Car of the Month September 2008

Neil Saniago’s 2008 Bullitt Mustang....A Tail of Two Bullitt’s

I was asked to write a few words about my 2008 Bullitt for the VMOA Newsletter so here is my story:

My family has always been a Ford family. My Dad’s first car was a 1957 Ford station wagon. He bought it used from my Uncle, Bert Zimmerman, who was a mechanic at the old Turner Ford dealership in San Bruno, CA. After several years of reliable use, my Dad bought his first new car, a 1969 Ford station wagon and then bought his last Ford, a canary yellow 1974 Galaxie station wagon affectionately known as the “Banana Boat” or “Das Boot”.

We didn’t have a lot of money and, unfortunately, my Dad passed away at a young age. I did inherit the Boat and used it to commute to college after he passed. It was a struggle, but eventually I earned my degree and became a contributing member of society. I met my future ex-wife shortly after graduating and I got rid of the Boat along with anything else that had to do with my identity.

Twelve long years passed. We had three lovely girls, however none of them have any interest in anything mechanical. To my ex, the car was an appliance, to be used specifically for the drop off/pick up of the children in the most efficient and unostentatious way possible. In reality, her/our car wasn’t a “toaster”, but a “purse”—- leaky ball point pens without a cap, spilled nail polish bottles turned to epoxy, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, candy wrappers, a Diet Coke can and about $50.00 in miscellaneous coinage could be found lodged anywhere within.

Eventually I called it quits and we divorced. I vowed to get a car that reflected the emancipated me. In late 2007, Ken Mannina and I were discussing the soon to be released Bullitt Mustang. We are both big fans of the movie, the man and, of course, the blue oval. The more I read, the easier the decision was. Made in America, V8, 315 horsepower, manual transmission, understated exhaust rumble, subdued retro-styling reminiscent of the original 1968 Fastback – all of these notes rang true to me.

Ken then referred me to Jack Mukhar, Internet Sales Manager with Sunnyvale Ford and I placed my order. In February, 2008, I took possession of number 1715 (7,700 were supposed to be built but the actual production run may be significantly less). The car is everything I expected and more. It is Ford’s homage to Steve McQueen and all that he represents. Different kinds of people approach me wanting to know about the car. To the uninitiated, it gives me an excuse to educate them about the “King of Cool” – Did you know Steve McQueen/Peter Revson finished second to Mario Andretti’s team in the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring? Imagine an actor losing to Tiger Woods by one stroke at the Masters or nearly beating Michael Jordan one-on-one (while in a cast, with inferior equipment).

My new girl friend Kathy, who some of you have met, loves the car. She and I take it up to San Francisco once a month. Some of our favorite places include cruising the Embarcadero from King Street all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf and driving the Great Highway to Mel’s on Geary with a night cap at the Cliff House. I am happy to open up the hood, start the engine and let you sit in the driver’s seat. Please don’t ask me too many detailed questions – I don’t have the encyclopedic knowledge that some of you have.

Think of me as Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom: Wife’s Boss: I see you are doing some remodeling. Mr. Mom: Yeah, some electrical work in the kitchen. Wife’s Boss: Using 220? Mr. Mom: 220, 221, whatever it takes. Neil Saniago

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Kevin Patten’s 2008 Bullitt Mustang....A Tail of Two Bullitt’s

I just got back from taking the Bullitt to its first track event, the Nor-Cal SAAC 25th Annual Mini-Nats, at which I had a great time. I first saw the 40th anniversary Bullitt Mustang @ the San Jose Auto Show back in January of this year and found it to be everything that I had hoped for from Ford. I had been waiting like everyone else since Ford had first announced that they were going to do another Bullitt Edition (last one in 2001 I think) on the newest S197 platform. Like everything else that I have owned with wheels on it, I started picking out items to modify the car even before I bought it back in Feburary. The Highland green paint is a great color and the color of the original car so even though the Bullitt is available in "Henry Ford Black" green was the only way to go.

The first things to change out were the wheels and tires (needed some torque thrust wheels) along with side louvers (68 style) and of course a Hurst competition plus shifter. It never stops with me once I get going , next the front side markers needed to be changed to a clear lens (like on 68 models) , replace the side rear view mirrors with ones like the early sport/bullet style , a shorter antenna (because I kept hitting myself in the head every time I washed the car) and then it came to the suspension. It starts with a H&R coil over conversion with Maximum Motorsports adjustable caster/camber plates , Hotchkis swaybars , a mix of BMR components , then capped off with a 1 piece aluminum driveshaft and differential cover.

In the engine compartment I have an assortment of aluminum pieces with a carbon fiber intake and of course Ford chrome valve covers (like on the 68 GT390) with an intake cover. Horsepower wise I have only put on a power pulley set which boost the stock 315HP to 325HP which is also what the 68 GT390 had. I'm sure this will change later after the warranty wears off (ha-ha). I have tried to extend that which Ford started in trying to bring back the looks and feel of a great Mustang movie classic. Next I guess, is to have the inclination to go out and practice jumping it on the streets of San Francisco - here's to you Steve McQueen.

Thanks Kevin Patten, VMOA Past President Performance Art/ General Manager (408) 848-6325 www.performanceartonline.com