Original Bullitt teams with Drive Toward a Cure offering automotive history

(December 17, 2018) LOS ANGELES — When non-profit Drive Toward a Cure teamed with Sean Kiernan, family custodian for the original 1968 Bullitt Mustang, to further celebrate the iconic film and cars’ 50th anniversary, it was the start of an all-new movement — one that included nearly a one-gram size paint fragment from the famed vehicle to be placed inside a BRM Chronographes watch for charity, valued at $35,000.

And all to support the very ailment that claimed Sean’s father Robert E. Kiernan Jr.’s life – Parkinson’s Disease.



Capitalizing on the "Year of the Bullitt" and the movie’s 50th anniversary, Drive Toward a Cure (which grows awareness and funds for Parkinson’s) joined forces with Frederic Gasser, CEO of the America’s for BRM Chronographe, and longtime automotive friend Nicolas Hunziker of Hunziker Designs, who was already aligned with BRM, to create a unique timepiece for charity as a one-time offering.

In addition to the paint fragment inside the watch, its dial will be hand-painted under a microscope by Hunziker to visually depict BULLITT 50, and be stored in a specially designed and exclusively painted art box.



With the backing of Ford Motor Company, Warner Bros Studios and Chad McQueen, Drive Toward a Cure — the non-profit that raises funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease — set out to raise funds by honoring Robert E. Kiernan Jr., owner of the recently re-discovered 1968 Bullitt Mustang through a unique charity raffle promotion. Ticket sales began last Oct. 17th, to coincide with the film’s original release date and will extend through late January.

The film’s hero vehicle, driven by Steve McQueen in the classic Warner Bros movie thriller and known for the most iconic car chase in movie history, has been owned by the Kiernan family for 44 years and has been on a nationwide tour since last January.

According to Deb Pollack, founder of Drive Toward a Cure, the ability to host an on-line raffle for the 1-of-1 timepiece at only $25 per entry, is capturing the hearts of a broader audience while increasing donations and awareness for the cause. Each $25 donation on line at www.drivetowardacure.org will be entered in the raffle, with an anticipated winner to be announced during the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, Calif., on Jan. 27, when the original Bullitt car will be displayed and its owner will name the raffle winner. Only 1,968 tickets will be sold to coincide with the year of the car and raise a near $50,000 for Parkinson’s.

 “Our mission for Drive Toward a Cure has always been to broaden the awareness of, and raise funds for, Parkinson’s disease and all by blending cars and camaraderie,” said Deb Pollack, founder of Drive Toward a Cure.

“When Sean and I first met, we realized we had more in common than cars — as we both had struggled through the loss of a parent to Parkinson’s — but the timing of the attention his car was receiving this particular year offered a perfect pathway to gain the further attention this disease deserved.”

Sean Kiernan honored his father by revealing Bullitt to the world earlier this year along with Ford for the 50th anniversary of the movie. Kiernan noted that along with reintroducing Bullitt to the world, he wanted to continue to what he believed his Dad would want -- to bring awareness of Parkinson’s disease and Drive Toward a Cure.

BULLITT50 Watch Details:

Model R1246BULLIT

    Chronograph-automatic
    46 mm case made of one bloc of Fortal HR (aluminum)
    Screw down crown
    Hand painted dial by Nicolas Hunziker
    Limited edition: One off
    Crystal sapphire front and back
    Manufacture and Assembled by hand in France
    Water resistant to 100 meters
    Warranty 5 years