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Unveiling the Legacy: Steve McQueen’s 1957 Jaguar XKSS and the Spirit of the Hollywood Hills
Few figures in cinema history command the same mythical status as Steve McQueen. His on-screen persona—cool, conflicted, and undeniably magnetic—was inextricably linked to a genuine passion for speed and machinery. While his filmography boasts iconic chase sequences in Mustangs and Porsches, his personal garage housed something far rarer and more intimate: a 1957 Jaguar XKSS. This legendary machine, chassis number XK.SS.713, wasn’t just a prop; it was a testament to McQueen’s dual nature—the Hollywood star and the hardcore racer. Today, as we look back at the enduring allure of this automotive icon, we delve into its storied past, its connection to the legendary Mulholland Drive, and what a modern interpretation of this legendary car might look like in 2026.
The Enduring Mystique of the King of Cool
Even decades after his untimely passing, Steve McQueen remains an indelible symbol of rugged individualism and rebellious charisma. Born Terrence Steven McQueen, he navigated a turbulent youth marked by poverty and institutionalization, only to rise through the ranks of theater and film to become one of the highest-paid actors of his generation. His screen presence was electric, characterized by a steely gaze and an enigmatic intensity that captivated audiences worldwide.
McQueen’s personal life was as complex as his on-screen characters. He oscillated between profound generosity and volatile temper, a duality that only enhanced his legend. He was a man of contradictions—a pacifist who relished high-octane pursuits, a recluse who commanded global attention. This inherent tension made him the perfect embodiment of the “bad boy” archetype, a figure who could break hearts and shatter expectations with equal measure.
Yet, beyond the silver screen, McQueen’s true passion lay with the roar of an engine. Cars and motorcycles were not mere accessories; they were extensions of his very soul. From the iconic motorcycle stunts in The Great Escape to the visceral intensity of the dune buggy chase in The Thomas Crown Affair, McQueen brought an authenticity to his automotive roles that few actors could match. Films like Bullitt and Le Mans transcended simple storytelling, becoming defining moments in automotive cinematic history. Bullitt, with its legendary San Francisco chase, cemented McQueen’s status as the ultimate car enthusiast, while Le Mans offered a raw, unvarnished glimpse into the brutal world of endurance racing.
His commitment to the latter was profound. McQueen wasn’t content to simply play a racer; he wanted to be one. His participation in the 1970 Sebring 12-hour enduro, co-driving a Porsche 908/2 with Peter Revson, remains a testament to his competitive spirit. Despite competing with a foot in a cast, he and Revson pushed the aging Porsche to an incredible second-place finish, only narrowly losing to a factory Ferrari. This performance underscored a hard truth: had he chosen a different path, McQueen might have enjoyed a formidable career as a professional race driver.
The Golden Age of Jaguar Racing
To understand the significance of McQueen’s XKSS, one must first appreciate the dominance of Jaguar in the 1950s. This was an era when the British marque, under the visionary leadership of Sir William Lyons, was a dominant force in sports car racing. While Ferrari commanded respect and Aston Martin often held its own, it was Jaguar’s XK series that repeatedly conquered the most demanding circuits in the world.
The foundation of this success was the legendary XK engine, a sophisticated DOHC inline-six that combined elegance with brute force. This powerplant powered Jaguar’s racing dynasty, including the iconic C-Type and its successor, the D-Type. The D-Type, introduced in 1954, was a masterpiece of aerodynamic efficiency and engineering prowess. It featured a revolutionary monocoque chassis, a design innovation that separated the passenger cell from the tubular front frame structure, providing exceptional rigidity and lightweight performance.
With its sleek, aerodynamic body penned by Malcolm Sayer and its potent 3.4-liter XK engine producing around 250 horsepower, the D-Type was a formidable weapon on the track. It secured victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955, 1956, and 1957, establishing a legacy of endurance racing dominance that remains legendary to this day. The D-Type wasn’t merely a race car; it was a rolling sculpture, a testament to the marriage of form and function.
The Birth of the XKSS
By the late 1950s, the racing landscape was evolving. Stricter regulations, particularly the 3.0-liter engine displacement limit for 1958, began to curtail the D-Type’s outright competitiveness against newer, more powerful rivals like the Ferrari Testa Rossa. Jaguar, having fulfilled its factory racing commitments, found itself with a surplus of D-Type chassis and components.
Rather than letting this valuable inventory languish, Jaguar conceived a brilliant solution: convert these competition machines into road-legal sports cars. This wasn’t a mere cosmetic exercise; it was a conversion that transformed track dominance into streetable performance. The resulting creation was the Jaguar XKSS, a car that blurred the lines between race car and grand tourer.
The transformation involved several key modifications. A full-width windscreen replaced the rudimentary aero screens of the D-Type, offering a modicum of weather protection. A functional, if compact, soft top and a luggage rack were added to the rear deck, replacing the D-Type’s iconic dorsal fin. Removable side curtains provided further enclosure, while a street-legal exhaust system, complete with heat shielding, tamed the raw exhaust note—though it remained anything but quiet.
Internally, the XKSS retained its race-bred DNA. Two upholstered seats replaced the D-Type’s minimalist cockpit, and practical additions like passenger-side door and corner bumpers enhanced its road manners. Production was limited, with only 16 examples ever built. These cars were essentially hand-finished, each receiving individual attention that elevated them beyond standard production vehicles.
The story of XKSS chassis number 569, which would later become chassis number 713, is particularly compelling. Originally constructed in 1957 as a D-Type for the Ecurie Ecosse team, it was later converted to XKSS specifications. Imported to the United States by Jaguar Cars North America in April 1957, it arrived in left-hand drive configuration despite its British origins. Its first owner was James Peterson, a building contractor involved in the development of Riverside International Raceway. This initial connection to motorsports set the stage for the car’s future destiny.
A Star is Born: McQueen and the Green Rat
Peterson soon sold the XKSS to Bill Leyden, a local radio and television personality whose studio on Sunset Boulevard often served as a backdrop for automotive enthusiasts. It was here, amidst the glitz and glamour of 1950s Hollywood, that a young, ambitious actor first laid eyes on the Jaguar. Steve McQueen, already making a name for himself with his gritty performances, was captivated by the car’s raw beauty and aggressive stance.
Most accounts suggest McQueen purchased the XKSS in 1958, reportedly for around $4,000. This marked the beginning of a legendary association between man and machine. McQueen, known for his hands-on approach to his vehicles, immediately began to personalize the car. He eschewed the factory’s lighter paint scheme for a deep, rich British Racing Green, a color that perfectly complemented the car’s sporting pedigree.
The interior also received McQueen’s signature touch. Esteemed SoCal drag racer and upholsterer Tony Nancy retrimmed the cockpit in black leather, creating a luxurious yet purposeful environment. Perhaps the most telling modification was the addition of a metal glovebox door, crafted by the legendary pinstriper Von Dutch. This seemingly minor detail served a practical purpose: to secure McQueen’s sunglasses during spirited drives, preventing them from flying out of the open cubby during hard acceleration. It was a testament to the car’s dual role—a showpiece that was meant to be driven hard.
McQueen affectionately nicknamed the car the “Green Rat,” a moniker that perfectly captured its unpretentious character despite its significant pedigree. Photographs from this era show McQueen intimately involved with the car, performing mechanical work and enjoying it on the open road. The Green Rat was more than just a possession; it was a companion, a confidant, and a symbol of his burgeoning success and his enduring passion for speed.
The Mulholland Drive Legend
The Green Rat’s most iconic chapter unfolded on the winding roads of Mulholland Drive. This legendary stretch of pavement, snaking along the ridge of the Hollywood Hills, served as McQueen’s personal playground. It was here, often in the dead of night between midnight and 4 a.m., that McQueen would unleash the XKSS, testing its limits and reveling in the pure joy of driving.
Mulholland was the perfect amphitheater for McQueen’s automotive theater. With the sprawling expanse of Los Angeles laid out below like a glittering carpet, and the nearby studios serving as constant reminders of his profession, the road offered both solitude and spectacle. It was a place where he could shed the constraints of fame and simply be a driver, a gearhead pursuing the perfect apex.
Dick Messer, director of the Petersen Automotive Museum and a contemporary of McQueen, recalls the distinctive sound of the Green Rat echoing through the hills. “People who lived up in the Hollywood Hills would hear the Jag coming and say, ‘Yep, there goes McQueen.’
