The Making of Steve McQueens „Le Mans“

Original photographs from behind the scenes during the making of Steve McQueens legendary Hollywood classic „Le Mans“ in Summer 1970.

Freundlicherweise zur Verfügung gestellt vom US-Verlag Dalton Watson Fine Books
1730 Christopher Drive, Deerfield, Illinois, USA

https://www.daltonwatson.com/

1 Steve greets his team
Restaging the apron before the race. This is the shot Steve refused to do on race day when he had thousands of free extras.

2 No. 25: Austrian Favourite
The cars are lined up on the tarmac for the movie version of the start of the race.

3 In a hurry
Getting ready to ride with Steve down the track on a pair of Kawasaki motorcycles I had promoted for the set.

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4 The fastest camera in the world
Solar's Porsche 908/2, car #29, on the tarmac prior to the start of the race. The cameras were mounted under the custom cowling front and back. Directly behind are two John Wyer Porsches and two Ferraris.

5 Let's race!
Steve putting on Nomex face protector surrounded by the press and French gendarmes.

6 Preparing for the start
Cars being pushed out to their starting positions.

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7 Heartbeat!
Today McQueen and Le Mans are considered an iconic match by racing and cinema buffs.

8 The start
Honorary Marshal, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, drops the flag and the race begins. Shot from behind one of John Wyer's Porsche 917S.

9 To the limit
John Wyer Gulf Porsche 917K, car #21, driven by Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen. They finished only 22 laps, placing 48th overall.

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10 911 Accident
Filming the re-staged crash. Drivers leaving Porsche 911 and yellow Ferrari 512S, car #11. Alfa Romeo T33/3, car #35, and Matra-Simca MS650, car #30, are flagged by, followed closely behind by Ferrari 512S.

11 Porsche-Duell
Jo Siffert and Brian Redman in Porsche 917K, car#20, followed closely by Porsche 917L, car #25 with Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens, Jr.

12 Fast pit stop
Re-staging a late pit stop for Ferrari 512S, car #8. The grime on the car indicates the stage of the race. One day they'd need to be clean, the next day dirty, and vice versa. Matching these cars as the race progressed was a difficult task.

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13 Steve relaxing on Ferrari 512S
Steve resting on a Ferrari between takes.

14 Beautiful 917K
Steve in Porsche 917K, car #22. Ferrari 512S, car #8, against the pit wall. If you look closely you can spot Derek Bell (facing the camera) standing next to a Shell technician.

15 Steve behind 917 door
Steve looks over the door of his Gulf-Porsche 917K.

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16 Seconds to go
The official Time clock shows 4:00 p.m. at the start of the race

17 What a look!
The intensity in Steve's eyes burns through as he waits for the flag to drop and the race to start.

18 The whole field
As the flag drops, the cars roar into action led by the eventual winner, #23 Porsche 917K.

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19 Steve in the pits
Steve walks through the Porsche pit to pick up his helmet and head for his 917.

20 Close to racing
Cars in starting grid to re-stage the start of the race.

21 Chatting through a pause
Steve making small talk with fellow actors an mechanics.

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22 Actors and drivers
Steve and Derek Bell enjoy a Coca-Cola between shots. Gino Cassani, who played the Ferrari team manager, is on the right.

23 Steve enjoying the pits
Steve talking to Lee Katzin (in the blue suit) about the next set up.

24 Steve having a break with #20
Recreating a night pit stop. Steve sits on his Porsche 917K. The car was aged to correspond with the time in the race.

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25 In the rain
Martini racing team Porsche 908/2L, car #27, with Rudi Lins and Dr. Helmut Marko (finished 3rd overall) leading the Ferrari 312P, car #57, of Tony Adamowicz and Chuck Parsons.

26 They are coming!
Cars stacked up as they enter the Ford chicane. The chicane was added to slow down the cars before they neared the grandstand and the pit area.

27 Sturges & McQueen & #20
John Sturges and Steve relax on the track in front of a Porsche 917, when they were still speaking.

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28 Let it rain
We use our movie magic to create rain for the filming of a Ferrari pit stop.

29 Even with sunglasses: What a look!
Steve had no trouble with the ladies.

30 Multiple Ferrari
Ferrari-Mix-Overlapping-Photo

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