Steve McQueen Auction Brings In Nearly $3 Million

AP 

- Here's proof Steve McQueen is still cool 26 years after his death. Someone has paid $70 thousand for a pair of sunglasses McQueen is believed, that's right "believed," to have worn in the opening scenes of the 1968 film "The Thomas Crown Affair."
The auction of Steve McQueen's stuff at the Petersen Automotive Museum brought in nearly $3 million dollars. The biggest sale was $276-thousand for a 1937 Crocker "Hemi-head" V-Twin motorcycle.
A Rolls Royce Silver Shadow from "The Thomas Crown Affair" brought in $70 thousand dollars same as the sunglasses. Try to figure that one out.
Steve McQueen died of cancer in 1980. He was 50.
 
 
McQueen effects fetches millions of dollars
Nov 14. (Guardian News Service): Film fans have spent millions of dollars at an auction of Steve McQueen memorabilia, with one bidder paying $ 70,000 (GBP 37,000) for a pair of sunglasses once worn by the actor. His widow Barbara was among those who donated cars, trucks and motorbikes to the sale, at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
McQueen, nicknamed the King of Cool, was one of the biggest box office draws of the 1960s and 1970s and was as famous for his racing as he was for his acting.
His collection of cars and bikes attracted high bids at Saturday's auction. A 1937 Crocker V-Twin motorcycle fetched $ 2,76,500, a world record for a Crocker, according to auction house spokesman Levi Morgan. The Persol sunglasses, sold to an anonymous buyer, are the ones McQueen is believed to have worn for the opening scenes of the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair. A Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, which featured in the same movie, went for the same price. Sales from the auction totalled $ 2.9m.
McQueen's most memorable on-screen moments include the motorcycle chase in The Great Escape, which saw him leap over a fence, and a car chase through the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt.
During his acting career he considered becoming a professional racing driver. He took part in off-road motorcycle racing, winning many top races. He died, aged 50, from a heart attack after undergoing surgery for mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. In 1999, he was posthumously inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

 

Steve McQueen auction moves motorbikes, memorabilia

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES: Bidders looking for a piece of the "King of Cool" shelled out six figures for motorcycles and paid more than $70,000 (€54,000) for one pricey pair of shades in an auction of items that once belonged to actor Steve McQueen.

Cars, trucks, motorcycles and memorabilia from McQueen's widow Barbara and other collectors were put up for sale Saturday by Bonhams and Butterfields at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

A 1937 Crocker "Hemi-head" V-Twin motorcycle brought in $276,500 (€215,000), the biggest price of the day and a world record for a Crocker motorcycle, said auction house spokesman Levi Morgan.

A 1934 Indian Sport Scout went for $177,500 (€138,000), and a 1920 Indian Powerplus Daytona brought in $150,000 (€116,000).

One anonymous bidder paid $70,200 (€54,570) for Persol sunglasses McQueen is believed to have worn as he played a dapper thief in the opening scenes of 1968's "The Thomas Crown Affair."

A Rolls Royce Silver Shadow from the same movie brought in exactly the same price.

The winning bidders included private collectors in France, Britain and the United States, and the Petersen museum itself bought several items, Morgan said.

The entire auction brought in $2.9 million (€2.25 million).

McQueen, who died in 1980 at the age of 50, was known nearly as much for his love of motor vehicles as for his acting.

His most famous movie moments include a mad motorcycle dash in "The Great Escape," and a car chase through the streets of San Francisco in "Bullitt."


McQueen shades fetch £36,000

FROM: IC WALES.co.uk

Bidders looking for a piece of the “King of Cool” shelled out six figures for motorcycles and paid more than 70,000 US dollars (£36,000) for one pricey pair of shades in an auction of items that once belonged to actor Steve McQueen.

Cars, trucks, motorcycles and memorabilia from McQueen’s widow Barbara and other collectors were put up for sale yesterday by Bonhams and Butterfields at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

A 1937 Crocker Hemi-hea V-Twin motorcycle brought in 276,500 dollars (£144,000), the biggest price of the day and a world record for a Crocker motorcycle, said auction house spokesman Levi Morgan.

A 1934 Indian Sport Scout went for 177,500 dollars (£92,000), and a 1920 Indian Powerplus Daytona brought in 150,000 dollars (£78,000).

One anonymous bidder paid 70,200 dollars (£36,000) for Persol sunglasses McQueen is believed to have worn as he played a dapper thief in the opening scenes of 1968’s The Thomas Crown Affair.

A Rolls Royce Silver Shadow from the same movie brought in exactly the same price.

The winning bidders included private collectors in France, Britain and the US, and the Petersen museum itself bought several items, Morgan said. The entire auction brought in 2.9 million dollars (£1.51 million).

McQueen, who died in 1980 at the age of 50, was known nearly as much for his love of motor vehicles as for his acting.

His most famous movie moments include a mad motorcycle dash in The Great Escape, and a car chase through the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt.


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