Buy Steve McQueen's '58 GMC truck
For less than the price of a new Escalade (if Bonhams & Butterfields' estimate is correct) you could own a truck with a hell of a lot more history and a "cool factor" that's too high to register on any scale. The 1958 GMC Pickup you see above belonged to one Steve McQueen. Perhaps you've heard of him.
It'll be among a host of other former possessions of McQueen's going up for auction later this week at the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A. Said to be one of the late actor's favorite personal vehicles, the truck, powered by a 336 CID V8 was given some additional under-the-hood TLC to make it a bit of a sleeper. The "MQ3188" on the tag refers to the ID number assigned McQueen when he was sent to reform school as a boy (in fact, if you go through the different lots being offered, you'll see a few other old vanity tags of McQueen's bearing the same number).
Three vintage motorcycles owned by Steve are also up for grabs, as is the actual '67 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 2-door he drove in The Thomas Crown Affair.
[Source: Bonhams & Butterfields via Luxist]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Howard Kerr 11:20AM (11/06/2006)
The guy who bought the "Brokeback Mountain" pickup must be kicking himself big time right about now. Though, it's hard to imagine McQ driving ANYTHING with wide whitewalls, especially a pickup truck. Wouldn't a real "sleeper" look like it just rolled out of a field? Sure would make getting around town incognito easier, too.
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Andy 3:03PM (11/06/2006)
That's not a shabby pickup. I'd rather have his XKSS, though.
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Barney 11:43PM (11/07/2006)
I would love that truck. I had owned two before. One was a panel and both had the six. They were just beaters then and driven until something better came along. McQueen was a great actor and loved his vehicles. I assume this one was restored since he owned it.
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bill 6:54AM (11/09/2006)
wish i still had all my money i had i would buy it i been working on nabors 41 ford pick up with super charger i just love old cars and trucks
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sandy 7:07AM (11/09/2006)
What a beautiful looking truck. I would drive that any day. Especially knowing that hotty Steve McQueen drove it.
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Wes Jones 7:32AM (11/09/2006)
what a beautiful truck. I have a restored 1971 Chevelle but this truck makes that look like a beater. would love to be cruising around Groton CT. on a sunny day in that beautiful machine. someones going to be paying BIG BUCKS
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Wes Jones 3:57PM (11/09/2006)
Oh Yes forgot to mention, the chevelle is for sale $10,500 e-mail me for more info. classicchevy_424@hotmail.com
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Joel Barbee 8:09AM (11/09/2006)
Are you kiddin'? That little Mom goes to the nursery truck was Steve McQ fav! Steve must have had a shaggy dog in dirt brown or primer grey with a full blown hemi, custom exaust, tricked out suspension and earth shredding tars! You guys just haven't found it, or maybe it is just in my mind.
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Bobby Capps 8:58AM (11/09/2006)
If that was McQueens fav I'll eat my hat. I'd rather have the Shelby he drove in bullet. Now there's a car that's worth owning. One of the greatest car chases of all times through S.F. Oh and dude White walls on those trucks were commomn in the 50's and 60's You must be really young.I would rather have the motorcycle he rode in the great escape. Or maybe the blonde he rode in the hustles (Piper Laurie)I worked with her recently shes older hevier and redheaded lol
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Don 9:47AM (11/09/2006)
I think instead of spending money on the truck a lot of the posters here should spend it on English and grammar lessons!
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Fred Leonard 9:52AM (11/09/2006)
What a great year was 1958! Steve McQueens truck brings back grat memories of his movies and life in general. I was only a very young boy back then but it was a great time of my life that I will never forget.
As a matter of fact, it contributed to the eventual writing and recording of one of my songs, "Cincinnati Town" go to www.FredLeonard.com to hear it!
We didn't have much then, I grew up out in the country area of Cincinnati Ohio, U.S.A. As a family, we were kinda poor back then,(went mostly barefooted all summer long)but I learned an awful lot about how to value life, count your blessings,(went to White Oak Christian Church) live an honest good life, and love your neighbors as well as all of your family members.
Fred Leonard www.FredLeonard.com
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chad 9:54AM (11/09/2006)
it wasn't a shelby he used in bullet. it was a regular mustang fastback. and he couldnt drive it worth a crap. cause he kept driving over curbs and ripping off the drain plug on the oil pan.
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Robert 8:00PM (11/09/2006)
I would swap my 1952 Ford F-1 for it. But then again I have the Ford for sale. Solid original older restoration. $9500.00 anybody interested?
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Mark 10:36AM (11/09/2006)
Very nice truck. But if I saw McQueen driving it I never believe it was him I just think it was someone looked like him..It very hard for me to see him in anything but a PineGreen Mustang Fastback with 390 plant under the hood..You right about them Mustang's they handle like crap..Stright line they scat but you best slow down for any curve's really most muscle car's was like that it was handling or brake's or both.. I not drove the new one's but model before them you had to watch them too or the rearend in a curve go around with you if you lucky you be heading south when you was heading north..
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PE Klotz 10:36AM (11/09/2006)
Bobby Caps is mistaken. I just built a 1967 Mustang 390 GT. It is Highlander Green, open rear, and some chrome deleted. It is a knock off of LT. Frank BULLITT's car, in the movie:BULLITT.
There are websites devoted to that movie, starring Steve McQueen, who was known as "The King of Cool".
There was no Shelby driven in the movie "BULLITT".
Thee were three similar cars used, two with 390 C.I.D. engines, and a close up scene car With a 289 C.I.D. engine. All were basic 4-speed out the door cars, modified to handle better, and two had special brackets for cameras, one had a seat welded to thside for action shots. The two 390's were gutted, for camera operater's room. The driver of the hitman's car, Bill Hickman, was the best stunt driver of his time, and he played the part of the driver of the Charger 440.
The car driven in the chase sceene may be in a barn in New Jersy, even McQueen could not buy it shortly before his death.
But ,with the new style mustang, Coll is BACK.
I'm done now...............PK
PS I have the DVD.
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PE Klotz 10:40AM (11/09/2006)
I meant to say "Cool is Back"..............PK
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Mark 10:58AM (11/09/2006)
PE Klotz..hope you still on here, Is it just me or is that Blue I see under Black on that Charger 440 , when they was bang the car's together in the chase right before the gas station blow-up?????? I allway wanted to ask that question to a expert and you sound like you done a lot of rescearch on it..
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Bad 11:09AM (11/09/2006)
Cool old truck from days we wuz all much younger! McQueen was a true car buff and first rate driver. His LeMans just about the best racing movie ever made from the days when racing was still "unscripted;" Run what you brung."
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Carol Parker 11:25AM (11/09/2006)
I saw a mint-condition Pine Green Mustang used in the movie "Bullit"; there was MORE than one Mustang used. It was on display at the Gilmore Car musuem in Kalamazoo, MI.
I currently own a 1967 Springtime Yellow Mustang convertible with black top, to cruise SW Michigan on sultry summer days and nights. It's great on the straight-out fast lanes, and a little sketchy on the curves but a hoot to drive.
And I certainly would have no trouble driving this sweet truck, though turquoise is my least favourite colour.
Dream on, motor heads!
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Jaime Carrillo 11:29AM (11/09/2006)
Why wouldn't McQueen have driven a truck like that? He had motorcycles and every man loves his truck right? What could be better after a hard day at the track than to fire up docile V8 and putt the hydramatic home? What you say? A four speed auto with overdrive? Yup, way ahead of it's time. As far as the Mustang he drove in Bullit, you have to remember how poor tire technology was back then, there were no Z rated metric radials. The trend in the movies was for the car to oversteer around every corner anyway, which was all driver because most of these cars would push in the turns.
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