Actor Paul Newman took up motorsports in his late forties, launching a successful second career that would span more than three decades and garner multiple podium finishes. Generous-hearted, Newman was known to share his motorsports passion with others. The Legends race car offered here is a testament to that, said to have been used to sponsor young drivers.

Legends racing began in the early 1990s in an effort by NASCAR officials to create a highly competitive, low-cost spec series. The cars are powered by engines from Yamaha motorcycles, including the FJ1200, XJ1250 and, more recently, the FZ09. The bodies are 5/8-scale replicas of American automobiles from the 1930s and ’40s. Competitions take place on asphalt and dirt in multiple countries. In the United States, Legends racing has four divisions to accommodate various skill levels and ages, with the Young Lions Division designated for drivers from ages 12 to 16.

This Legends race car features what appears to be Ford coupe-styled bodywork over a Yamaha FJ1200 air-cooled, inline, four-cylinder engine. It still carries the spec-series’ complement of safety features, including multi-point harness, integrated roll cage, fuel cell, and fire extinguisher. The car is said to have been raced over the years by a couple of people within Newman’s circle and is now offered in its original livery, replete with the actor’s initials, “P. L. N.,” above the doors.