And who can forget the iconic Bullitt chase scene? McQueen’s first outing in the new car was at Santa Barbara over Labor Day weekend, 1959. One of the first serious sports cars McQueen acquired was the legendary Jaguar XKSS. That is an especially high price given that the GT40 was used as a camera car and did not appear in the film! Unfortunately, the car did not survive filming or it may have fetched an interesting price at auction. But beyond his status on stage and screen, McQueen was a motorhead of the highest order. You can clearly see that his left foot is in a cast. An amusing but true fact is that Steve McQueen never actually owned a Cobra. Here are Steve McQueen’s greatest cars. Also, it was one of the most advanced road cars of its period. He advertised the Le Mans car and it was bought by an attorney in 1971. It never appeared in the film itself, but the 908 captured many of the iconic scenes that helped to make the movie so spectacularly realistic. McQueen’s first wife Neile purchased the elegant Lusso for his 34th birthday in March 1964. A master restorer, Regalia and several friends stripped the car to its last nut and bolt and gave it a ground-up restoration to Pebble Beach level. Included are the ideas behind the making of the movie, an interview with Director Peter Yates, production stills, and the planning for the scene. The Official McQueen Racing Website. Steve McQueen had an enormous collection of cars, bikes, and planes It comes as no surprise that a man who made his name driving an iconic Mustang in … The special-order 911 was delivered to the set, where it also served as the star’s personal transport. Porsche introduced the first turbocharged 911 for the 1975 model year. But beyond his status on stage and screen, McQueen was a motorhead of the highest order. As it happened, McQueen’s ’64 Lusso had developed a bad habit of using too much oil under hard acceleration. Almost at the verge of documentary, film depicts a single auto race from the ground up. After seeing the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder that Faye Dunaway’s character was driving during filming of The Thomas Crown Affair, McQueen ordered his own. The Hudson Motor Car Company was known for its innovative and futuristic designs and mechanics. Directed by Lee H. Katzin. In race one he dueled with another Lotus, finishing less than a foot behind for a creditable second place. Steve McQueen was an American actor and motoring enthusiast that reached the height of popularity in the 1960s and 70s. He was also known for buying just about any car that caught his eye. Legendary upholsterer and hot-rodder Tony Nancy stitched a brownish-gold vinyl interior for the Mini and, when it was finished, Brown got a ride with McQueen. And no, it’s not for sale. Mustang GT Bullit movie with Steve McQueen, this beauty is realized by @GLCollectibles #Mustang #bullit pic.twitter.com/aeq1uFpxYi, — ABC18 (@Abc18Contact) September 23, 2016. It would be difficult to find such an awesome classic car collection anywhere else! McQueen ordered this car new from Italy whilst filming Bullitt, a film famous for its iconic car chase scene, often described as one of the best ever. This compact sports-racer is one of the most significant McQueen cars because it is the only one he owned, raced and starred alongside in one of his films. It is now owned by the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. It raced at Le Mans in ’69, after which McQueen bought it to prepare himself for the 917s he would drive when filming the movie of the same name the following year. Some say he sold the Porsche, others that he traded it in for the Eleven in mid-’59. Before being sold at auction in 2013, it was owned by Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars fame. Originally white, and sold new into the USA despite being a right-hooker, the car was second-hand when he bought it for $5000. In the 1950s, while struggling as an actor, he earned money by competing in weekend mortorbike races at Long Island City raceway and purchased the first of many motorcycles. Browse through these galleries to … Considering all of those factors, the McQueen Bullit Mustang may be the most sought after of Steve McQueen’s cars. As cool as that would have been, it is not true. The name Lightning McQueen was inspired by the late Glenn McQueen who was a supervisor of digital animation and a supervising character animator for Pixar. Movie Cars: Five Facts About Steve McQueen's Classic Film, Le Mans. I was beginning to find out what real racing was all about.”. This is first and foremost an article on Steve McQueen’s watches, but since we’re into the cars for a bit, allow me one last one: the McQueen Bullitt Mustang GT 390 Fastback, from the 1968 film, Bullitt. The film was made shortly after he was diagnosed with lung cancer and released shortly before his death in 1980. McQueen bought his Cooper ‘S’ new in 1967, in BRG with a white roof, but he liked to personalise his cars so Brown painted it cream over gold with a wooden dash, concealed radio aerial, chrome reversed wheels, a large canvas sunroof and a single foglamp up front. A vintage Ferrari once owned by Steve McQueen sold for more than $10 million at Monterey Car Week. It was powered by the Tipo 168 engine found in the 250 GTO. Such a racing pedigree may have prompted McQueen to add one to his personal collection. This was one of Steve McQueen’s cars he kept at home for personal use. It was recently used by Ford to promote the 2019 Bullitt Edition Mustang – reviews of which are now arriving – and was also showcased at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Florida earlier this year. As you can imagine, he owned quite a few rides. McQueen drove the car daily, often racing it on the streets. But ’05 Wintons are rare and a real one wouldn’t withstand the rigours of the set – so Kenny Howard, aka Von Dutch, built a rep. “He made it all himself,” McQueen said, “out of old aluminium furnace sidings and God knows what else. McQueen used to street race the curvaceous Jaguar late at night along Mulholland Drive, near his home in the Hollywood Hills. Sue N Steve. All Toys are bought by myself. 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta. Even nearly 40 years after his passing on 7 November 1980, Steve McQueen’s legend as one of the world’s most popular actors still burns brightly. The colour – marrone, a deep metallic brown – may seem unusual, but Steve preferred warm, subtle shades, never going for flashy hues. That fascination led him to buy numerous motorcycles and cars during his life. He ran the 908 in several SCCA races in 1970, and drove it with Peter Revson in the Sebring 12 Hours in March of that year. The car runs a Ford I-4, and from the outside, looks quite believable as a period tin lizzie. One was destroyed and the other was sold as soon as filming wrapped. He starred in such features as 'The Great Escape,' 'Bullitt' and 'The Getaway.' The cars,motorcycles,airplanes,that Steve McQueen acquired would be a dream for any car enthusiast. The K design managed to win seven races during the 1970 season and won at LeMans in 1971. Not everyone knows how good a racer he was, because stardom got in the way. Steve McQueen™ Edition Bullitt Mustang One of the more iconic Steve McQueen cars is the McQueen Bullit Mustang. Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder Although only an upgraded version of the standard 275, the GTB/4 is an important model. According to McQueen Online, he lost his driver’s license twice because of the speeding tickets he collected while driving this Jag. Even nearly 40 years after his passing on 7 November 1980, Steve McQueen’s legend as one of the world’s most popular actors still burns brightly. McQueen's Jaguar XKSS will likely never be sold, as it resides in the Petersen Automotive Museum... 17 Ford Mustang GT 390. The thing was beautiful.”. Although McQueen tried to buy one of the cars post filming, oddly enough he never owned either of them. R.I.P. Like many Steve McQueen cars, when it was auctioned by RM Sotheby’s, it fetched quite a price tag compared to similar cars, raking in $1.375 million. Here are 15 of the coolest cars Steve McQueen once had that we wish we could take out for a spin. McQueen’s Porsche was his first new car, and the one in which he competed in – and won – his first race at a Sports Car Club of America weekend in Santa Barbara, California in May 1959. This is the fifth year of the rally, and the event continues to be a draw for enthusiasts from near and far. “You just weren’t a movie star in those days unless you had a Ferrari and a Mini,” says Southern California paint and body customiser Lee Brown. Filming Le Mans took its toll on McQueen, both financially and personally. One of the cars was scrapped after too many crash landings; the other survived but has been behind closed doors for decades. Today the Jaguar is part of the collection gathered by the late Margie and Robert E Petersen and spends most of its time at their famous Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The car is now privately owned and has been restored to 1970 Sebring spec. That gives it an air of mystery that collectors can not resist. We're more eager than ever to return to celebrating the life and passions of the show's namesake — Steve McQueen. He helped to build a hot rod before he could drive. When pub bets are laid down for the greatest movie car chase of all time, that magical 10-or-so minutes from 1968’s Bullitt wins every time. The car and the body parts were all shipped off to the Ferrari factory Classiche department, where the car was stripped to the last nut and grommet, and restored to as new condition – save for it being painted the red that McQueen specified instead of its original Nocciolla brown. While studying acting in New York during the early 1950s, the future King of Cool began to race motorcycles, launching a lifelong fascination with motorsports. Yes, it made a few short appearances in the film, but it was mainly used by McQueen to get from location to location. Both have recently come to light. In the main event he spun out while battling the same driver, killing the engine. He helped to build a hot rod before he could drive. Records show that he entered the dark-green Jaguar in several amateur races in the early ’60s. In 1968, the Charger 440 Magnum was capable of 375 horsepower without tuning. It’s due to come up for open auction with Bonhams in a few weeks time and it’s almost certainly going to become the most valuable Meyers Manx beach buggy in history. The Porsche 917K was built for 24 hour races like LeMans and the 24 Hours at Daytona.. That is why it was featured in the Steve McQueen movie LeMans. Race-car builder Max Balchowsky stiffened the chassis, shortened the exhaust systems, swapped the dampers and welded in camera mounts to prepare the cars for the punishment they would take during filming. Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Green Rat’ and often described as among his favourite machines, McQueen’s XKSS is one of just 16 made. It is now in the collection of actress Ruth Buzzi and her husband Kent Perkins. Steve McQueen Parfum D'Homme is a new project of the McQueen brand, after watches, clothes, cars and motorbikes. The cost is $2000 which includes a 2 night stay at the Pala Resort. McQueen, friend and double Bud Ekins, plus stunt wizard Carey Loftin did the driving, all shown in real time, as the actor vetoed the notion of any green screen fakery or camera speedups to make the action look fast. 7. 1967 FERRARI 275 GTB/4. Steve McQueen and the Sexiest Cars and Motorcycles on Film In 1970, Steve McQueen, Hollywood’s King of Cool and outspoken gearhead, had it all—until he … Report abuse. McQueen’s XKSS is housed at the Peterson Automotive Museum, but estimates place its value at $30 million if it came up for sale. So do a lot of his fans. Second, McQueen drove it during filming, sometimes at speeds of 110 miles-per-hour, through the streets of San Francisco. But he had talent, plus the money and taste for a fleet that would make any museum proud. The experience also soured his love of motor sport, so from then on his purchases tended more towards classics and ’bikes. McQueen was the real deal. In the service he hopped-up a tank to make it go faster and he nearly won the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring in a Porsche 908.