Cars > Challenges > “"Ashley"” Vs “My Bullitt”

CorvairJim

M–46
Norristown, Pennsylvania
United States

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BullittDuff

M–49
Ramona, California
United States

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1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza

“"Ashley"”

2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

“My Bullitt”

Head to Head

About “"Ashley"”

# About eight years ago, I had the misfortune to have to take a prescription that meant I couldn't drive. I sold the daily car I had at that point (one plain-Jane black 5-speed Cavalier coupe - a transportation appliance at best). A few years went by, and I changed doctors. The new guy prescribed something different for my condition, so I needed wheels once again. I could: A) spend $4,500 on a cheap used car that would just blend into the woodwork or, B) Find a really decent Corvair set up the way I like it. Now THAT car doesn't blend in. I found this '66 Corvair in Denver, CO, on eBay. The engine had been rebuilt by a nationally-known Corvair specialist shortly before the previous owner put it into storage for about ten years. It came out of the rebuild capable of putting 220 horsepower down to the pavement. Not bad for 164 unblown, carbureted cubic inches! It also had new tires all around. I won the auction, and flew out with my wife to drive it home. A fantastic road trip, and it cost half as much as shipping it would have. It became my daily driver for the next three years, until, in late '05, I had it in for state inspection at a friends Corvair restoration shop. While it was up on the lift, I got to see just how little rust the car had underneath. I decided at that point that it had seen its last winter of Pennsylvania road salt! It is now my nice spring day car, and a pleasure to drive. It still draws attention wherever I go with it.

About “My Bullitt”

The story behind my new 2008 Mustang Bullitt.

Well I've been into cars my whole life and while I’ve always had cars to tinker with I’ve almost always had a company car provided for me by employers. However my current job doesn’t provide such a ride and for the last few years I’ve been either using my '01 Supercrew as my daily driver or renting cars. But with gas prices and the miles on my truck building up over the past few years - I found myself in need of a new daily driver.

Now I'd considered getting a slightly used coupe and at the top of my list was a 1 to 2 year old Mustang GT. Granted a V8 isn't the most economical vehicle for commuting - but in a vehicle the size of a Mustang, it (a V8) would be a vast improvement over my 4x4. Besides I just couldn’t see buying another boring & anemic car given my flare for all things automotive. So the mold was set – I was going to get a Mustang GT, I just didn’t know what kind or how old it would be.

Anyway I'd been eye-balling the ’08 Bullitts since they first debuted and can clearly say that as a Fan of the Steve McQueen movie and first 2001 Bullitts – but I didn’t think it was a good choice at the time. But sadly when they did release the new 08 Bullitt I thought the prices where insane at the time.

However as they say “timing is everything” - I started doing some online car shopping and discovered that the Bullitt's pricing had dropped drastically.

Specs for “"Ashley"”

1966 Corvair Monza Sport Coupe
164 C.I.D. Opposed 6-cylinder engine, air cooled.
Lemonwood Yellow paint, Black interior

Specs for “My Bullitt”

Granted there are faster vehicles to be had but not that many for the money. Think of a Bullitt as something between a stock Mustang GT and a Shelby GT500. But in a Stelthy package that is more than capable of blowing the doors off of most cars on the road.

Specs:
Limited Edition 1 of 7700
Engine: 4.6L single overhead cam, three-valve V-8 engine
Specially tuned. Uprated internals, RPM redline bumped 250 RPMs
Intake: Ford Racing cold air intake
Exhaust; special H-pipe for the dual exhaust system, 3.5-inch exhaust tips.
Transmission: 5-Speed manual
Rear-end: taller 3.73:1 improves low end torque.
18'' Bullitt Wheels
315 horsepower at 6,000 rpms
325 pound-feet of torque at 5750 rpms
0-60MPH in 5.0 seconds
1/4 mile in 13.7-second at 102.7 mph
Leather interior
Shaker 500 6-C/D in dash changer
HID Headlights

Source: www.jdpower.com

Factory Options for “"Ashley"”

(All options verified by build sheet)
140 horsepower, 4 carb engine
4-speed transaxle
Posi rear
Sport Suspension
"Mag-Style" full wheel covers
AM pushbutton radio

Factory Options for “My Bullitt”

Ford Racing massaged the Bullitt’s 4.6L V8 engine via a some programming, a cold air kit and a specially tuned exhaust that is been made to emulate the sound of the 68 390 Mustang driven by Detective Frank Bullitt in the movie. Also it only comes with a Manual 5-speed so posers need not apply as this is an enthusiasts car.

The suspension and brakes also received some of the tweaking. Some of the more telling features are that the car actually sits about a half inch lower than a stock GT, has a front strut cross-member and employs the same rear brakes as the Shelby GT500.

Exterior – has no blue ovals or running pony’s anywhere to been seen. Likewise no (useless) rear deck spoiler and no driving/fog lights in the front grill work. Likewise it’s only available in either Highland Green or Black.

Interior is pure 60’s! No frills or options galore here. Darth Vader leather interior and about the only option available is either the Shaker 500 with a 6-CD changer in the dash or a Shaker 1000 with the touch screen nav system. Best of all is the aluminum ball shifter and the machined aluminum dash.

Mods for “"Ashley"”

Engine rebuilt to Yenko Stinger Stage III specs - 220 net horsepower.
Suspension lowered 1 coil.
Low-restriction intake and exhaust.
Full window tint.
Tail panel painted silver (like the factory did with the Corvair Corsa model).
AM/FM/CD/Stereo unit mounted under the dash - NO holes cut or drilled for the installation!
Pennsylvania Vanity Plate "CORVA1R"

Mods for “My Bullitt”

None at the moment. But I'm going to install some Ford Racing Springs to get an extra inch of lowering and improved handling. However I might consider a Supercharger in the future but otherwise I don't want to change the look that much.