Steve McQueen's Motorcycles Up For Auction

November 9, 2006 2:00 PM

Steve McQueen, Steve McQueen, The coolest doggone motherscratcher on the silver screen. On November 11th, you'll have your chance to be as cool as Steve McQueen ever was. Of course, you'll be needing of one of his motorcycles to achieve said coolness.
posted by NoMich (26 comments total)

Yes please. The vincent black shadow is easily the most beautiful motorcycle ever built, it deserves it's place at the MoMA.

I bought my Triumph motorcycle party because of the coolness factor Steve McQueen brought to the brand.
posted by splatta at 2:05 PM on November 9, 2006

Your soundtrack for this thread: Love Song To A Motorbike (Vincent Black Lightning by Richard Thompson -YouTube)
posted by hal9k at 2:18 PM on November 9, 2006

Wait, so Dr. Gregory House's rat was named after an actual person? Who knew?
posted by arcticwoman at 2:23 PM on November 9, 2006

This is some really amazing stuff going up for bid here. Makes one yearn for the days when not every bike mimicked a Harley or the next plastic crotch rocket. So many of these were built to show off as art pieces as well as transportation.
posted by Zorro on Doughnuts at 2:25 PM on November 9, 2006

Drool
posted by NoMich at 2:37 PM on November 9, 2006

These motorcycles have not all belonged to Steve McQueen.
Clever marketing, though.
And I still love the bikes.
posted by bashos_frog at 2:40 PM on November 9, 2006

Thanks for the great links. The first thing I thought of was the song my Richard Thompson, too.

Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme ...
posted by YoBananaBoy at 2:46 PM on November 9, 2006

Man, that BMW that NoMich linked to is sex in glossy black.
posted by lekvar at 2:47 PM on November 9, 2006

Doctor, lawyer and Indian Chief
They all dig that crazy beat
posted by fixedgear at 2:51 PM on November 9, 2006

hal9k: Your soundtrack for this thread: Love Song To A Motorbike (Vincent Black Lightning by Richard Thompson -YouTube)

Alternatively this gem.
posted by Skygazer at 3:12 PM on November 9, 2006

Whoa baby. Those are some nice bikes.
....yeah, but I could own three and I’d still never be as cool as Steve McQueen.
posted by Smedleyman at 3:42 PM on November 9, 2006

I do own three and am not even cool enough to mention Steve McQueen in a sentence. Though I did.
posted by maxwelton at 3:46 PM on November 9, 2006

Agreed, that BMW is sex on wheels. (As they say, the jugs make the difference).

And actually I think this would be the perfect soundtrack for this thread.

Thank you for posting this.
posted by suki at 3:46 PM on November 9, 2006

I thought he died again, what am I going to do with this extra fucking period? .
posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 4:09 PM on November 9, 2006

Well, November 12th is the Elsinore Grand Prix or what is known as the "Harvey Mushman" after the name that Steve used to use to sign in as to race because of his movie contracts disallowing motobike riding.
posted by stuartmm at 5:38 PM on November 9, 2006

I reckon we can hope to be as cool as Steve was in the 1980s when he grew a crazyman beard and started biblethumping.

But yeah...he totally rules.
posted by ktoad at 6:00 PM on November 9, 2006

Your soundtrack to this post is of course the Drive By Truckers, whose song Steve McQueen features the opening line above. I recommend the live version on Alabama Ass Whuppin.

Steve McQueen Steve McQueen
When I was a little boy I wanted to grow up to be
Steve McQueen Steve McQueen
The coolest doggone motherscratcher on the silver screen

I’d drive real fast everywhere no one would ever catch me
and I’d kick your ass if you pissed me off so be careful what you ask me
and I’d never have an empty bottle or an empty bed
and as cool as Paul Newman is I bet Steve could whup his head

Bullet was my favorite movie that I’d ever seen
I totaled my go-cart trying to imitate that chase scene
That Charger had six hubcaps, know what I mean
and I love the way they all flew off when it landed in that ravine

I really loved The Getaway back when I was eight
that pussy Alec Baldwin sucked in the remake
and speaking of pussy, I guess Steve got it all
He fucked Faye Dunaway and he fucked Ali McGraw

Steve McQueen Steve McQueen
When I was a little boy I wanted to grow up to be
Steve McQueen Steve McQueen
The coolest goddamn mothefucker on the silver screen
(yee-haw)

I went to see The Hunter on my first date
The Hunter was the last movie Steve McQueen lived to make
They took my drivers license when I was just sixteen
the year mesothelioma killed Steve McQueen.
posted by jalexei at 7:11 PM on November 9, 2006

Those are pretty arty photos for an auction.
posted by smackfu at 7:23 PM on November 9, 2006

I knew about the auction but wasn't posting it on purpose to keep the bids down. Now I'm going to have to alot more, thanks alot, NoMich.

McQueen is the McKewl.
posted by fenriq at 7:34 PM on November 9, 2006

I reckon we can hope to be as cool as Steve was in the 1980s when he grew a crazyman beard and started biblethumping.

I think McQueen died in 1980, so when was he bible thumping?
posted by splatta at 8:08 PM on November 9, 2006

when i hear "Steve McQueen", i think about the fantastic 1985 album by prefab sprout and produced by thomas dolby. those in the united states would know it as "two wheels good". if you like rock music and you haven't heard this album, buy it!
posted by clyde at 10:16 PM on November 9, 2006

Awesome - thanks for the post!
posted by faineant at 12:48 AM on November 10, 2006

I hope I live a long fruitful life, never having to hear the phrase doggone motherscratcher again...

Stop that. Now.

No honestly, stop it.

That is all.....
posted by the_epicurean at 1:14 AM on November 10, 2006

....yeah, but I could own three and I’d still never be as cool as Steve McQueen.

spot-on. and the thought that very soon a bunch of rich middle aged overweight nerds will get all excited because they finally own his bikes and wear his sunglasses is, well, hilarious. McQueen's ghost will be the first to laugh his cool-as-a-cucumber ass off, too
posted by matteo at 1:59 AM on November 10, 2006

His ghost is too busy making Ford commercials.

Dex: Steve is the prototypical cool American male. Y'know, I'm talking about Steve McGarrett, alright? Steve Austin, Steve McQueen. Y'know, he's the guy on his horse, the guy alone. He has his own code of honor, his own code of ethics, his own rules of living, man. He never, ever tries to impress the women but he always gets the girl.

posted by kirkaracha at 4:54 AM on November 10, 2006

Clyde: Yea, that album is great.
posted by splatta at 8:56 AM on November 13, 2006