Steve McQueen might have been the star of 1971 race flick Le Mans, but it’s his co-star that took much of the acclaim. The 1970 Porsche 917 K is front and center throughout the film and one of the most famous movie cars to ever hit the big screen. It’s also up for auction via RM Sotheby’s next month and is expected to fetch top dollar.

“During the golden era of motorsport, the most famous and fearless drivers were sometimes equated to rock stars or Hollywood celebrities. For only the most exceptional examples, this same equation proved true for the racing cars themselves,” says auction house RM Sotheby’s. “Permanently preserved on celluloid in perhaps the most accurate depiction of sports car racing that will ever be attempted on-screen, this example co-starred in Steve McQueen’s seminal 1971 feature Le Mans, using footage shot during the 1970 Le Mans race.”

RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s

When McQueen signed on to star in this realistic portrayal of the 24-hour race he insisted on using an actual race car, with the Porsche 917 K serving as his choice of vehicle. The footage of the Porsche racing in the movie was actually shot during the running of the real 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970. Drivers David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood managed to get as high as third place in the race before crashing with 49 laps to go on the rain-drenched Circuit de la Sarthe.

Despite the damage, the car was rebuilt and continued to race, this time driven by the reigning Interserie Champion Jürgen Neuhaus. The car performed well before finally being retired in 1974. It was owned by several people over the years before being purchased by a private collector in 2012. This fella restored the Porsche to its original Gulf-liveried Le Mans coupe condition, spending an absolute fortune.