Steve McQueen’s Oklahoma connection

I always wondered how Route 66 Vintage Iron in Miami, Okla., managed to acquire one of movie star Steve McQueen’s motorcycles. McQueen’s bio has him in Missouri, Indiana and California, but not the Sooner State.

NWAOnline answers the question:

McQueen, who starred in films like “The Magnificent Seven,” “Hell is for Heroes” and “Bullitt,” had no connection with Miami. But concert and boxing promoter Tony Holden did.

“He’s from here originally, and when he started collecting motorcycles, he just wanted to do something neat for Miami,” says Chris Martin, curator of Route 66 Vintage Iron. The museum, which opened in May 2006, has since grown to include a retail building next door filled with collectibles, logo merchandise and biker leather.

The motorcycle that McQueen owned was a 1971 Husqvarna.

By the way, Route 66 Vintage Iron reports that this year — its third — was its best-ever for the number of visitors.

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