Steve McQueen was and always will be the King of Cool. Even 26 years after his death (due to mesothelioma), he is still a pop culture icon. Almost as well known for his love of racing as his acting, Sheryl Crow paid homage to him in her song titled “Steve McQueen” – “Like Steve McQueen, All I need’s a fast machine.” Unfortunately, it was this love of racing that might have contributed to his premature death as he wore asbestos-insulated suits in the racecars.
This past Saturday, November 11th, the famous Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles was the site of a Steve McQueen auction. The auction attracted bidders from the United States, France, and Britain. The Petersen Museum also bought several items to display.
Steve’s widow Barbara McQueen Brunsvold and other collectors hired Bonhams & Butterfields to put the items (never before exhibited) up for auction. What type of items was available? One lucky anonymous bidder, hoping to absorb some of the McQueen coolness no doubt, paid over $70,000 for a pair of Persol sunglasses owned by Steve. The glasses are believed to be the ones wore by McQueen in 1968’s The Thomas Crown Affair.” A Rolls Royce Silver Shadow from that same movie brought in $70,200.
A 1934 Indian Sport Scout sold for $177,500 while a 1920 Indian Powerplus Daytona went for $150,000. A 1937 Crocker “Hemi-head” V-Twin motorcycle was the highest selling item of the day, going for $276,000. This set a world record for the sale of a Crocker motorcycle.
Also included among the items sold were some of Steve’s motorcycle outfits such as his Belstaff jacket and several padded motorcycle sweatshirts. Tin toys from the movie The Hunter and movie props from Tom Horn were also up for auction. All in all, the auction made $2.9 million dollars.
Steve McQueen may be gone, but his cool image will live on in movies forever.
Check out other action blogs at Families.com:
Everybody Wants a Piece of Jack
Cher’s Used Goods Bring a Pretty Penny