A 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Riley & Scott race car was the last Paul Newman, famed actor and renowned racing driver, ever took into competition. It sold this weekend at the RM Auction at the Amelia Island Concours for a price of $275,000.

The 2002 Corvette racer was powered by a 5.7-liter V-8 rated at 700 horsepower while weighing just 2,680 pounds. A full racing suspension, manual transmission, and all the requisite SCCA safety gear make this Trans Am racer not just famous for its association with Newman, but a fantastic track-day vehicle in its own right.

Of course, it's unlikely to see serious action again due to its provenance, but we do hope it will hit the track now and again, as we think Newman would have wanted it to.

A contemporary, friend, and rival of Steve McQueen, also a Hollywood actor and racing icon, Newman raced or owned racing teams for nearly 40 years, from his start in 1972 driving a Lotus Elan to the Corvette pictured here, finished in its No. 83 racing livery, denoting Paul's age at the time it was last rebuilt in 2007. He raced it last at Lime Rock Park on September 28, 2008, exactly one year before his death.

Newman was also a legendary ChampCar team co-owner, and drove in the Baja 1000 and the 24 Hours of Daytona among numerous other series--all while filming 65 movies over his career.