I love films. Well, more specifically I’m fascinated by how films are made. I count myself fortunate to have had a career that is at least somewhat connected to the process of putting pictures in motion, but for most of us the only way to physically engage with this passion is through the collection of movie memorabilia. For film buffs who are also hopeless gear heads, vehicles that held a starring role in film or television may be the ultimate collectible. If you’re one of these enthusiasts whose interests include horsepower and Hollywood, then you shouldn’t miss the upcoming Julien’s “Movies & Motorcars” Auction.

On Thursday, November 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, Julien’s Auctions (in collaboration with Turner Classic Movies) is hosting its “Movies & Motorcars” event. The venue for this crossover of cinema and automotive culture is the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles—a fitting location given its status as one of the premier institutions for car design and history. With some 131 lots listed (including items beyond vehicles), the auction promises a mix of star-owned machines, screen-used vehicles and automobilia.

In total, Julien’s is auctioning 15 vehicle lots in their event, meaning most of the auction centers on automotive and film memorabilia. In the list below, I’ve chosen my top picks from the lots, however you can view the entire vehicle catalog here.

Scant information is presented on the nature of this car’s feature film roles, but it’s said to have appeared with a young Sydney Sweeney in the 2016 horror film Cassidy Way. The numbers-matching Corvette rocks a L79 327 small block under the hood and rare silver paint. Mileage is said to be 63,874. Estimated at $80,000-100,000, the car is bid to $27,500 as of this writing.

A one-of-a-kind supercar built in 1986 to the specifications of the 7’1″ basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain, this vehicle features a General Motors V8, BMW ZF 5-speed transmission, aerodynamic bodywork by Lyncar in England, and was designed to be capable of over 200 mph. The pre-sale estimate is $300,000-500,000.

Steve McQueen famously competed in motorcycle racing and was frequently photographed enjoying his Husqvarna bikes on the dunes or in the desert. This bike has accompanying records showing it was owned by McQueen and has been restored. The pre-sale estimate is $40,000-60,000 and the bike is already bid to the low estimate, so expect this one to reach big numbers.

Perhaps one of the more attainable lots, at least based on the estimate, this 2015 GSX-S750 is said to have been used in the production of John Wick: Chapter 2. The catalog notes this particular example is screen-matched to the bike that crashes into Wick’s Chevy Chevelle. The pre-sale estimate is $8,000-10,000.

I personally prefer the 1936 Ford Model 68 Convertible driven by Jack Nicholson in Chinatown, but this 1948 Fleetmaster Convertible was also driven by Nicholson in the follow-up film The Two Jakes (1980) and later donated by the actor to the Petersen Museum. The estimate is US$40,000-60,000.

While no on-screen provenance is noted, this Jaguar E-Type 2+2 was personally owned and driven by the prolific and Academy Award-winning actor Jack Lemmon. The sleek British coupe is powered by a 4.2 litre XK straight-six with automatic transmission and finished in silver with red leather interior. Total mileage is indicated as under 71,500. The estimate: US$40,000-60,000.

It’s certainly not high cinema, but the 2003 movie Paycheck is pretty watchable, especially if you’re a fan of science fiction films with a lot of action. This is the hero bike used in the film and piloted by protagonist Michael Jennings, played by Ben Affleck. Uma Thurman rode behind Ben in her role as Rachel. One cool tid-bit: The key to the bike was specially created by the props department to obscure the fact that it belonged to a motorcycle in service to the plot. No word on whether the key is included with the bike, unfortunately. The pre-sale estimate is $6,000-8,000.

Steve McQueen is perhaps the actor most associated with automobiles and racing, above others such as Paul Newman, James Garner, James Dean, Patrick Dempsey and more. It’s no surprise that much of the auction caters to memorabilia from McQueen and his films. You’ll find a few highlighted lots worth watching in the list below.

This motorcycle is a factory-built alcohol-fueled flat-tracker purchased by McQueen stunt double Bud Elkins for the actor, who rode it on his Santa Paula ranch and owned it until his passing in 1980. The pre-sale estimate is $125,000-150,000 and the bike is already bid to the low estimate with the reserve met.

The King of Cool popularized this style of sunglasses, famously wearing a pair in the stylish film The Thomas Crown Affair. Included with a vintage Persol case and featuring brown lenses, the lot includes a note from McQueen’s optician attesting to their authenticity. The current bid is $17,500 against an estimate of $20,000-30,000.

This jacket was apparently gifted to makeup artist Wes Dawn by Steve McQueen and is similar to the one the actor wore during production of his iconic film Le Mans. The jacket is estimated at $50,000-70,000 and is currently bid to $20,000. That’s a lot of cheddar for a piece of outerwear, proving anything touched by McQueen is gold to collectors.

The stand-out lots from Julien’s “Movies & Motorcars” Auction are probably those associated with Le Mans or Steve McQueen himself, but there are some gems from other productions and a slew of interesting racing memorabilia in the catalog. If you have the scratch to bid, I recommend taking a look at the lots crossing the block later this week. Even if you’re not well-heeled, you may be able to snap up a cool conversation piece for your garage for under $1,000.

Have a great week, everyone.

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisals, and auction services for buyers and sellers of collector European cars. If you’re interested in acquiring an overseas car, give us a call or drop a line!