Le Mans (Steve McQueen) 911

[Muzzer911]

Just an inquisitive question really.

I have just finished watching the Steve McQueen film 'Le Mans' and was wondering what has become of the 911 McQueen was driving at the beginning.

Is it still in existence, scrapped or in a museum?

 

[bones]

Good timing , look here.
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=224658

 

[oliver]

Steve McQueen had a 1969 2.0S, which is now owned by his son Chad, but kept in a museum with his other cars, bikes and memorobilia.

He used this car during the making of the film, but I'm not sure if it is the same one used in the opening sequence.

 

[dugsud]

I think he means the 911 in the opening sequence as opposed to the 917 racer Bones.

The 911 now resides in a museum in LA called Petersen.

Quote from the current owner of the cars website

"1969 Porsche, 911S Coupe, Originally owned by Steve McQueen

Considered one of the most recognizable sports cars in the history of the automobile, the Porsche 911 was powered by a two-liter, air-cooled flat six that gave brisk acceleration. This performance appealed to Steve McQueen, who came to prefer Porsches for many driving situations. Painted medium gray, a color frequently seen on cars owned by McQueen, the 911S was not as conspicuous as other sports cars of the day and attracted less unwanted attention. More than a mere touring car, this example was driven by McQueen's character in the opening scenes of Le Mans, and was the vehicle that he drove onto the race track that introduced the flashback sequence."

 

[bones]

Ah I see, thought it was too good a coincidence!

 

[maubert]

Interesting but the car in the opening scene is a very different colour (kind of aubergine) and has a disctinctive "2.2" decal in the rear window. Maybe a different car then? Given that the film pretty much centers around Porsches it would be difficult to image the factory missing the opp to do some product placement of its latest product (ie 2.2) as opposed to Mc Queen using his own? I don't have a definite answer, just observing...

 

[Alex Foster]

IIRC there was a programme on Five about the world's best sportscars about a month ago.

The winner was the 911 (of course). Chad McQueen was on the show driving his dad's 911 around a race circuit and I am sure he said that it was the one used by McQueen in the opening sequence of Le Mans. FWIW isn't the car a dark blue colour???

 

[RSGulp]

According to "A French Kiss With Death" the story of Steve McQueen making of the film "Le Mans", Porsche GmBH gave Solar, the production company, a number of Porsches to use on set and for getting around the circuit whilst filming.

Steve McQueens car was a mid-grey 1969 2.0 911 and this is the car which appears at the start of the film (I've just watched it again to check the colour - it's most definately grey). The car has a Stuttgart registration number "S: B 2795". There are also photos of the car in the book - it's being driven by Steve McQueen the wrong way down the straight with his son Chad as a passenger.

I believe this is the car in the museum mentioned above.