They called Steve McQueen the King of Cool and if you want a slice of his remarkable life then this 1970 Chevy is for you. The star of ‘Bullitt’ and ‘Le Mans’ didn’t just play at driving fast cars. He did it in real life too. This 1970 Chevy - or Chevrolet K5 Blazer to give this history-laden pick up its full title - is proof of that, starting with the coveted name “Steven McQueen” on the 1970 Chevy’s documentation file.
First glance takes in a classic 1970 Chevy. Finish is GM’s Citrus Green, recalling the colourway of the ‘Bullitt’ Ford Mustang. There’s naturally a V8 under what Americans insist on calling the hood and a non-standard four headlight set-up to the front. This is the key to the McQueen race history of the 1970 Chevy. History shows this was a support vehicle for the star’s attempt at the gruelling Baja 1000 off-road race in northwestern Mexico, a classic Steve McQueen escapade. That additional lighting was to find the way in desert conditions, rugged four wheel-drive essential, after market Positraction front and rear differentials fitted to the 1970 Chevy.
McQueen himself was out on the rough course in a highly modified beach buggy lookalike known as a Baja Boot, ultra lightweight with a V8 in the rear. He didn’t finish the Baja 1000, but the faithful 1970 Chevy did all it could to help his support team in that attempt. Afterwards, the 1970 Chevy K5 Blazer was sold anonymously for just £1,400 before the buyer traced its star-laden history. Along with the odd road trip - the sort of rugged life for which it was designed - the 1970 Chevy was also in storage for the better part of two decades and now presents in immaculate condition.
Like it? Mecum Auctions are putting this key piece of Steve McQueen memorabilia under the hammer at their Indy 2024 sale on May 17th. No estimate is listed but history tells us that McQueen’s name means big money. The 1970 Chevy isn’t likely to reach the £3m one lucky punter paid for the actual Ford Mustang from ‘Bullitt’, or even the near-£200,000 McQueen’s Baja Boot racer reached in 2008. But a 1958 McQueen pick-up did achieve around £100,000 at auction in 2012, so you might think of taking that with you on your trip to Indianapolis. Signature Steve McQueen shades? We’ll leave those to you.
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