Hollywood legend’s rare 1970 Chevrolet to go up for sale – and boasts a unique difference to other models of its kind
A HOLLYWOOD legend’s rare 1970 Chevrolet is set to hit the market – and it’s different to other models of its kind.
The citrus green Chevy K5 Blazer was once owned by A-lister Steve McQueen and is about to go under the hammer.
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It’s price tag isn’t advertised but when it last went up for sale it was scooped up for a whopping £277,000.
McQueen, who was known as the “king of cool” when he dominated the big screen in the 60s and 70s, had a love for motorcycles and sports cars.
But, in 1969 he splashed out on this two-door SUV.
And it’s said to have a feature that’s different to other first-generation versions of the model.
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It’s grille was switched out by McQueen’s racing team to a version that boasted four headlights – which the SUV still holds today.
The grille was said to have been switched so the Hollywood legend could see better at night while driving in the desert.
McQueen called the motor, which came with most intense powertrain available when it was made – a 350 ci small-block V-8, for two years.
His team was said to have also modified the Blazer with rear Positraction differentials and it comes equipped with power brakes and front-locking wheel hubs.
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It’s set to go under the hammer on May 17.
Its listing reads: “Accompanying this sale will be a copy of the original dealer invoice from December 1969 showing McQueen/Solar Productions as the first purchaser of this 1970 K5.
Most expensive cars sold at auction revealed – from 1937 £13m French ‘bubble car’ to star of Steve McQueen film Le Mans
“When delivered, the Blazer was reportedly set up as a support vehicle for the actual off-road race, getting front and rear Positraction differentials installed and a swap to a four-headlamp GMC Jimmy grille to allow better light coverage in the desert night. Alas, after a DNF, this truck was among the vehicles liquidated soon afterward.
“A young gentleman named Bob Bianchi acquired it via a Penny Saver newspaper ad in 1971, buying it out of a warehouse in the Los Angeles suburb of Bellflower, California, for over £1.1million.
“The Bianchi family has been retained until 2022. Later research by Bianchi discovered the McQueen/Solar Productions origins as one of several purchased for the Baja program.
“After a 13,000-mile road trip in 1972, the family regularly drove the truck through 2001, after which it was only used for occasional cruises through the mountains on weekends.”
Car auctions: What to know
Car auctions are a way to sell vehicles based on a bidding system with the highest offer securing the deal.
Auctions aren’t restricted to the rich and famous as thousands of cars are sold at motor auctions in the UK each week.
Here’s what you need to know before attending an auction:
- Be prepared: Do your research on the car you would like to purchase beforehand.
- Check the car: Cars will usually be lined up before the start, so make sure to arrive early to inspect the desired car thoroughly.
- Have a back-up: Be ready for disappointment as your desired motor may be sold to someone else and select a few back-ups.
- Be realistic: Realise that there won’t be a “perfect” car at an auction and adjust expectations accordingly.
- Set a budget: It is easy to overspend in the heat of the moment during bidding. Ensure you have set a budget and do not go over it.
Key phrases to look out for:
- ‘No major mechanical faults’ – suggests that there shouldn’t be any issues with the car’s drivetrain, gearbox, suspension, or engine.
- ‘Specified faults’ – the auctioneer will read out specific faults.
- ‘Sold as seen’ – the vehicle is sold with any and all problems it may have. The auction company will rarely entertain complaints regarding the mechanical or cosmetic condition of these vehicles after sale.
- ‘Sold with a warranted mileage’ – The car is being offered based on the report, which confirms the mileage through an independent check.
McQueen’s motors often draw in a lot of attention when they hit the market – including one in just recent days.
The rare car – a 1969 Porsche – was driven by Steve McQueen in the 1971 racing movie ‘Le Mans’.
It was looking to rake in a massive £4.5million.
And just last year McQueen’s classic Ferrari went under the hammer, too.
The star’s 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, which he purchased brand-new, was predicted to sell for up to £5.5 million – which is more than 300 times its original price.
It would have cost about £12,750 to buy at the time.
McQueen, who died in 1980 aged 50, owned the car for over four years.
‘It’s the realm of legend’, McQueen’s iconic sportscar hits market
By DAN COLES
AN ICONIC sportscar driven by a Hollywood ace will be sold at auction, and is expected to rake in a massive £4.5million.
The rare motor – a 1969 Porsche – was driven by Steve McQueen in the 1971 racing movie ‘Le Mans’.
The eye-catching car’s full name is a 908/02 Langheck Flunder Spyder, and is said to have redefined the sportscar’s aerodynamics.
It was featured during the filming of Steve McQueen’s cinematic epic “Le Mans”, cementing its place in popular culture.
Porsche legends, including Vic Elford, Richard Attwood, Dr. Helmut Marko, Gérard Larrousse, and Rudi Lins, also piloted it during its illustrious racing career.
The car’s consistent speed and aerodynamically designed body secured its historic win, along with winning the Index of Performance in the epic 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours, ensuring a 1-2-3 podium sweep for Porsche in one of the era’s defining motorsport events.
During its racing life, this model scored more than 50 major victories and more than 100 podium results from 1969 through 1972, making it one of the most successful Porsche race cars of them all.
It’s being sold off by auction house Broad Arrow, which expect it to sell for £4.5 million.
On its site, the listing reads: “This sports legend also competed successfully in many of the other keystone World Championship events of its day, including the Sebring 12 Hours, Nürburgring 1000 Kms, Spa 1000 Kms, BOAC 1000 Kms, amongst others.”
Sensior car specialist for the firm, David Swig, said: “The 908/02 Langheck Flunder Spyder is one of the true icons of Porsche motorsport.
The year prior his E-Type Jaguar from film Le Mans also went under the hammer.
The iconic 1970 E-Type was set to be offered up for sale during the 2022 Monaco Historic Grand Prix on May 13.
The prized motor featured in 1971 film Le Mans, which depicted a fictional 24-hour car race starring legendary actor McQueen.
It featured actual footage captured during the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans race from that previous June.
The 1970 E-Type was based on Jaguar’s D-Type racing car.
The model had won the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans race three years in a row from 1955.
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The car, which formed part of McQueen’s “personal fleet”, was also offer with its original period UK registration number plates.
The unrestored US-specification car has its original silver-over-black colour scheme.
Who was Steve McQueen?
Steve McQueen, born Terance Steven McQueen on March 24, 1930, was Beech Grove, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis.
He was cared for by his grandparents and uncle in Slater, Missouri after his mother Julia, an alleged alcoholic, found herself unable to care for him and his stuntman father William abandoned them.
Steve was eventually taken back by his mother and new husband to Indianapolis aged eight.
He suffered an ear infection that left him partly deaf for the rest of his life.
Steve was sent back to Slater after falling in with a gang of youths but came back to live with his mother again, only this time in Los Angeles, California with her and her third husband.
His new stepfather, who was said to regularly beat Steve and his mother, persuaded Julia to give him up to a borstal.
He left aged 16 a reformed teenager and went to New York where he became a merchant sailor before doing odd jobs in Texas and joining the US Marine Corps until 1950.
His acting career only began in 1952 when he joined the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York, where he performed in a number of plays while taking part in motorbike races for money at the weekend.
Steve left for California in 1955, aged 25, where he was picked for a number of B-movies before landing his first lead role in horror classic The Blob.
As the 60s began, more and more TV and film roles came his way until his superstardom was secured in 1963 in The Great Escape, in which he starred alongside Michael Caine.
Bullitt, his most famous role, came in 1968.
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