• Film stars add to Mustang’s official 50th birthday party• Famous sixties car chase recreated for YouTube
The epic car chase from the classic 1968 film Bullitt is still hailed as one of the most dramatic, exciting and influential in movie history.Now – as a special homage to the Oscar-winning original, which starred Hollywood legend Steve McQueen driving a Ford Mustang GT fastback – a modern day recreation is all set to be a YouTube sensation.The awe-inspiring, high-speed pursuit featured in the original action thriller was filmed on the hilly streets of San Francisco. Today’s tribute, however, was shot in Britain at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit where the iconic Mustang will be celebrating its 50th anniversary at this summer’s award-winning Silverstone Classic (25-27 July).
The new remake stays loyal to the visual style and events of the revered Bullitt chase. It starts with the McQueen character (US police officer Lieutenant Frank Bullitt) in his Highland Green coloured Ford Mustang GT and two hitmen bad guys in an intimidating black Dodge Charger R/T on the streets of a sleepy Silverstone village. The plot then switches to the Silverstone Circuit where the action gathers pace and reaches a spectacular conclusion with the Mustang forcing the Charger off the track resulting in a fiery explosion.Adding to the imitation, the modern pastiche is full of nods to the original. The baddie buckles up and wears leather gloves plus black glasses, the Mustang pops up in the Charger’s rear view mirror and there’s even a mysterious green VW Beetle in several of the shots.“It’s hard to imagine a better way for us to celebrate the Mustang’s forthcoming 50th birthday party than by making this special homage to the classic car chase in Bullitt,” said Nick Wigley, Silverstone Classic Event Director. “As you can imagine, we had a lot of fun making this film – not least as it gave us all a great excuse to watch the original movie once again!” Both the sixties muscle cars featured in the on-line tribute will be on show at the Silverstone Classic as part of a huge Mustang presence at the event – all supported by Pure Michigan, the tourism division of the US State of Michigan.The Mustang and Charger will be part of huge displays and a special Saturday on-track parade organised together with the Mustang Owners Club, which has chosen the Classic for its official golden anniversary celebrations.What’s more the Bullitt pair will be joined by a number of other Mustangs from movies such as Gone in 60 Seconds and American Gangster. Television presenter Mike Brewer will also be attending in his recently restored 1967 Mustang Fastback while a pair of P51 Mustangs will be wowing fans with a dazzling air display at lunchtime on Saturday.Adding to the fuel-filled festivities the weekend also includes two thundering Mustang celebration races featuring record numbers of the mighty American V8-powered Fords. It’s a high-octane party no one will want to miss.
Full details of ticket sales for this summer’s edition of the World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival – which must be purchased in advance – can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.
