1970 Porsche 911S Coupe

Steve McQueen longed to unite his acting and his passion for automobiles. More than anything, he longed to bring to the screen the drama and the almost imperceptible emotions of motor racing, particularly those emotions surrounding one of the biggest races in the world. For the enthusiast, Le Mans would be such the cinematic achievement that anything even remotely having to do with the movie would become highly coveted.

The largest character in the movie Le Mans would be Le Mans itself. The dialogue would be sparse, but the sights and sounds on the screen would more than tell the story of the 24 hour race. Indeed, McQueen would be just one of a myriad of characters interwoven and constantly in motion throughout the film. It seemed even the most inconsequential element would have an import role to play at some point in the film.

One of those rather ambiguous players would actually end up introducing Steve McQueen's character, Michael Delaney, to the audience. Michael Delaney would be introduced to the audience driving a 1970 Porsche 911S. It would be this car, and the first few minutes of the film, that would literally be the vehicle in which the past and present history of McQueen's character would be revealed. It would be used to set everything up that was needed to be known about Delaney's role. In its own right, it was a supporting actor in the movie.

The very same 911S that would introduce Michael Delaney to the world would have an opportunity to reprise its role, in all its cinematic glory, not to merely introduce Le Mans and Steve McQueen, but itself. Chassis number 91103 01502, the very car used personally by McQueen off the set and in the movie would be up for auction at RM Auctions' event in Monterey in August.

The Porsche 911S that would star alongside McQueen in the early sequences of the movie was a heavy-hitter in its own right. The 'S' model was the first highly-tuned performance Porsche made available for the street boasting of 200 hp from its 2.1-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine. Combined with a five-speed manual transmission and front and rear independent suspension, the 911S didn't just perform well in a straight line either.

This special and iconic 911S would be delivered by Porsche directly to Le Mans for Steve's use and for use in the movie. The car would arrive with its Slate Gray finish with black leather interior. The 911S would not only be the perfect means by which McQueen's character would be introduced in the movie, it was also a fitting alter ego to the 'King of Cool'.

After its appearance in the movie, the car would return to Porsche where it would undergo some modifications. The car would receive limited-slip differential and updated gear ratios before it would be shipped to Los Angeles. Unknown to many as to why, but McQueen would go on to sell the car. It would end up being purchased by an attorney and would be kept, practically in secret, for more than thirty years. It would be resold in 2005 and again some time later to a noted Porsche collector until being presented in RM Auctions' Monterey event.

In spite of all the complexities and engineering nightmares, McQueen had managed to pull off a cinematic masterpiece. The epic that is the 24 Hours of Le Mans would be captured in a way that could only be trumped by an actual presence at the event. He would successfully bring to the screen the passion, the drama and the unexplainable draw of motor racing. It would be not only an action film about motor racing, but a trip into the psyche. And the vehicle that would be chosen to begin the journey would be the very 911S up for auction.

Forever linked to Le Mans, this is one Porsche 911S that is matchless, not for its own uniqueness, but because of its uniqueness, its presence, and what it would mean for the film in which it would star. Therefore, it is of little wonder this piece of automotive and cinematic history was expected to command between $950,000 and $1,350,000 at auction.

At auction, the lot was sold for the sum of $1,375,000, including buyer's premium.

Source:
'Featured Lots: Lot No. 148: 1970 Porsche 911S Steve McQueen Le Mans Movie', (http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r105&fc=0). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r105&fc=0. Retrieved 19 August 2011.

By Jeremy McMullen