"Bullitt "stunt driver Bud Ekins

[67BelAir427]

I just read that stunt driver "Bud Ekins" passed away on the 6th of October at the age of 77. He is the motorcycle stunt driver who jumped the barbed wire fence at the end of "The Great Escape" as a double for Steve McQueen. He is also remembered for his work in "Bullitt. In one scene he lays down his bike in front of a skidding truck. But he is probably best known for his work as the driver of the Dodge Charger. In an interview he was once asked if he had ever refused to do a stunt. He replied, "Yeah, some of them were too stupid to consider."

[Late BrakeU2]

Actually stuntman Bill Hickman did all the driving of the Charger-he played the bespectacled stone faced hit man driver as well.
A little bit of trivia on Hickman.. he was best freinds with James Dean,and was the first one to pull up on his accident as they were both en route to a sports car race in Salinas,He pulled him from the car and Dean let ut his last breath and died in his arms.

[47Hammer]

I believe Ekins took the wheel of the Mustang after Mc Queen overshot that right hander and smoked the tires in reverse ( wheel hop included). After that Mc Queen said it was getting to hairy for him http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif. That scene called for the mustang to make the corner but the director thought it looked so real they left it in. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[SmallHurst]

Here is the Youtube that will have you bangin' gears!!!!

Bullitt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WS4kew4UWs)

[x Baldwin Motion]

love that chase, the charger loses about 5 or 6 wheelcovers!!

[427TJ]

Back when men were men and they man-handled big-block American iron through city streets as fast as they could go. Too bad McQueen's Mustang had a one-legged differential. That scene would have been so much cooler if he had laid down 100 feet of twin black lines!

Now you know why manufacturers did away with metal wheel covers. They would fly off and kill people and lawsuits no doubt ensued. Ever hold a Chevy N96 mag wheel cover? Those suckers must weigh 10 pounds! Imagine one flying off a car at freeway speeds--it could take your head "clean off." (Name the SF-filmed movie that quote is from!)

[Verne_Frantz]

Too easy...Dirty Harry.

[427TJ]

Yeah, I guess that was an easy one!

[JRSully]

Anybody ever determine if that was a Hemi Charger.?

[njsteve]

Nope, just a 440 magnum with 7 hubcaps and a seventeen speed gearbox (the same one as in the Mustang. Just count the shifts, especially when Bullitt has both hands on the wheel!)

[retengw31]

I had one of the original spinner wheel covers come off the left front of my 60 Vette years ago and nail an oncoming car in the grille. Glad that's all it did. Scary.