Porsche 935 '79 LM Class Winner 1/24 - Beemax

Background

By 1979, Paul Newman was already a Hollywood icon, but his passion for racing had grown since filming Winning in 1969. At age 54, Newman made his Le Mans debut with Dick Barbour Racing, piloting a Porsche 935—a Group 5 silhouette racer derived from the 911 Turbo.

The Car

• Model: Porsche 935 (Chassis 009 0030)
• Specs: 3.0L twin-turbo flat-six, up to 630 hp, aerodynamic body optimized for endurance racing.
• Livery: Sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic, making it one of the most recognizable cars on the grid.
• Production: One of roughly 30 customer 935s built by Porsche.

The Race

• Drivers: Paul Newman, Dick Barbour (team owner), and Rolf Stommelen (experienced German racer).
• Result: 2nd overall and 1st in IMSA class, an extraordinary achievement for a privateer team against factory-backed entries.
• Drama: Newman’s team nearly challenged for outright victory but lost time due to a jammed wheel nut during a pit stop.
• Significance: Newman became the oldest driver to finish on the podium at Le Mans at that time, cementing his reputation as a serious racer rather than a celebrity hobbyist.