James Dean's porsche | FerrariChat

James Dean's porsche

Discussion in 'Porsche' started by JasonMiller, Nov 16, 2008.

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  1. JasonMiller

    JasonMiller F1 Rookie
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    I saw an interesting documentary on the Porsche that James Dean was killed in. From what they stated a lot of people were hurt or killed due to that car. A few of the parts were sold off to other collectors and then on a transport across the country the car came up missing.

    It has never been seen again..


    Do you think the car was stolen, haunted and disappeared, sitting in a warehouse somehwere?

    Has there been any rumors or sightings or anything over the years?
     
  2. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

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    #2 snj5, Nov 16, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2008
    I read up on this a couple of years ago about the "curse" extending to pieces that were taken off of the car. I've seen photos of the car and when it was on display - pretty insensitive.

    My bet is that someone simply buried the remains. Just as well.

    For those unfamiliar:
     
  3. Mang

    Mang F1 Veteran

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    James Dean was such a cool cat and look at the 'cool' factor in the car he drove! Gone in his 20's....shame.
     
  4. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #4 agup48, Nov 17, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2008
  5. mike_kuhn

    mike_kuhn Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
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    Here's an interesting thread about the car from the Pelican Parts 911 Technical forum: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=385299&highlight=James+Dean+550
     
  6. kcassady

    kcassady Rookie

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  7. James in Denver

    James in Denver Formula 3

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  8. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Lee Raskin seems to be a good source on James Dean. According to Raskin, the engine and wreckage was sold for $2500 and the engine was used in another racer - Dr. Eschrich's Lotus IX. He sold the wrecked body to George Barris.

    At some point, the wreckage disappeared, and Raskin suggests Barris "lost" it intentionally to keep the legend alive.
     
  9. AJ

    AJ Formula 3

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    #9 AJ, Aug 5, 2009
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    The remains of James Deans 550 Spyder 'dissapeared' decades ago and have never been seen since. It is, in my opinion, the most iconic Porsche in the marques history.

    On Friday, 23 September 1955, Alec Guinness was at the Villa Capri restaurant in San Diego, and found no table available. James Dean, then filming Giant, invited Guinness to sit at his table. During lunch, Dean entertained Guinness with tales of Lee Strasberg and boasted about his new car, a Porsche 550 Spyder. Upon leaving the restaurant, Dean insisted on showing the car to Guinness. Guinness thought the car appeared "sinister" and told Dean; "If you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week." Seven days later Dean was killed when his Porsche crashed head on with another car.

    I think this is one of the most interesting stories regarding 'Little Bastard' and one of the main reasons it has achieved it's iconic status.
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  10. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
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    Off the top of my head, the actuall car would be worth a fair deal of $ right now....no??

    As such if there were anything left of it someone would see the dollar signs and rebuild it.

    It seems to me that any chance anybody finds an ashtray, 1/4 panel, half a chassis or a couple frame rails of a long lost vintage Ferrari they bring it back to life for either profit or recongnition...why wouldn't someone do the same with one of histories most famous cars?
     
  11. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Lots of interesting stories. Von Neumann didn't even want to sell it to Dean, apparently, and Dean had a couple of minor scrapes with it during the few weeks he owned it before his death.

    Any scrap of that 550 would be worth a lot. In this case, I don't think you would touch it or bring it back to life.

    Actually the whole thing is kind of macabre at this point. Even the doctor who installed the engine in his Lotus afterward... how do you drive around with that running in the engine bay?

    I believe the real Porsche prize that has not turned up is Dean's 1955 Speedster Super, #80126. It was traded a couple of times before Dean became famous, and movie star cars back then weren't quite the big deal they are now.
     
  12. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

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    We carried a story on the car in Texas Driver a couple of years ago the author of a book on Dean's racing did the article so I was not really deep into the topic...

    In the end of the collector car world that some of us travel in there is always a story that it is still out there someplace

    I wish I had though to ask Roger when I met him a couple of years ago, he was in town with Shelby for an event.........
     
  13. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    I've always been fascinated by the story of Dean and his car. If you really think deeper about it, what was the entire history of the car starting before it was actually built. Why was this one 550 deemed so evil and gave everyone such a bad vibe as opposed to the others?

    I think two things happened to the car. It was either burried in the middle of the desert to end anymore tragedy that it had brought about, or it is 'hiding' in some unknown barn somewhere unbenownst to anyone except the delivery driver and maybe a handful of others. I just like adding fuel to the fire. ;)
     
  14. 350HPMondial

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    Check out Cholam, CA , ,, where there is a memorial, , about 2 mi south of the Hwy 41,, Hwy 46 intersection where he crashed.
    He was awake and signed the speeding ticket,,,,, I have seen a copy of said ticket.

    RIP,
    James
     
  15. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Meaning he was alive after the crash?
     
  16. Exotica Motorsports

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    If I remember it right he was ticketed for speeding and then later that day, minutes or hours later the accident happened.
     
  17. sparta49

    sparta49 F1 Veteran
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    According to Wikipedia the engine and gearbox are both still around so I guess the car can be rebuilt one day.



    "Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe, Illinois has claimed to have the last known piece of Dean's Spyder (a small chunk a few square inches in size). However this is untrue. The engine (#90059) is still in the possession of the son of the late Dr. Eschrich's. in addition, the restored transaxle–gearbox assembly of the Porsche (#10046) is known to be in the possession of a car collector in Mass, and was even offered for sale on eBay."
    "
     
  18. 350HPMondial

    350HPMondial F1 Veteran
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    #18 350HPMondial, Aug 6, 2009
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2009
    Yes, all sources from The jack Ranch Cafe in Cholame, CA said, "He was alive after the crash."
    (I believe it was in the Fresno Bee newspaper also.)
    The cafe is next to the James Dean Memorial.

    Therefore, I believe He died like Natasha Richardson,, RIP.

    Edwardo
     
  19. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Briefly. He died pinned in the car. The passenger, Wutherich (sp?), survived and went back to Germany. He died in a crash in the '70s.

    You are correct.
     
  20. nickd

    nickd Formula Junior

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    He traded the Speedster for the 550 - I would assume therefore he was well known when he drove the Speedster. That's an early Speedster serial number - 80000 I believe was the start number (but it's Porsche so there was likely some others prior) - so its got to be a 1954 or early 1955. Be great if it were uncovered but likely its gone to the scrap yard in the sky by now......
     
  21. kdf398

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  22. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
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    Where did the scrap steel come from that was recycled in building the Porsche for James Dean?
    CH
     
  23. sparta49

    sparta49 F1 Veteran
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    Probably more like Sam Kinison
     
  24. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #24 Bullfighter, Aug 15, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  25. kdf398

    kdf398 Formula Junior
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    Taken that drive myself in connection with a James Dean Anniversary drive. It is beautiful country, great little highway, and that last stretch as you head toward the fateful intersection with route 41, as pictured, is just incredible. Also, I am sure virtually unchanged since 1955.
     

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