Many people remember Steve McQueen for his love of motorcycles, fast cars, and all those popular movies he starred in.
One thing you might not know about the late actor is that he was the owner of one darn good-looking Chevy truck camper.
The camper sold recently through an eBay auction.
McQueen’s 1952 Chevy 3800 truck camper has both style and utility.
In fact, it was this truck camper that transported he and Reverend Billy Graham to Ventura County Airport in 1980 for McQueen’s last trip to Juarez, Mexico in a desperate attempt to halt the pleural mesothelioma cancer that had overtaken his body.
This wasn’t just a garage kept relic for McQueen either, and the ad said McQueen used the camper on cross-country camping trips. The styling reflects its famous former owner: understated, rugged, and don’t-give-a-damn cool.
The current owner described the vintage truck camper as follows,
Removable custom camper top built by Harold Van Hoosen, a sheet metal fabricator from Yreka, California. Van Hoosen built the camper (named “Dust Tite”) in October 1952. The camper, made of galvanized metal and aluminum, includes a double-sided bed, storage cabinets, drawers, shelves and heavy-duty diamond plated bumper and tow hitch.
The spartan dashboard has few knobs and gauges. And nope, there isn’t any air conditioning.
They sure made truck beds narrow back then.
This truck’s significance takes on greater historical importance as it was the last vehicle to transport McQueen from his Santa Paula home to the Ventura County Airport on Nov. 3, 1980. From there he would be whisked to El Paso, Texas, for his final cancer surgery in Juarez, Mexico.
Modern campers might find the interior lacking in creature comforts.
The engine dates from 1954, though the truck body is a ’52 model.
A sticker from the original sale in 1984.
Yep, it’s the real deal.
McQueen’s assets were auctioned off at the Las Vegas Imperial Palace over two days in 1984.
Original registration form.
Buyers loved the opportunity to own this unique piece of camping history, and would you believe – the auction closed with 42 bids and a final selling price of $98,077!?
Source: eBay