Who’s the man behind this suit?
In the 1971 motorsports film Le Mans, Steve McQueen wore this Race Driving Suit. Michael Delaney is the name of McQueen’s character in the movie. And the legendary two-piece flame-resistant Nomex cream garment created by Hinchman of Indianapolis carries his name.
In addition, Steve McQueen’s full name was Terrence Stephen McQueen. He also called the “King of Cool.” He rose from a turbulent youth spent in reform institutes to become the world’s most famous actor in the 1960s, becoming the ultra-cool male cinema star of the era.
How valuable is this suit?
Because of how authentically it represented the challenging and dramatic endurance race that bears its name, Le Mans’s film has always stood out among its peers.
Steve McQueen wear this outfit to do his stunt during the 1970 24-Hours of Le Man’s movie. Rather than limiting himself to a studio lot, McQueen took the film’s crew across the Atlantic to capture footage of the race. Not only did this choice contribute to the film’s authenticity, but it also gave the outfit a historically accurate feel.
This Steve McQueen Race Driving is in excellent condition and thoroughly documented. Solar Productions / MGM donated it to a British newspaper for a Le Mans themed competition in 1971.
How much is the most expensive piece of Racing Memorabilia?
Steve McQueen, the man of the era, a racer, an acting star, and a true sportsman – etched his position in both movies and racing by the 1970s. A suit worn by the Le Man’s movie star was auctioned off in California to honor him and his soul.
It sold for $800,000 plus $184,000 in additional fees and taxes at the auction. If you do the calculation, that comes to a whopping $984,000, making the outfit the most valuable motor racing garment ever sold.
No responses yet