Slate Grey Le Mans "S" Revisited

Saffs · 06-12-2002, 01:41 PM

OK. Yet again, I'm wondering where the Slate Gray 911S, that Steve Mcqueen used in Le Mans, is. We've had a few threads on it, of course. We established that his Son's, Chad's, 911S isn't the one, and Paul (pwd72s) said that some on the 911S Registry had just bought it - anymore on that, Paul?
Also, has anyone got still photos of it? Like from the "French Kiss with Death Book" book. I have a few stills from the movie, but would like to see more.
Anyone?

Randy W · Randy W's Garage

Chad's is a '69 and the one in the movie is a '70, I believe. From what I have read, the movie car is owned by an early S registry member somwhere in the US. Never heard a name - maybe Cris Huergas knows.

CRIS HUERGAS · 06-12-2002, 03:54 PM

this much I know, Chad McQueen still owned it when I talked to him on the phone a little over a year ago. It is a Slate Gray 69S and that he had acquired the car from his sister's estate. Now what happened to it between then and now is unknown to me.

Where did the rumor that it was purchased by an Early S Registry member come from. I have no knowledge of the car ever being sold maybe you guys know something that i don't.

the legend continues.... stay tuned folks!

cheers,

Cris Huergas

CRIS HUERGAS · 06-12-2002, 04:00 PM

Randy,

the one in the move is the slate gray 69S. I used to think also that it was a 70 model and was Albert Blue. I don't know where I got that but its the stuff t that legends are made of. Chad had the 69S on display two years ago at the Rodeo Drive Ferrari Show and according to one of my guys, it was a Slate Gray 69S.

Take a good look at the opening scene of the movie Le Mans and see if you can spot that one year only door handles. That may give you the answer.

cris

speeder · speeder's Garage

When I worked at Bob Smith Porsche/Audi in Hollywood in the late '80's we had that car, (slate grey old 911S), plus his black speedster in building across the street. I used to look at it almost every day. Can't imagine Chad wanting to sell it, he is a car-nut in his own right plus ENORMOUS sentimental value, We have a close mutual friend, I will check this out one of these days.

pwd72s · 06-12-2002, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CRIS HUERGAS
Randy,

the one in the move is the slate gray 69S. I used to think also that it was a 70 model and was Albert Blue. I don't know where I got that but its the stuff t that legends are made of. Chad had the 69S on display two years ago at the Rodeo Drive Ferrari Show and according to one of my guys, it was a Slate Gray 69S.

Take a good look at the opening scene of the movie Le Mans and see if you can spot that one year only door handles. That may give you the answer.

cris

Cris, this is one where you & I disagree. The earlier string convinced me...There was a pic of Chad McQueen's beautiful '69 taken at a Cali show. I printed out the pic. Then I got my tape of Lemans, looked a long time at the movie opening scenes...the car in the opening scenes? IMHO..a 1970! One clue I remember? Radio antenna is on different fenders, many other clues as well. Sorry Gruppemeister, but I think you may be mistaken in this one. Hug Renee for me anyway, okay?

Paul

Randy W · Randy W's Garage

Cris, I've looked closely and I don't see '69 door handles on the movie car. What I do see on the widescreen LaserDisc version of "Le Mans" is a 1969 World Championship decal on the right bottom windshield - this only came on 911s built between 2/70 and 3/71. I also see a decal on the rear glass that could be either a 2.0, or more likely a 2.2 engine decal. The movie was made while the 1970 911 was being built, and the factory supplied the cars, most likely the latest model. As Paul has noted the antenna has switched sides from the movie car to Chad's car. I still think the movie 911 is a 1970 S. I remember reading about an early S registry member owning the movie car in the Esses some time back.

Saffs · 06-12-2002, 05:56 PM

I'm sure also that it's a 2.2 '70 car. The 2.2 emblem is visible and also the above mentioned reasons, plus Porsche would have supplied the latest car. It's slate grey in the movie. Speeder: did you have Chad's '69 or this car, do you reckon?

Randy W · Randy W's Garage

Just did a search and found a previous post by Paul, where he reports that in the Summer 2001 issue of the Esses it was noted that new member Eric Bryant is the current owner of a charcoal (slate) gray 1970 911S originally purchased by Steve McQueen and used in the opening sequence of the movie "Le Mans". Reportedly, Eric's father bought the car from Solar Productions in 1971. Now, that has to be the ultimate Early S/R Gruppe 911!

pwd72s · 06-12-2002, 09:25 PM

Thanks for refreshing my memory, Randy. I just retrieved the issue of "The Esses" you mention, have it on my lap. I quote from page 4: "New member Eric Bryant is the proud and fortunate owner of a charcoal gray 1970 911S originally purchased by Steve McQueen and used in the opening sequence of the movie 'Lemans'. Eric's father bought it from Solar Productions in 1971." Cris, if you're following this thread, Eric Bryant's phone and e-mail are on page 20 of the same issue...

speeder · speeder's Garage

Anthony,

I have no idea, to tell the truth. I distinctly remember an early 911S, think it was grey, was told that it belonged to Steve McQueen, who was disceased by this time of course. There was a beautiful 356 speedster next to it, definitely black and concours condition, I think that it had Rudge(?) knock-offs, that was his also. I was under the impression that they then belonged to Chad, and we were storing them for him. The speedster so dazzled me that I barely looked at the 911, (they were much more common), but it was mint as well.

It sounds like the mystery is solved, but it all makes perfect sense to me. Steve M. was absolutely compulsive about hot cars and motorcycles, he probably owned several Porsches and certainly never had to sell one to get another. I actually doubt that he ever owned the one in the movie, story about guy buying it from production company after shoot makes sense to me.

Saffs · 06-13-2002, 05:55 AM

Thanks, Denis. That black speedster sounds incredible....
Anyone in a position to call Eric and get the story - and some pics!

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

I'll scan the photo from 'French Kiss' when I get to my office this afternoon. -- Curt

Saffs · 06-13-2002, 08:09 AM

Very cool, Curt. Thanks.

curtisaa · 06-13-2002, 08:46 AM

Mr. McQueen's Porsche was "on consignment" at Rusnak Porsche in Pasadena in 1988. They were trying to sell it for $12,000.00. If you can believe it, no takers ( including myself).

The selling point for justifying that much $ was Mr.McQueens name in the service manual. If I'm not mistaken, 69S at that time was about $6-8K.

I opted for the 88' Anniversary car with Ferry's signature on the seats.....daa ??? ( who would'a thunk?)

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

pwd72s · 06-13-2002, 12:17 PM

Well, I'd say the photo from "French Kiss..." settles it. The car in the photo is a 1970. Weltmeister decal in the windshield a dead giveaway, plus those are not 1969 door handles...

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Your eyes are better than mine Paul! I can't tell what the doorhandle is.

Here's another photo of a LeMans movie 'fleet' car (not McQueen's) from the set. Maybe the doorhandle is better visible here (looks like 69 style to me):

Jack Olsen · 06-13-2002, 12:44 PM

For a movie shoot, you would typically have several (mostly) identical cars on hand. The most-recently-posted one doesn't seem to have the foglights, bumper guards, or wheelwell trim that the French Kiss one has.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

There was actually a fleet of 911's provided to various members of the production company. Most weren't used in the movie. McQueen's is US-spec, so he must have requested to take that one home with him. There's some interesting stories about the fleet cars in French Kiss. Movie director John Sturges was assigned a 911S Targa. He took his girlfriend out around the circuit "to see what it would do". He promptly wrote it off in a big way. The incident was hushed up and the wreckage was trucked back to Stuttgart!

In another incident, Jo Siffert, Derek Bell and McQueen decided to stage a race with their 911's around the gravel roads of Solar Village (the temporary 'town' housing the movie people). This was after a bit of wine drinking. They began racing around the village doing slides and spins, culminating with Siffert plowing through a tent! So I suppose if there are some stone chips on the McQueen car today, they would be authentic!!