Steve McQueen Auction in November

Steve McQueen, who made the best known movie motorcycle jump ever (actually performed by Bud Ekins) in The Great Escape, had a lifelong passion for motorcycles and cars. Much of his collection has been auctioned before but many of the remaining items from his collection will be auctioned this coming November 11th at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The auction will be presented by Bonhams and Butterfield.

The auction has much to offer motorcyclists and McQueen fans:

Steve McQueen’s personal collection including motorcycles, and motorcycle clothing – including his Belstaff jacket and padded motorcycle sweatshirts.

In addition to clothes and tinplate toys, the sale will feature a vast array of motoring memorabilia including enamel advertising signs, petrol pumps, and sale brochures – many for Indian Motorcycles – a marque that Steve adored so passionately.

Steve McQueen is one of those guys that died way too soon. His love of motoring lead him to run an ad for a couple of years in Hemmings Motor News in the mid 1970s looking for motor vehicles of various sorts. If you called the number in the ad, Steve would pick up and you could tell him what you had for sale. I wonder how many other personalities of the day would have been as open.

If you can be in L.A. in November, it might be worth a stop. Just make sure your checkbook is healthy.

Link: Bonhams and Butterfield
Link: Petersen Automotive Museum
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