As one of the top-rated running backs in the NFL’s nearly 100-year history, the Chicago Bears’ Walter Payton is an undeniable legend, and so were his cars. The very first collector car he ever purchased, his professed favorite and the one he owned the longest is now slated to cross the Mecum auction block at the company’s Chicago 2018 auction this Oct. 25-27. Payton’s stunning silver 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo (Lot S134), today owned by his son Jarrett and showing just 9,950 miles on its odometer, will join the 1,000-car lineup at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center to be offered for sale on Saturday, Oct. 27.
“This was his first sports car,” Jarrett Payton explained. “This was the first big-name sports car that he bought. He bought it in 1979, the year before I was born. He got into the league in ’75, and early on, his main focus was just playing football. That focus helped him become the leading rusher with the most carries those first three years. He worked hard to ensure he had established himself, so when he was getting to the good part of his career, when the ‘80s came around, he wanted to treat himself.”
Equipped with the original 3.3L/265 HP turbocharged Flat-6 engine, 4-speed transmission and showing just 9,950 miles on the odometer, the car is in stunning condition. It’s original silver paint still gleams brilliantly in the sunlight, and its black leather interior is free of obvious wear. A sunroof and air conditioning provide comfort for riders, and carbon-fiber dash inlays elevate the interior’s appearance to one befitting of a modern-day supercar.
Payton left the car to Jarrett in his will, and while Jarrett has happily cared for the car since, it’s now his desire to pass the Turbo onto someone who not only looks up to the great Walter Payton as he does, but someone who also cherishes great classic autos in the same way his dad did.
In addition to the Payton Porsche, other auction headliners include four stunning collector-grade cars that for decades had set the scene of McDonald’s Store No. 1 Museum in Des Plaines, Illinois. Also leading the auction highlights is the 57-vehicle offering from The Tom Jellison Collection that includes classics, Street Rods, race cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles and more, all at absolute no reserve.
Mecum Chicago 2018 is open to buyers, sellers and spectators. Bidder registration is available online for $100, $200 after Oct. 24, and includes admission for two to the three auction days. General admission tickets are available online for $20 per person, per day, and for $30 at the door and online after Oct. 24; children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission. On Friday, Oct. 26, attendees wearing Illinois State University or Chicago Blackhawks apparel will be eligible for $10 admission or $100 on-site bidder registration.
Doors open daily at 8 a.m., with the vehicle auction beginning at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25 and at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27. Mecum Chicago 2018 will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network, and a live stream of the auction will be presented at Mecum.com.
Persons interested in consigning a vehicle to be auctioned at Mecum Chicago 2018 should visit Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050 for complete details about the consignment process and pricing. Mecum’s website is updated daily with the latest consignments including detailed descriptions and photographs of the vehicles. To view the list, to consign a vehicle or to register as a bidder for this and all Mecum auctions, visit www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.
