look forward the final product.
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frank imbriaco says (December 1, 2007 at 10:45 pm):
I'm very impressed with the Mustang Team's effort on the Bullitt. To be truthful, I've always been into GM Musclecars and Corvettes. Had an 82 Mustang GT for awhile, but then put things on hold for nearly 25 years because of the usual family and financial obligations. I retired several years ago and started to look for a 60s or 70s vintage musclecar. After many disappointing escapades( where cars did not meet my expectations) , I started to think owning a musclecar wasn't in my future. You guys turned it all around for me and I'm thrilled to be anticipating a new 08 Bullitt ! Just one question - will they be built all in one shot starting Jan. 08 or will they be assembled piecemeal along with other Mustang models until all 7,700 orders are filled ?
Thanks and I look forward to the experience !
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