Cars, Bikes and Steve McQueen Movies

By Matt Stone
Published on June 21, 2012
1 / 5
“McQueens Machines” features the cars, motorcycles and even airplanes that Steve McQueen owned over the years. Read details about the star’s amateur racing career, movie stunt work and his passion for collecting.
“McQueens Machines” features the cars, motorcycles and even airplanes that Steve McQueen owned over the years. Read details about the star’s amateur racing career, movie stunt work and his passion for collecting.
2 / 5
McQueen’s 1919 Indian Daytona Twin racer was offered at auction in Los Angeles in November of 2009; it too was a no-sale, as the highest bid did not meet the reserve. Bonhams
McQueen’s 1919 Indian Daytona Twin racer was offered at auction in Los Angeles in November of 2009; it too was a no-sale, as the highest bid did not meet the reserve. Bonhams
3 / 5
McQueen’s 1914 Indian Model F Boardtrack Racer was offered at auction in Los Angeles in November 2009; it was a no-sale, as the highest bid did not meet the seller’s reserve. Bonhams
McQueen’s 1914 Indian Model F Boardtrack Racer was offered at auction in Los Angeles in November 2009; it was a no-sale, as the highest bid did not meet the seller’s reserve. Bonhams
4 / 5
Indian motorcycle from Steve McQueen's collection.
Indian motorcycle from Steve McQueen's collection.
5 / 5
Indian motorcycle from Steve McQueen's collection.
Indian motorcycle from Steve McQueen's collection.

McQueen’s Machines(Motorbooks, 2007) by Matt Stone celebrates major motorhead and famous actor Steve McQueen and his passion as a car enthusiast, racer, and motorcyclist. Get a close-up look at the automobiles and motorcycles in McQueen’s garage, those he drove in movies and others he raced. The following excerpt is from Chapter 2, “McQueen on Screen.”

Steve McQueen’s talent at the wheel of an automobile or aboard a motorcycle was considerable. He was ultra competitive at anything he did, and mastering cars and bikes became an early passion. By the time he was able to influence the content of the films he appeared in and create opportunities for his characters to drive or ride interesting machinery, he had already done a considerable amount of racing at amateur and semi-professional levels.

Even in early films, where McQueen wasn’t in a position to weigh in on the script, he was often seen at the wheel–a place that came naturally to him. He drove a Ford in The Blob (1958) and was Frank Sinatra’s chauffeur in the war movie Never So Few (1959), piloting a military jeep, of course. But the first opportunity for movie-goers to get a real look at McQueen’s love for all things motorized happened to be in the film that most consider his breakthrough role.

The Great Escape (1963)

As you’ll read about in the next chapter, Steve McQueen’s amateur racing career was in full bloom by the spring of 1962. He’d enjoyed success in the production classes running his Porsche Speedster and later moved up to a Lotus XI sports racer, then a Cooper Formula Junior open-wheeled machine. He was offered a factory ride and was seriously toying with the notion of turning pro. But his acting career was bursting at the seams as well. McQueen was on the glide path to stardom.

His performance in 1960’s The Magnificent Seven was a standout, and he was lauded for his work in The War Lover. His days of small parts and secondary billing were over, and it was inevitable that his involvement in racing would get in the way sooner or later. It came to a boil when the studio sent an attorney to McQueen’s doorstep with what was tantamount to a restraining order, written to keep him off the track or risk his contract. It was racing or the movies.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-880-7567