Violet Lander molecules (long molecular wires with legs) are deposited on the nanostructured Cu(211) surface at 325 K and 177 K and investigated by low temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy. Selective population of (311) steps and local surface restructuring are observed for molecules adsorbed with their axis parallel to intrinsic steps. Thanks to the good matching between molecular dimensions and surface corrugation, molecules oriented perpendicularly to the steps assume conformations which allow tunnelling also through the molecular wire. The molecular wire terminations are hence self-contacted to the Cu(211) surface native (211) and (311) step edges. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.