STEVE McQUEEN: THE LEGEND AND THE CARS

1961 Triumph, TR6, As Ridden by Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins, in The Great Escape (1961)

Two brand new Triumphs were prepared to appear in The Great Escape and were supplied to MGM by Sherman Oaks motorcycle dealer Bud Ekins. They were designed to look like German Military BMWs, which were not powerful enough to make the dramatic jump in the climactic scene. Although McQueen was capable of jumping the fence to escape the POW camp, he was prevented from doing so for insurance reasons. After several days of rehearsals, the jump was done in a single take that took stunt rider Bud Ekins twelve feet in the air over a distance of 80 feet. When the bike was not needed for filming, McQueen often rode it into town wearing his German military uniform, drawing a great deal of interest from locals. Like other vehicles with important associations with well-known people, this exact replica was created as a tribute to the original. Collection of Johnson Motors, Inc.