A car said to have been owned by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen is set for a potentially multi-million dollar sale. And, UK buyers will be happy to learn it’s been MOTd.
Selling at Mecum’s sale in Monterey, California on August 16, the car is expected to realise $1.2 to $1.5 million according to estimates.
The speedster in question is a 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra. Shelby Cobra is the US name of the UK car maker AC Cobra.
This model was bought in 1963 by David L Wolper, a Hollywood producer, whose company produced Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory among other hits.
Elmer Bernstein, one of Hollywood’s most famous composers, then owned it, and it is during the time he had it that McQueen drove it.
McQueen used the car for a couple of years, and despite its ownership by some other high-profile names, it is this link that provides the value.
McQueen’s legend has a lot of speed in it, and that’s attractive to buyers of fast cars.
Most famously, he performed many of his own driving stunts in Bullitt, some of the most celebrated car-chase scenes in Hollywood history.
He competed in car and motorcycle racing and according to his son owned around 100 cars during his life.
This car will be sold on August 16, during a 2-day auction coinciding with Monterey Car Week.
Alongside it will be a Ford GT40 Lightweight, going to the block with no estimate, that is just one of 10 of its type.
A 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout features with an estimate of $1.2 million to $1.5 million.
A 1992 Schuppan-Porsche 962CR – one of just two produced – will also cross the block with no estimate.
Rare and vintage cars always have value, and the addition of a star connection brings attention and can up the price.
When Elton John sold a large number of personal effects last year, a Bentley Continental went 18 times over its estimate to sell for £350,000. Experts in car sales believe the right star name can add up to 115% to the price of a car at auction.
McQueen’s car, undoubtedly hugely desirable with any ownership history, will test this theory next week.
