Dilapidated Trans Am Used in McQueen’s Final Film Sells for Nearly $100K
Bill Shea is at it again. The Massachusetts collector, who specializes in automotive, movie, and World War II items, is the winning bidder for a very rough 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am that was used as a stunt vehicle in Steve McQueen’s final film, The Hunter.
The dilapidated Poncho set Shea back $99,750 including fees, which is about six times the average value of a similar model in #4 (Fair) condition, proving once again the power of McQueen’s stardom—and Shea’s love for Hollywood icons. In 2011, he paid more than $500,000 for a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 that appeared in all three segments of the Back to the Future trilogy.
“I’d buy more,” Shea said in a six-year-old YouTube video about the DeLorean, “but I like being married.”
Shea, who owns several McQueen motorcycles, wrote “HELL YEAH BABY!” in the comments section when the McQueen Firebird auction closed and he was declared the winner. Congratulatory messages from other users followed, as did notes of surprise from some about the amount that Shea was willing to pay for a car in that state, McQueen-adjacent or otherwise. This is just the latest sale among many that shows how strong the McQueen factor can be—as we’ve noted in the Hagerty Power List. This Trans Am was, after all, the last special car associated with the noted-car-guy actor; The Hunter was released in August 1980, and McQueen died three months later.
According to Bring a Trailer, VIN #29N100008 remained in the Pontiac Motor Division show car fleet following its assembly in November 1978, but it was sold a year later to Paramount Pictures and used as a stunt vehicle in the McQueen film. It was one of two cars used for an explosion scene, explaining its condition (including missing body panels and burns to the passenger side of the dashboard), and it was gifted to a farmer in Illinois as compensation for aiding the crew in the production of the movie. The Firebird was stored in the farmer’s barn for nearly 40 years before it was obtained by the seller in 2018.
Among the car’s features are a non-running 403-cubic-inch V-8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission and Safe-T-Track limited-slip differential, along with the WS6 Special Performance Package, which added power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, a quick-ratio steering box, and a larger sway bar.
The Firebird’s camel-colored vinyl dash features a 100-mph speedometer, a 6000-rpm tachometer, auxiliary gauges, inset analog clock, and a five-digit odometer that shows 1300 miles. The Firebird also has bucket seats and snowflake-style, 15-inch wheels with gold accents and 225/70 Goodyear Polysteel Radial white-letter tires. (The seller notes that the front right tire does not hold air, though we expect that’s not a major concern.)
Originally painted Nocturne Blue, the car was repainted black for The Hunter; the factory paint is visible on the rear fascia. The frame rails were modified with slides, hooks, and chains at the firewall to prepare for the explosion scene. After filming was complete, the car was stripped of its rear spoiler, side mirrors, wheel center caps, and badges. Other defects include a damaged three-spoke steering wheel (which is missing its adjustment lever), rust holes in the floor, and rodent damage to the rear bench seat. The car is also missing side panels, carpeting, overhead lighting, seat belts, and AM/FM radio. Of course, these are all likely of little concern, as restoration is probably not on the docket for this car.
Sale of the Firebird includes the build sheet, a copy of the original window sticker, documentation from Paramount Pictures and Pontiac Historical Services, a 30-foot-long dual-axle trailer, and large vinyl banners and cardboard cutouts of McQueen, which the previous owner displayed at car shows.
The Firebird does not have a title, but it likely won’t need one, since its “as-is” movie condition is likely of considerable value to Shea, who is clearly thrilled with his new acquisition. “We love our movie crash cars!” he wrote, to which one BaT commenter joked, “Good luck with your wife.”
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To each their own I guess. But for the money I could have bought a completely restored third gen. Nova SS I had my eye on AND built a garage to put it in.
On a website dedicated to people who collect old cars, people are diving in complaining about the price of one old car. Value is subjective, so is desirability. Bill didn’t overpay because someone was counter-bidding. Will the value stay the same? Who knows. He is happy and that is the point of collecting old cars.
Yeah, If I had Money like that I would buy every Edsel I could find. I loved those cars.
Does it come with a rotisserie restoration?
It’s cool that it was a movie car but all I can think is how Pontiac absolutely screwed the pooch on the redesigned front bumper and grill on that car. Bleh.
if you got the money, why not. I want to know who was the second high bidder? He or she is probably thinking, aww…. just another $500 more and that trans am would have been mine!!
Shaking my head here. Maybe $20k max plus another $50k to restore it.
A few people bidders were hitting the adult beverage when this was ending in the last hour imo.
Seems like a bargain compared to the $3.78 million paid for the Bullitt Mustang. However the Mustang was running and driving.
I believe in everyone’s right to spend their money how they please, but as a car blown up in a stunt, did McQueen even drive it?
GUY JUST HAS TOO MUCH MONEY TO WASTE
I have the original carburetor if he wants to buy it for $15K dollars, It was taken off the motor by Steve McQueen himself but its missing parts. Maybe has Steve’s greasy fingerprints on it.
Looks like it’s already been parted out. The expression, ‘There’s a sucker born every minute’ is irrelevant to the fact that the suckers can be recycled.
Economics 101: Economic value can also be the maximum price or amount of money that someone is willing to pay for a good. As a result, economic value can be higher than market value. The economic value is the amount an individual is willing to pay for a good while considering the money could be spent elsewhere.
This “good” is for well to do individuals. Poor folks need not apply.
Just out of curiosity Hagerty, what is the monthly to insure this ‘classic’?
I get the value that was placed on the Bullitt Mustang. An Iconic car from an iconic movie and a car actually driven by McQueen. This thing has about as much connection to McQueen as the Plymouth police cruiser in the film still above.
Also; “gifted” is not a word. Gift is a noun, not a verb. ‘Was given as a gift’ would be correct. Lets try to preserve our language shall we?
A fool and his money shall soon part.