Paul Newman’s 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra race car sold for $935,000 at Mecum’s first Nashville auction in late September. The Paul Newman Mustang, known as “Nobody’s Fool,” ranked second among all cars at the sale, according to Mecum. It came from the Roush Automotive Collection and carried a class win from the 1995 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

That result put a 31-year-old IMSA race car ahead of several modern Ford GTs and a 1965 Aston Martin DB5. It also shows how much a documented race history can add to a car’s value. Here is what sold, what the car did at Daytona and how it reached the block.

Second Place at Mecum’s First Nashville Sale

Mecum held the auction at Nashville Superspeedway, its first sale in Middle Tennessee. The company says strong consignment demand stretched the event to five auction days. In the end, 1,750 vehicles crossed the block. Mecum also reports a 75% sell-through rate, and it expects that figure to rise as its Bid Goes On department closes post-auction deals.

According to Mecum’s results release, dated October 1, a 2024 Ferrari 812 Competizione Aperta led the sale at $4,050,000. Next came the “1995 Ford Mustang Cobra ‘Nobody’s Fool’ IMSA Road Race Car, driven by Paul Newman,” at $935,000. So the Mustang was the top Ford of the auction, but not the top car overall.

The rest of Mecum’s top five stayed with Ford. A 1997 Mustang Cobra SCCA Trans-Am car brought $825,000. Then a 2020 Ford GT Mk II sold for $792,000, and a 2005 Ford GT went for $770,000. Further down, the 1965 Aston Martin DB5 sold for $605,000, in ninth place.

How the Paul Newman Mustang Won Its Class at Daytona

The car earned its reputation in a single race. According to Old Cars Weekly, it “earned a GTS-1 class victory and third-place overall finish at the 1995 Rolex 24 at Daytona.” Old Cars Weekly also identifies it as Roush Racing Chassis No. 23.

Newman did not drive alone, of course. Old Cars Weekly lists his co-drivers as Tommy Kendall and Mark Martin. Meanwhile, Motorious adds a fourth name, Michael Brockman, to the driver lineup. Both outlets agree on the class win and the third-place overall finish.

Why It Carried the Number 70

The name on the car came from Hollywood. Paramount Pictures sponsored the entry, Old Cars Weekly reports, “using leftover marketing funds from Newman’s film ‘Nobody’s Fool.’” As a result, the white Mustang wore the movie’s title on its bodywork.

The number had a personal meaning, too. According to Old Cars Weekly, the No. 70 Mustang “celebrated Newman’s 70th birthday.” Writing for Modern Car Collector on Yahoo Autos, John Lloyd notes that Newman turned 70 in January 1995. Motorious likewise calls the number “a nod to Newman’s 70th birthday, which he had just celebrated.” So the Paul Newman Mustang marked a birthday as much as a race entry.

What Was Under the Body

Roush built the engine as well as the car. In its preview of the sale, Motorious describes a “naturally aspirated 6.0-liter Roush-built V8.” It adds that the engine was said to “make somewhere around 750 horsepower,” so treat that output as an estimate rather than a dyno figure.

The car also has a restoration story. According to Motorious, it “received fresh body panels for display after the race.” However, it “has since been reunited with its original, dirt-caked components.” It kept its white livery, the “Nobody’s Fool” branding and the number 70.

Out of the Roush Collection

The Mustang was one of two headline race cars from the same consignor. Mecum’s release calls them “two significant race cars from the Jack Roush Automotive Collection.” The other was the 1997 Mustang Cobra Trans-Am car, which brought $825,000.

For buyers, that made the Nashville sale an unusual chance. Old Cars Weekly says the Roush Automotive Collection was being offered to the public for the first time. In the end, the Newman car brought $330,000 more than the DB5, as Modern Car Collector points out. It finished as Mecum’s second-highest result of the sale, at $935,000.

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This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.