The 1951 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe Convertible that Steve McQueen drove in his last film will provide the star attraction at Auctions America's March 22-24 classic car sale in Fort Lauderdale.
 McQueen's character in the film was a terrible driver, something McQueen found difficult to portray |
Hagerty Insurance places the value of the model in top condition at $59,000, though McQueen's example will certainly see bids boosted by its celebrity provenance. Steve McQueen was an avid car collector, once quoted as saying: "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting."
Steve McQueen's cars are always big news wherever they are sold at auction. At 2012's classic car auctions in Monterey, the Ford GT40 that was used as a camera car in McQueen's 1971 epic Le Mans sold for $11m, becoming the world's most valuable US car.
The Styleline featured in The Hunter, which was McQueen's last film before his death in 1980. Reportedly, McQueen had fallen in love with the car so much during filming that he immediately purchased it afterwards.
The car was then sold at auction in 1984 and is now part of the collection of Rick Harrison from the TV show Pawn Stars. It is documented by a certificate of authenticity, which was signed by McQueen's children following the auction of his estate.
Following a restoration carried out approximately a decade ago, the Chevrolet has been returned to its original factory specifications. It boasts a 92 hp six cylinder engine with a manual three speed column mounted shift.
All Styleline DeLuxe models were produced with leather interior, stainless steel reveals around the windshield and side and rear windows. Its paintwork exhibits some minor flaws, as is to be expected on a car of this age. According to the auction house, the Chevrolet is "considered to be a good driver".
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