STEVE MCQUEEN ON THE AUCTION BLOCK

On Saturday in Los Angeles some rarely seen belongings of movie legend Steve McQueen go on the auction block. They’re the personal treasures of an American icon.Things like a vintage Indian racing motorcycle, the monogrammed satchel where he carried his scripts and his personal sunglasses from the Thomas Crown Affair. Most of the items to be auctioned off come from his widow Barbara who found it a bit strange to see the possessions they shared, all cleaned-up and for sale. “What made you decide to do it? “It was just time and I was holding on to too many memories, and there’s so many people out there who would really enjoy to have a little piece of Steve,” said Barbara. “This is my favorite picture of Steve…”Barbara Minty was a model when she met McQueen in 1976. In her new book she shows candid photos of their life together- McQueen washing his cars or at a flea market. He had an eye for the quirky like antique toys hand paintedBut it’s his motorcycles that catch the collector’s eye“He had a genuine passion for motorcycles. He wasn’t concerned if they were nut and bolt correct. It was what he liked,” said motorcycle collector Don Whalen. McQueen was a race car and motorcycle enthusiast and any chance he got he did his own movie stunts.His most memorable ride: the 1963 film the Great Escape. By 1972 McQueen was the world’s highest paid actor. Eight years later he died at age 50 of cancer from asbestos exposure. Still his reputation as a man’s man, the king of cool lives on.