McQueen’s 1926 Excelsior Super X.
Julien’s Auctions
Collectors looking to twist the throttle like the King of Cool himself are in luck.
The late, great Steve McQueen’s exquisite 1926 Excelsior Super X will go under the gavel at a bumper automotive auction this fall. The product of an ongoing partnership between Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies, the Movies and Motorcars sale will be fittingly held at the prestigious Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on November 6. The lots include cars, motorcycles, and automobilia with ties to true Hollywood legends.
The standout is, of course, McQueen’s motorbike. The star had a vast collection of cars and bikes that reflected his passion for motorsport and his incredible personal style. He drove both on and off the screen, sitting behind the wheel of everything from a 1968 Ford Mustang GT in Bullitt to a Meyers Manx dune buggy in The Thomas Crown Affair. This particular two-wheeler didn’t grace the big screen, though: McQueen rode it around his Santa Paula ranch and on local country roads, according to Julien’s. The factory-built flat tracker is equipped with a Super-X air-cooled 746cc V-twin engine mated to a 3-speed chain-driven transmission that runs on alcohol. The well-preserved ride is expected to hammer down for between $125,000 and $150,000.
McQueen’s 1926 Excelsior Super X.
Julien’s Auctions
Other two-wheeled highlights include the 1967 CZ 250 ridden by the one and only Paul Newman in the classic Sometimes a Great Nation, the 2003 BMW R 1150 Rockstar that Ben Affleck helmed in action flick Paycheck (estimate: $6,000-$8,000), and the 2015 Suzuki GSXS 750 (estimate: $6,000-$8,000) that crashes into Keanu Reeves’s 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle in John Wick.
The 1967 CZ 250 ridden by Paul Newman.
Julien’s Auctions
As for four-wheelers, the sale includes the original 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Convertible that Jack Nicholson drove in Chinatown sequel The Two Jakes. The classic beauty, personally owned by Nicholson before he donated it to Petersen, features a green interior, a green exterior, and a 3.5-liter “Stovebolt” I6 engine mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Other notable cars up for grabs are the late Jack Lemmon’s 1969 Jaguar E-Type ($40,000 to $60,000) and NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain’s one-off “Chamberlain Searcher 1” supercar (estimate: $300,000 to $500,000).
The 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Convertible Jack Nicholson drove in “The Two Jakes.”
Julien’s Auctions
“Since the earliest days of cinema, cars and motorcycles have been a storied part of Hollywood, delivering thrilling races and the rush of excitement and evoking the spirit of freedom and adventure for audiences,” Julien’s managing director of entertainment, Catherine Williamson, said in a statement. “Julien’s and TCM are excited to bring you this collector’s dream of Hollywood motors and memorabilia at the prestigious Petersen Automotive Museum to celebrate automotive history and inspire future pop culture enthusiasts and collectors.”
Jack Lemmon’s 1969 Jaguar E-Type.
Julien’s Auctions
A portion of the proceeds from select lots will benefit the Petersen Automotive Museum’s educational programs. That means you can feel extra good about adding one of these beauties to your collection.
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Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…