Features

The 18-inch Torq Thrust-style wheels do a good job of copying the original 15-inch numbers and the tyres are high-profile enough to keep the sense of proportion. But there's far too much air between the top of the wheel and the wheelarch.

The suspension is 6mm lower than a standard Mustang GT, but it needs to drop another couple of inches to get the right look. Likewise, the fake fuel filler cap at the back needs to go, or at least have the Bullitt lettering removed.

Inside the car there's thankfully little similar to the original Bullitt car. Steve's car had a wood dash and not much else. The new one has swathes of aluminium, an alloy gearknob - even satnav. It also has a light system that lets you choose between eight shades of colour to light the footwell and cupholder. This should be deleted if possible.

The engine and chassis have also taken McQueen-sized leaps forward over the lesser Mustang siblings. Using all of Ford Racing's tuning know-how, the Bullitt puts out 15bhp more than the standard car - bringing the total to 315bhp. It can also use more power, more of the time, thanks to some stouter suspension and some pretty fancy cross-braces under the bonnet.

One feature it might have been an idea to update from the original - it can't be seen, so why not? - is the live rear axle. While drag race fans like this simpler set-up, an independent suspension would make the car handle better and more predictably. It's a bit more expensive - ah, that's why not - but it would probably be worth it.

I say probably as, after thrashing the car around San Francisco and down to Monterey, I'm now not so sure. Yes, it doesn't always give the best ride, and it does hop and jump over mid-corner bumps, but maybe that's the point. This is a muscle car and they shouldn't really be too refined. They are supposed to be blunt instruments that you have to manhandle with confidence.

On one out-of-town stretch of twisting road, the Bullitt was quick and composed through all but the tightest and worst surfaced corners. It was easy to keep up an 80mph+ gallop along country lanes with a speed limit half that. There was the odd buck and the occasional slide, but only when I'd given it too many beans out of the corner. I like cars that you can get out of shape at quite low speeds, as you can have a lot of fun without worrying that it's all going to end in a ball of flame.

And the Bullitt is one of those cars. Having spent years watching the film and wondering what it must be like to launch, slide and spin-up a two-ton car around the hills of SF, when the time comes to have a go myself, I quickly realise that in 2007 you can't just fling the car off the edge of a hill without squashing someone. There are more people and cars here than there were in the Sixties and there just isn't the room anymore.

It's not a problem though. The Bullitt has changed with the times and is now more fun than ever before. Unlike the original, it doesn't just look and sound good (did I mention the exhaust noise? It's not quite as loud as it should be but the note is perfect), it goes properly too. All for under £15,000.

Would Steve approve? Without the badges, yeah, I think he would.