McQueen died in 79' in a Juarez clinic after surgery to remove multiple metastasis from his pleural mesothelioma; possibly related to military asbestos exposure. Smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma with asbestos, but does not alone cause mesothelioma.
as a young man, he worked in west coast shipyards doing demo work on decommissioned ships that were infested with asbestos....i have known several construction workers who died from asbestosis - it is a particularly nasty way to die.
steve was additionally a legendary off road motorcycle racer....see bruce brown's "on any sunday" - it's worth a watch.
It is good to hear that McQueen Indian Scout motorcycle is still with us.
However, the following from Jay Leno shows one of the most magnificent autos in the world of its time that McQueen owned and will be remembered long after most of us are dead and gone.
Ted; yes not only is the recoil terrible in appearance it was installed by a rank amateur. What garbage.
Pretty sure the gun is an S55. They had the plain sides with a billboard worth of printing. The S56 was engraved and a little heavier. The data I checked shows they were imported starting in the very early 70's. Given the time period of the photo reported, along with the sling swivels and the double triggers (which weren't nearly as common in the US), the statement it may be a European model is probably correct.
What a car!! Growing up in the 60's as a car nut, I vividly remember a neighbor, Edmund Rahal, that had the full race version of this Jag, the "D" type, in an unpainted all aluminum body. One of its distinguishing features was the fin behind the driver's head. He successfully raced the car all over the South. https://vintageracecar.com/ed-rahal-1925-2009/
What a car!! Growing up in the 60's as a car nut, I vividly remember a neighbor, Edmund Rahal, that had the full race version of this Jag, the "D" type, in an unpainted all aluminum body. One of its distinguishing features was the fin behind the driver's head. He successfully raced the car all over the South. https://vintageracecar.com/ed-rahal-1925-2009/
Gil
I’m doing this from memory this morning Gil but I think the XKSS was an ill fated attempt to commercialize the D-Type. The D-Type came first.
One of the problems that beset the XKSS program, besides the usual Jag stuff, was that after 14? Cars were built, the wooden forms they used to beat the body panels into shape burned in a fire. That was enough for Jag to say “enough!”
What a car!! Growing up in the 60's as a car nut, I vividly remember a neighbor, Edmund Rahal, that had the full race version of this Jag, the "D" type, in an unpainted all aluminum body. One of its distinguishing features was the fin behind the driver's head. He successfully raced the car all over the South. https://vintageracecar.com/ed-rahal-1925-2009/
Gil
I’m doing this from memory this morning Gil but I think the XKSS was an ill fated attempt to commercialize the D-Type. The D-Type came first.
One of the problems that beset the XKSS program, besides the usual Jag stuff, was that after 14? Cars were built, the wooden forms they used to beat the body panels into shape burned in a fire. That was enough for Jag to say “enough!”
Canvasback;
You have good memory. When you view this video below about the newly (5 years or so ago) built XKSS' it will bring back more of your memories. The new ones were priced at almost US$ 2million.
What happened to his Stutz Bearcats and his Deusenbergs- and how did he know, as Det. Lt. Frank Bullitt, that it was a Winchester pump (it was a M`1897 for sure) being pointed at him and his Mustang in the great car chase scene in "Bullitt"?? Just a glance at 80 plus MPH--RWTF
The one thing I appreciate the most about Steve McQueen when subjects on him arise, is his late-in-life conversion and salvation in Jesus Christ. Moving story:
. The curator at the museum opined that (in his opinion) the vehicle was worth 35 million. Yowsa... James, as the guard said to Luke "what we have here is a failure to communicate" regarding the D being the race version of the XKSS. The D can be the first and also the race version of the XKSS without regard to primacy. Gil
The one thing I appreciate the most about Steve McQueen when subjects on him arise, is his late-in-life conversion and salvation in Jesus Christ. Moving story:
Another Steve McQueen stunt by Guy Martin; a real English Eccentric of the old school. By the way, the bike in the film was a British Triumph Motor Cycle made to look like a German bike. Lagopus.....
What a car!! Growing up in the 60's as a car nut, I vividly remember a neighbor, Edmund Rahal, that had the full race version of this Jag, the "D" type, in an unpainted all aluminum body. One of its distinguishing features was the fin behind the driver's head. He successfully raced the car all over the South. https://vintageracecar.com/ed-rahal-1925-2009/
Gil
I’m doing this from memory this morning Gil but I think the XKSS was an ill fated attempt to commercialize the D-Type. The D-Type came first.
One of the problems that beset the XKSS program, besides the usual Jag stuff, was that after 14? Cars were built, the wooden forms they used to beat the body panels into shape burned in a fire. That was enough for Jag to say “enough!”
Canvasback;
You have good memory. When you view this video below about the newly (5 years or so ago) built XKSS' it will bring back more of your memories. The new ones were priced at almost US$ 2million.
Kindest Regards; Stephen Howell
I cheated Stephen. Jags run in my family. Numerous XJ12 and a mint 1972 E-Type V12 Convertible. Jaguars and Alfa Romeos were my introduction to a different kind of car than what America was making in the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's. And my earliest obsession (long before guns) were cars, specifically the products of England, Italy and Detroit muscle cars. (Odd grouping, I know).
Then women showed up!
And not to be totally off topic. Steve McQueen. He's just an actor.
Oh, and my uncle, by marriage, wrote the account while a POW in that camp, that became the basis of the book, The Great Escape, which spawned the movie. He was also a director of British Leyland, owners of the Jaguar marque.
That watch he is wearing does not seem to be a watch he would normally wear. His usual watch in the early days was a Rolex 5513 Sub Mariner totally bomb proof keeps time lasts for ever, no day date mechanism known as a watch stopper a model now wanted by collectors all over the world. Then he went to Tag Heuer Le Mans so that watch may have been an advertisement plant though it does look like a run of the mill dare I say it a cheap time piece.
His usual watch in the early days was a Rolex 5513 Sub Mariner totally bomb proof keeps time lasts for ever, no day date mechanism known as a watch stopper a model now wanted by collectors all over the world.
I bought a Rolex Oyster Submariner in Geneva in 1973, all stainless, no day/date. Far from bomb proof. Maintenance was a headache, accuracy was questionable, but it looked good. Let my son wear it in his wedding, and that was the last time I saw it. Now he collects Rolexes. I should have known better. My current daily watch is an $18 black plastic Casio, more accurate than the Rolex, and no maintenance. When the battery dies, just buy a new watch.
[quote] My current daily watch is an $18 black plastic Casio, more accurate than the Rolex, and no maintenance. When the battery dies, just buy a new watch.
My stepson coveted my old GMT (Pepsi Cola colors) which I eventually had it cleaned by Rolex USA, replaced the crystal and gave it to him as a college graduation present. He loves it. About 20 years ago, it went into the gun safe as my Luminox watches over the years have kept perfect time and I can read the dial in the pitch black dark without pushing a button because of the tritium illuminated hands and numbers. I've replaced the batteries over the years. Gil
What happened to his Stutz Bearcats and his Deusenbergs- and how did he know, as Det. Lt. Frank Bullitt, that it was a Winchester pump (it was a M`1897 for sure) being pointed at him and his Mustang in the great car chase scene in "Bullitt"?? Just a glance at 80 plus MPH--RWTF
He appeared in the Sand Pebbles 2 years before Bullit, and as I remember they used several Model 97's in that movie.
McQueen may have been just an actor, but he could drive a car (did all his own work in Bullit and one of the two Fords was his own full race Trans Am car, the other a hopped up 3900. His motorcycle skills were legendery. He was deeply admired by the best trials rider in the world for his skill and determination and went full blown all out in SoCal and Mexican races almost every weekend. I always though he ended up what James Dean wanted to be.
Replacement. That is rather a poor show with that Rolex of yours my two have done the business for fifty years now with just one Rolex service each in that time. One watch is for working in and the other is for that new look though both are in retirement like my self now just in the gun safe and I have on my wrist a cheap Seconda. The last time I had one on I flew in to n Airport not to be named and a customs officer called me over and said "I would not wear that if I where you it is an advert to be mugged. Advice taken and neither worn since.
He appeared in the Sand Pebbles 2 years before Bullit, and as I remember they used several Model 97's in that movie.
McQueen may have been just an actor, but he could drive a car (did all his own work in Bullit and one of the two Fords was his own full race Trans Am car, the other a hopped up 3900. His motorcycle skills were legendery. He was deeply admired by the best trials rider in the world for his skill and determination and went full blown all out in SoCal and Mexican races almost every weekend. I always though he ended up what James Dean wanted to be.
McQueen did some of the driving in Bullitt, but the more demanding driving was done by Bud Ekins (who also performed the Great Escape motorcycle jump) and Loren Janes. Carey Loftin also drove. The Charger was driven by Bill Hickman. Two heavily modified 390 GT cars were used, but they were not "full race Trans Am" cars. In fact, fastback Mustangs were not legal in Trans Am for the '67 and '68 seasons and notchback Mustangs were campaigned. Mustang fastbacks were legal for Trans Am again in 1969 with the Boss 302 cars. McQueen did not race in the Trans Am series. McQueen never owned either of the Bullitt Mustangs. The first was thrashed so badly in the movie that it was believed to have been scrapped. However, it was recently found in Mexico and is currently being restored. The second Bullitt Mustang was eventually owned by the Kiernan family for decades. McQueen had tried to buy the car from them, but the family declined and used it as a family car for years until selling it in 2020 for $3.7 million.
regarding steve mcqueen; my love of motorcycles predates my enthusiasm for guns by about 10 years....bought my first bike in 1965....edged over into guns in 1974 - i have told folks they are a variation on a theme....both are based in internal combustion.
lagopus is correct about the motorcycles in the great escape movie; the german motorcycle of ww2 was the predecessor to the zundapp ks601, a heavy stodgy device about as suited for aerial stunts as a tank. in the earlier scenes the movie used a zundapp, but in the famous escape scene it turns into a triumph tr6. interestingly, steve actually did not perform the famous jump....it was done by his friend (and motorcycle racing mentor) bud ekins, who did much work as a stunt man in hollywood in that era. by 1960 mcqueen was a very hot commodity in hollywood, and under the conditions of his contract was forbidden to race motorcycles (for fear of injuries), and for a number of years he competed under the nom de plume, harvey mushman. the movie jump, which steve was quite capable of executing, was given to his buddy ekins when the insurance company underwriting the movie would not permit the high dollar actor to do the stunt. the 1959 triumph used in the movie was similar to the west coast desert "sleds" that dominated desert mc racing in that era, and in 1964, dave ekins, steve mcqueen and three other racers were chosen to represent the usa at the 1964 international six days trials in east germany....riding similar 650 triumph tr6sc bikes. it was the first time a full team of american riders had participated in the isdt (the olympics of the off road motorcyle world), and mcqueen personally underwrote a good deal of the expenses.
canvasback notes his wife's uncle as the author of the book from which the great escape movie was taken. i have had a copy of the book for many years, and was aware that the pow camp was a brit/commonwealth compound....i think there was only a single american flyer imprisoned there, rather than the three the movie included. there is little question that the film was created to utilize steve mcqueen as a very popular actor....but the movie also held up numerous real life brits in a very positive light. be assured that in some quarters steve is considered to be more than just an actor.
ags has it right, steve mcqueen was a life long gearhead....and in amongst off road motorcyclists, a legend.
when I was teaching scuba years ago I always coveted a Rolex.One of the other instructors a Marine major had one. years later I got one and wore it daily . kept fair time. I was rough on watches and had the crystal replaced a couple of times the sales lady asked me if it was a gift as I did not deserve a Rolex. I think she meant it. found a local watchmaker that kept it tuned up and repaired. I don't wear a watch anymore the phone is more accurate
He appeared in the Sand Pebbles 2 years before Bullit, and as I remember they used several Model 97's in that movie.
McQueen may have been just an actor, but he could drive a car (did all his own work in Bullit and one of the two Fords was his own full race Trans Am car, the other a hopped up 3900. His motorcycle skills were legendery. He was deeply admired by the best trials rider in the world for his skill and determination and went full blown all out in SoCal and Mexican races almost every weekend. I always though he ended up what James Dean wanted to be.
McQueen did some of the driving in Bullitt, but the more demanding driving was done by Bud Ekins (who also performed the Great Escape motorcycle jump) and Loren Janes. Carey Loftin also drove. The Charger was driven by Bill Hickman. Two heavily modified 390 GT cars were used, but they were not "full race Trans Am" cars. In fact, fastback Mustangs were not legal in Trans Am for the '67 and '68 seasons and notchback Mustangs were campaigned. Mustang fastbacks were legal for Trans Am again in 1969 with the Boss 302 cars. McQueen did not race in the Trans Am series. McQueen never owned either of the Bullitt Mustangs. The first was thrashed so badly in the movie that it was believed to have been scrapped. However, it was recently found in Mexico and is currently being restored. The second Bullitt Mustang was eventually owned by the Kiernan family for decades. McQueen had tried to buy the car from them, but the family declined and used it as a family car for years until selling it in 2020 for $3.7 million.
II intended to say full Trans Am spec Mustang. The rest you may be correct about, but car and Driver did an interview article in the late 60's which I kept for years and reread many times. McQueen referred to the 302 car "his car" and talked about the timing and details of the filming. I do remember that Ekins was the driver that laid the bike down, and McQueen said it scared hime so badly that he lost control of the car and went off the road in a big slide. This segment eas left in the film.
![[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Shooters/Hollywood/i-qd34RGR/0/9bd6b433/XL/Steve%20McQueen%201963-XL.jpg)
![[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Shooters/Hollywood/i-HHT9Z9g/0/0a5f7b2e/XL/Steve%20McQueen%2C%20Sierra%20Madre%20Mountains%2C%201963-XL.jpg)
Gil
I cheated Stephen. Jags run in my family. Numerous XJ12 and a mint 1972 E-Type V12 Convertible. Jaguars and Alfa Romeos were my introduction to a different kind of car than what America was making in the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's. And my earliest obsession (long before guns) were cars, specifically the products of England, Italy and Detroit muscle cars. (Odd grouping, I know). ![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/eEHGgyP.jpg)