Reflected glory in King of Cool's glasses
The King of Cool "loved his motorcycles"
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Sunday, 12, Nov 2006 07:25
People will pay a lot of money to own a little piece of movie history. For the purchasers of Steve McQueen's motorcycles and sunglasses, however, it doesn't come cheap.
At a Los Angeles car museum a series of McQueen memorabilia items were sold yesterday, including the pair of sunglasses which he wore in the opening scenes of 1968's The Thomas Crown Affair.
They went for an extremely cool $70,000 (£36,630), the Associated Press news agency reports.
The 1960s filmstar, who died of cancer in 1980, became a screen legend with a series of hit movies including The Great Escape, Bullitt and The Magnificent Seven.
Four decades have passed since the screen actor's heyday, but it appears the years have only served to heighten rather than diminish his image.
Two other motorcycles, including a 1937 Crocker and a 1934 Indian Sport Scout, went for $276,500 (£144,700) and $177,500 (£92,900) respectively.
"He really loved the motorcycles," Barbara Minty-McQueen, widow of the film star, said.
"He wasn't concerned if they were nut-and-bolt correct, he just liked them."
McQueen was well-known as being a motorcycle enthusiast and, while he did not perform the most impressive and memorable bike-based stunt in his career-defining role in The Great Escape, he was featured on his motorcycle for much of the film.