Ford's recently released another Bullitt Mustang - dressed appropriately in Dark Highland Green, of course - which is just the latest example of someone or some company trying to capitalize on The McQueen Factor. The McQueen Factor, simply put, is classic cool. Manly. Hard as nails and uncompromising. You know, kind of like the legend of Steve McQueen. We're not immune to it either, hence this piece.

But here's what we're going to do. We're going to describe for you what we think would be an even cooler Bullitt Mustang than Ford's undeniably nice, but entirely too civilized, version. We're calling it The McQueen Factor Mustang:

Start with a repop '67 Mustang Fastback body. (Yes, we know the original was a '68, but they're not available...yet.)
Paint it Dark Highland Green, obviously, but maybe with a flat finish.
Torq-Thrust wheels, not too big, say 17s at the most, with dark gray centers.
Smallish disc brakes all the way around. We're not building a roadracer here, more of a street fighter type of thing.
Gotta have a 390 in it. Maybe with aluminum heads, but if so, paint 'em engine color.
Four speed tranny preferred, but a 5-speed will do if necessary.
9-inch rear with 3.73s. Have to be limited slip, a Detroit Locker would be even better.
Very basic interior. I'm talking couple of original buckets, a carpet. Regular door panels, must have roll-up windows.
Absolutely no sound deadener.
No A/C. You think McQueen worried about gettin' hot when he was thrashin' the original?
Suspension wise, we're leaning more toward original style than aftermarket. Lower the car a little, but not slammed. The car needs to be a bit of a handful when driven to get The McQueen Factor in all its hair raising, wring-its-neck glory.

The idea is to get the true, big-block manly-man muscle Mustang experience. Just like McQueen would want. Basic, hard-edged, hard-to-drive fast, hard-nosed....you get the idea.

It's The McQueen Factor Mustang. What do you think? Tell us here.