The Great Escaper: Porsche which Hollywood bad boy Steve McQueen customized to flee police and paparazzi goes up for sale with $1.5m price tag 

  • McQueen bought the Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera in 1976 after falling in love with it filming racing movie Le Mans
  • Had engine modified and switch was fitted to dash allowing him to kill the rear lights to escape press and police
  • Car was delivered in 1976 - four years before McQueen died from cancer - making it the last car he ever ordered

By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

Published: 07:49 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 09:35 EST, 15 July 2015

A bespoke Porsche once owned by Steve McQueen and kitted out with gadgets to help him escape from police and the press has gone up for sale for $1.5million - ten times the amount the classic car would usually fetch.

McQueen, a notorious petrolhead and Hollywood bad boy, fell in love with the green 930 Turbo Carrera while using it to film racing movie Le Mans and after the film was finished decided to buy himself one.

The car was eventually delivered in 1976, just four years before the A-lister died from cancer, making it the last car he ever ordered to add to his astonishing collection of custom vehicles.

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A classic Porsche once owned by Steven McQueen which he bought after falling in love with it while filming racing movie Le Mans is expected to fetch $1.5million (£1million) when it goes up for auction in California

A classic Porsche once owned by Steven McQueen which he bought after falling in love with it while filming racing movie Le Mans is expected to fetch $1.5million (£1million) when it goes up for auction in California

McQueen, a notorious petrolhead, ordered the Porsche just four years before he died of cancer, making it the last car he ever added to his impressive collection of modified cars

McQueen, a notorious petrolhead, ordered the Porsche just four years before he died of cancer, making it the last car he ever added to his impressive collection of modified cars

The A-lister's son, Chad, has revealed the car's engine was modified to make it faster, and a switch was added to the dashboard allowing him to turn off the rear lights to escape pursuing police or media

The A-lister's son, Chad, has revealed the car's engine was modified to make it faster, and a switch was added to the dashboard allowing him to turn off the rear lights to escape pursuing police or media

Chad also told of how, aged just 15, he was so desperate to take his father's new car for a drive that he used to take it out for joyrides, until McQueen caught him in the act

Chad also told of how, aged just 15, he was so desperate to take his father's new car for a drive that he used to take it out for joyrides, until McQueen caught him in the act

McQueen's son, Chad, said the Porsche was modified to include a switch on the dashboard which would cut the rear lights 'in case he was being chased on Mulholland Drive' - a road passing close to Santa Monica, north of LA.

Chad also told how he was desperate to get behind the wheel of his father's new toy, and aged 15, took it out for joy rides while McQueen was away.

He said: 'This car is rich in history - this is the last of the McQueen cars, really. When the Porsche RSR Turbo came out in 1974 I was so enamoured with it, I just couldn't wait to drive the road car.

'My dad got this 930 Turbo in 1976, and I didn't have to wait any longer. I was 15 at the time, and he was out of town for a week.

'Every day, sometimes twice in the same day, I'd open the garage, turn the key, give the car a stealthy roll down to the cul-de-sac, fire it up and take off.

'But Julia, the woman who was there to look after me, caught wind of what I was doing. True to form, she told my dad. My dad called me to let me know he'd be gone for two more days. So the next morning, same routine, I fire up the car and head out.

'As I'm accelerating down the two-lane beach road I see a yellow taxi-cab closing in from the opposite direction. Inside that cab, I see two of the biggest blue eyes in the world. My dad was on his way home. I didn't know whether to go to Mexico or what.'

While basic models of the Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera fetch around $155,000 when put up for sale, McQueen's version is expected to sell for ten times that much because it was used by the actor

While basic models of the Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera fetch around $155,000 when put up for sale, McQueen's version is expected to sell for ten times that much because it was used by the actor

The car even comes with a personalised licence plate reading MCQN - for McQueen's initials - and 930 - the Porsche model number

The car even comes with a personalised licence plate reading MCQN - for McQueen's initials - and 930 - the Porsche model number

In 2011 a lesser 1970 Porsche 911 owned by McQueen sold for $1.2million (£832,000), and this model is expected to fetch even more

In 2011 a lesser 1970 Porsche 911 owned by McQueen sold for $1.2million (£832,000), and this model is expected to fetch even more

McQueen owned a huge collection of cars during his lifetime including at least three Porsches, and a Ferrari GTB 4 which sold last summer for a record $10.1million (£6million) after auction.

In 2011 a lesser 1970 Porsche 911 previously owned by McQueen sold at auction for $1.2million (£832,000), despite base models only fetching around $155,00 (£100,000).

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Boys Republic, a school in California for troubled teens that McQueen attended and credited with helping turn his life around.

A spokesman for auction house Mecum, where the car will be sold in July, said: 'When a car's history is steeped in so much of what makes the hearts of enthusiasts race with excitement, when every single aspect of a car and its background come together in a perfectly packaged representation of an icon, a role model and hero to many, that car is no longer just a great car.

'It comes to embody the life and legacy of the people behind it, the people who have loved it and given it its place in the spotlight.

Steve McQueen's son Chad trys out the Porsche, 39 years after he first took it out of the house without his father's permission

Steve McQueen's son Chad trys out the Porsche, 39 years after he first took it out of the house without his father's permission

The Porsche was easily capable of doing more than 150mph, and went from 0-60mph in five seconds, allowing McQueen to easily outpace anyone who might be following him

The Porsche was easily capable of doing more than 150mph, and went from 0-60mph in five seconds, allowing McQueen to easily outpace anyone who might be following him

McQueen had several modifications added to the rear-mounted engine (picture) which boosted the top speed of the already fast-paced car

McQueen had several modifications added to the rear-mounted engine (picture) which boosted the top speed of the already fast-paced car

'McQueen's insatiable need for speed and his affinity for fine automobiles meant always having the best sets of wheels. His Porsche 930 is no exception.

'A reasonable estimate for this car would be a factor of six to 10 times greater than current 930 Turbo values, however there is even more to take into consideration.

'Not only is this McQueen's last special-order Porsche, this is his last special car period.

'Combine this with the fact that 930s are now being recognised in the market as being truly significant with respect to Porsche's historical sports car racing dominance, this truly is a special situation for a very special car.'

McQueen was well know for his collection of heavily-modified cars, including a Ferrari which sold for $10.1million (£6million) last year

McQueen was well know for his collection of heavily-modified cars, including a Ferrari which sold for $10.1million (£6million) last year

A spokesman for the auction house handing the sale of McQueen's Porsche said: 'McQueen's insatiable need for speed and his affinity for fine automobiles meant always having the best sets of wheels. His Porsche 930 is no exception'

A spokesman for the auction house handing the sale of McQueen's Porsche said: 'McQueen's insatiable need for speed and his affinity for fine automobiles meant always having the best sets of wheels. His Porsche 930 is no exception'

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