Paul Newman-modified 1988 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon up for auction

The late actor and race automobile driver Paul Newman had a factor for modified Volvo wagons, and a type of vehicles is now up for public sale on Carry a Trailer.

The automobile in query is a 1988 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon with an engine that originated in Flint, Michigan, not Gothenburg, Sweden. It is the turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 from a Buick Grand Nationwide, and it drives the rear wheels by way of a 5-speed handbook transmission sourced from a Pontiac Firebird.

The engine swap was completed in 1988 by HESCO Engineering of Birmingham, Alabama, in keeping with the public sale itemizing. That firm was run by Lee Hurley, who constructed engines for NASCAR stars Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, and Neil Bonnet, the vendor provides in a touch upon the itemizing. Different modifications reportedly embody an engine tuning chip, an electrical cooling fan, a bigger oil cooler, and a customized exhaust system, whereas a subsequent proprietor reportedly added a brand new air consumption and a Bosch gas pump.

The outside has some delicate modifications as properly, together with a physique package, 16-inch Gemini wheels, and reducing springs. The black leather-based inside additionally has a Sony CD participant—the newest in-car audio expertise in 1988—and an eight-speaker sound system.

Newman owned the Volvo from 1988 to 1998 and put simply over 59,000 miles on it, in keeping with the vendor, who claims it now has 76,000 miles. It is being supplied with a clear Illinois title within the vendor’s identify, plus a photocopy of a Connecticut title in Newman’s identify to show the actor’s possession.

Whereas largely related to Datsun/Nissan in racing, Newman owned a number of modified Volvos. After this automobile was constructed, Newman commissioned three extra Volvo wagons, this time with supercharged Ford V-8s, in keeping with the vendor. He even satisfied David Letterman to get his personal supercharged V-8 Volvo 960 wagon, which appeared on an episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Vehicles Getting Espresso.”