Escape the city in style with McQueen’s camper and an ‘On Any Sunday’-inspired Husqvarna motorcycle
Following the Bullitt Mustang’s near AU$5 million dollar sale at the beginning of 2020, we’ve stumbled upon another green American classic attached to the King of Cool, Steve McQueen.
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This 1952 Chevrolet 3800 stepside pick-up is fitted with a custom camper and was formerly owned by the Hollywood icon in the later years of his life. It is currently being auctioned on Bring-a-Trailer, and currently sits with a high-bid of US$38,000 (AU$51,470) with four days to go.
Finished in Forest Green, the Chevy truck is propelled by a 235ci inline-six backed by a floor-shift four-speed manual transmission.
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The camper attachment was built in 1952 by Northern Sheet Metal of Yreka, California; and features a double-bed, drawers, shelves, a roof platform, and a diamond-plated rear bumper.
McQueen reportedly purchased the truck from a farmer in the late 1970s, and was sold after his passing at the 1984 Steve McQueen Estate Auction in Las Vegas.
The current seller acquired the truck in 2016 and now presents it for sale along with a modified 1972 Husqvarna CR250 inspired by McQueen’s film On Any Sunday.
After purchasing the truck in the late-70s from a farmer in Malibu, California, McQueen is believed to have driven this truck along with Reverend Billy Graham from Santa Paula, California, to a Ventura County airport. It would be from here that McQueen would fly to Mexico, for what would be his final cancer treatment before his death.
Named “Dust Tite”, the custom camper is believed to have been built in 1952 by Harold Van Hoosen of Northern Sheet Metal; using a combination of galvanised steel and aluminium.
The cabin features a two-tone motif with a green vinyl bench seat with brown door panels and a brown painted dashboard. The five-digit odometer shows under 39,000 miles of which only a few were added by the current owner over the past four years.
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The 1972 Husqvarna CR250 wasn’t one of McQueen’s personal toys, however it has been modified with inspiration from the film On Any Sunday starring McQueen. It features a partly-painted fuel tank, white fenders, black seat and yellow number plates. Power is drawn from a 245cc two-stroke single matched to a five-speed transmission.
The whole package is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the 1984 Steve McQueen Estate Auctions at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, and is signed by Terry and Chad McQueen. An auction catalogue, California registration documents from McQueen’s ownership and a California historical vehicle plate are also included in the sale.
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The bundle’s end result is hard to predict, as McQueen’s star power often crosses from mere auto enthusiasts to a wider audience of pop culture and movie collectors.
We will update the story with a final result once the auction has closed, stay tuned.
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