Bonhams & Butterfields is proud to have been a sponsor of this past weekend’s Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’Elegance, and the leading West Coast auction house considered it no more fitting a time to announce the sale of the Steve McQueen Collection. Collectors, fans and biking enthusiasts are sure to agree that McQueen was a true American motoring legend.
Bonhams & Butterfields is honored to be appointed by Barbara McQueen Brunsvold to present for sale at auction hundreds of personal effects belonging to the utterly charismatic, much-loved and much-missed 20th Century icon Steve McQueen.
The sale, set to take place Saturday November 11th at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, will feature Steve McQueen’s personal collection including motorcycles, and motorcycle clothing including his Belstaff jacket and padded motorcycle sweatshirts.
The auction will also feature tinplate toys from the movie The Hunter together with guns, saddles, and other movie props from Tom Horn.
In addition to clothes and tinplate toys, the sale will feature a vast array of motoring memorabilia including enamel advertising signs, petrol pumps, and sale brochures many for Indian Motorcycles a marque that Steve adored so passionately.
Steve’s truck bearing the license plate number MCQ3188, a reference to the time he spent at the Junior Boys Republic Reform School in Chino as a teenager will be offered, as will a pair of his Persol foldaway sunglasses made famous by Steve in the movie The Thomas Crown Affair and in countless images in the many books about ‘The King of Cool’.
The personal effects offered at this sale have never previously been exhibited and therefore represent a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to own a part of the McQueen Legend.
The great man’s widow, Barbara McQueen Brunsvold, says:
“For over 25 years I have held on to the many items that Steve collected over the years. I know that there is a public who would love to own a piece of his collection, out of their love, admiration and respect for him, and so I am pleased to have Bonhams & Butterfields represent me in this sale.”
“Bonhams & Butterfields is both honored and excited to be appointed by Barbara to offer for sale so many of Steve McQueen’s personal effects so reflective of his passion for collecting. 25 years after his premature death, Steve’s persona remains ever-present in the motoring world. Whether on a billboard in Times Square promoting a Ford Mustang, or on a page of a magazine advertising a TAG Heuer wristwatch, his legend is as important and relevant today as it was in his heyday as one of Hollywood’s most charismatic and maverick stars” said Mark Osborne, Motoring Department Head and Specialist-in-charge.
This sale offers Steve McQueen’s worldwide legion of fans the opportunity to take part in a truly historic sale with the chance to own part of his very personal collection, perhaps a credit card or a knife inscribed by his friend Von Dutch
Sale catalogs that will feature never before seen images of McQueen will be available beginning in August. Bonhams & Butterfields will donate 50% of the proceeds from catalog sales to the ‘Make a Wish’ Foundation, a charity that Steve supported during his lifetime.
Softbound Catalogs – $50
Hardbound Catalogs (Limited Edition) – $100
Details on this and other Bonhams auctions are available on www.bonhams.com.
A dedicated website with news of this special auction will be at www.bonhams.com/mcqueen, updated regularly as the sale date approaches.
The Estate of Steve McQueen is neither a participant nor sponsor of this sale.