Walter Payton's 1979 Porsche Sells For More Than His Rookie Bonus

SCHAUMBURG, IL — The silver, 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo that was once owned by Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton was sold over the weekend. Purchased when No. 34 was only 25, the sports car was part of Mecum's auto auction at the Schaumburg Convention Center.

The winning bid for the car was $324,500 when the auction closed Saturday. That is more than the $126,000 rookie signing bonus Payton reportedly received as the Bears' first-round pick — and fourth overall — in the 1975 NFL draft.

Payton's son, Jarrett, inherited the car after his father died in 1999. Only 1,200 Porsche 930 Turbos were made for the U.S. market in 1979, and the automobile was considered the running back's favorite.

With only 9,950 miles on it, the Porsche came with plenty of high-end and unique touches:

• a turbocharged, 3.3 liter, 265 horsepower, 6-cylinder engine under the hood
• "whale tail" spoiler and chrome Gotti five-spoke wheels
• silver with black leather interior
• Alpine stereo with Nakamichi speakers
• Illinois "WP" license plates and a plate bracket with "Sweetness," Payton's nickname, on it

“This was the first big-name sports car that he bought," Jarrett Payton, 37, said in the car's auction description. "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.”

Although the car's no longer for sale, you can still find photos and other details about Payton's Porsche on Mecum's website.

Go to the page for Walter Payton's 1970 Porsche 930 Turbo at Mecum's website for more details about the car and auction.

Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (Photo by Mike Powell | Allsport | Getty Images)