American Celebrity Adam Carrola’s $4.4 Million Porsche Race Car

A Movie Star, A Race Car, And A Comedian

American TV host, comedian, film producer, podcaster, and entrepreneur Adam Carolla put a whopping $4.4 million for this Porsche 935. It is this same car that acclaimed rally driver Paul Newman and co-drivers Dick Barbour and Rolf Stommelen, steered to an outstanding second place-overall best in 1979 while it won the best in its class.

It would go ahead to race in an incredible 71 more races, winning the 1981 24 Hours Daytona as well as the Sebring’s 12 Hours in 1983. But the history between Carolla and Newman has several intertwining points that are very interesting for car enthusiasts.

To start with, Carolla became the leading collector of Newman’s collectibles by default and at a time when no one else seemed interested in Newman’s stuff. Paul Leonard Newman, had made a name in the movie industry acting in big box office record breakers, but the vehicles he had driven on tracks never seemed to attract similar attention.

But when Carolla realized that no one was competing with him to bid for Newman’s cars, he set his eyes on acquiring more. By the time Newman died at the age of 83, Carolla had acquired a commendable 10 cars and a whole lot of paraphernalia including race suits, helmets, gloves and all.

He had become the ultimate of Newman’s car collector. Carolla doesn’t collect them for the sake of it but ensures that they remain in pristine condition for racing. And racing he does!

The 1979 Porsche 935 is therefore just part of an interesting story with a deep history. Carolla bought it at an auction in Monterrey where the hammer fell at $4.4 million.

He observed that it was the most expensive he’d ever put in an auction but called it “his chance” arguing that the car would even be more expensive if he would have to buy it from someone else after the auction.