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Interview with Matt Stone

What prompted you to write McQueen’s Machines?

I'm disappointed at what is considered a celebrity car guy these days. A B-list TV star or an athlete that takes their Suburban to a TV show for cool wheels and the latest iPod jack is just PR fodder for dumb, so-called "reality" TV. Guys like McQueen, Paul Newman, and others were serious. Over about 25 years, McQueen owned cars that would make a world class collection, at least 200 motorcycles, raced cars and bikes, and built entire films around them. This was a part of his life and makeup.

What will readers find in this book that has never been seen before?

There are more than 20 McQueen books in print, and all but a few just nibble around the corners of his passion for cars, bikes, and racing. We focus on that, exclusively. And the photos are mind-blowing, several of which have never been published before.  

What made Steve McQueen someone that everybody wanted to be like?

He was the essence of cool. A man's man and a lady's man. Far from perfect, he had his many moods, and a complex personality to say the least. But he was naturally handsome, athletic, and had mountains of ambition and style. There was nothing phony about him. Always, the King of Cool. 

Why did he love cars?

I believe it was for his genuine appreciation for anything mechanical, especially if it had a motor. He loved the thrill of driving a hot car or riding a bike. He also had an extremely competitive nature, and since cars and bikes were something you could compete with, they were natural extensions of his personality.

What were some of his favorites that are featured in the book?

The Jaguar XKSS, his Ferrari 250 Lusso, and his '58 Porsche Speedster seemed to be three that he is most commonly identified with. He sold the Jag and Porsche, yet over time, bought them both back. 

What are your favorites in the book?

The Jag for sure, his slate gray '69 Porsche 911S, his Mini Cooper S, and the Porsche 908 that he raced at Sebring which later became a camera car for the filming of Le Mans. Plus his one-of-ten Ferrari 275 NART Spyder.

What did Steve McQueen and his cars represent in American culture?

Primarily, the legitimacy of him as a car and bike guy. He had the interest, the taste, and the wherewithal to have great cars and bikes, and enjoyed them. He also lived it through the golden eras of the late 50s through the early 70s. 

Why should reviewers pass on the other books and make McQueen’s Machines a must to review?

It is built on the part of his life that no other book has covered in detail before. Plus the photos—both new and archival—are just amazing, even if there was no text.

Tell me about the photography in the book.

The book contains a lot of never-before published shots. Many photos have come from the McQueen family photo albums, and really make the thing sing.