In other shots you can clearly see the typical front fender scratch and bent up left front bumper part from #558.
The phenomenom is that there are actually very few pics available of #559 at all. It has been identified false in many a publication up to these days.
The statement at the #559 presentation was that it was used for filming Steve inside or in slow moving sequences.
It takes more time to verify that indeed #559 is pictured in any of those available, so allow us more time to review all shots of the March 1968 contact sheets of various photographers, if we can spot the right car.
You will notice that 99% of the Bullitt Mustang pics online are those of actually the jump and stunt car #558, which was found in 2016 in the mexican yard. We will sort that out now again for you.
This is not #559 shown, but #558. Actually this is a picture from the Feinstein collection meanwhile used more often for education, a then befriended photographer who often went with Steve.
Read the comment on the left.
#559 is said to be the hero or camera car, where sequences of Steve McQueen sitting or slowly moving in the car were filmed.
It might have been also the back-up car, which was mostly not needed during the movie filming. Reason for its sale after the movie to a WB employee and survival.
A number of modifications were done on the two cars before they were used in the movie. On the right you find a listing of those items.
Sheet provided by Frank Marranca to Brad Bowling
Only a few stills are available from the Hero car, allow me to review this with better knowledge today.
Brad Bowling interviewed him.
Frank Marrancas advertisement in the R&T October 1974. Picture Ron Roehm.
According to Ron, he was told, that the woman and her husband had bought it from Warner Bros. directly. Which was not accurate enough, since Robert Ross was the first owner, but he was a film editor at WB. His ownership lasted from 1968-1970.
The Marranca couple did not want to give him the name of the buyer, but that they had made a special agreement with the buyer, that they would have the first deal, should it ever get back on the market.
Ron had a 1967 dark green metallic Mustang at that time of his report send to Mustang Monthly in 1984.
Since then the car has not been seen in public areas and the current owner wishes to remain anonymous.
