Paul Newman's Corvette-powered Volvo wagon is a fast and famous family car for sale
"Volvette" was a gift from his racing team
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Paul Newman was never typecast during his career, but he had a type when it came to cars.
The Hollywood legend and avid automobile racer owned a string of sedate-looking Volvo station wagons that he used as his daily drivers.
But they were just acting the part.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Newman owned a racing team and the crew modified the Volvos with high-performance engines as gifts, turning them into what's known as "sleepers" that combine speed with stealth.
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Newman's 1988 Volvo 740 sold for $80,740. (Bring A Trailer)
One of these, a 1988 Volvo 740 powered by a turbocharged V6 from a Buick Grand National muscle car, was auctioned in March for $80,740, which is $20,000 more than the starting price of a new Volvo wagon today.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Newman's racing team built his custom Volvos. (Getty Images/Brian Cleary and RM Sotheby's)
The last one that was built is now up for auction, and also features an all-American motor.
The 1998 Volvo V90 has a GM crate V8 similar to the engine in the Corvette. (RM Sotheby's)
The 1998 V90 "Volvette" has a 6.0-liter V8, like the contemporary Chevrolet Corvette's, with around 400 hp, more than twice that of the stock V90's straight-six.
The car features a four-speed automatic transmission. (RM Sotheby's)
It was also equipped with a GM four-speed automatic transmission to send power to the rear wheels and front suspension parts from a Porsche 911 to improve its handling.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Newman's team affixed a plaque to the dashboard. (RM Sotheby's)
A plaque affixed to the dashboard reads: To PLN. This Should Get You To The Grid On Time. From The Team.
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The vehicle was gifted to Newman in 2007, the year before he died at 83.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Newman used the Volvos as daily drivers. (RM Sotheby's)
The car is now being offered for auction by RM Sotheby's as part of a collection of Newman's automotive artifacts, which includes the trophy he won for finishing first in class at the 1997 Daytona 24 Hours at the record age of 70.
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The pre-auction estimate for the car was just $20,000 to $25,000, but online bidding had already reached $40,000 at the time this story was published and is not scheduled to close until June 13.