James Dean's Porsche 550 Curse - Amazing Coincidences In September 1955, James Dean was killed in a horrific car accident whilst he was driving his Porsche sports car. After the crash the car was seen as very unlucky. a) When the car was towed away from accident scene and taken to a garage, the engine slipped out and fell onto a mechanic, shattering both of his legs. b) Eventually the engine was bought by a doctor, who put it into his racing car and was killed shortly afterwards, during a race. Another racing driver, in the same race, was killed in his car, which had James Dean's driveshaft fitted to it. c) When James Dean's Porsche was later repaired, the garage it was in was destroyed by fire. d) Later the car was displayed in Sacramento, but it fell off it's mount and broke a teenagers hip. e) In Oregon, the trailer that the car was mounted on slipped from it's towbar and smashed through the front of a shop. f) Finally, in 1959, the car mysteriously broke into 11 pieces while it was sitting on steel supports.
Thats really weird. Im related to James Dean. Hes my Grandmothers, sisters, brother. Or something like that.
So he's your Grandmother's brother? Her sister's brother is also HER brother, which would make him your Great Uncle. Your Grandmother's maiden name better have been Dean, then!
Probably Dean's story is the only legitimate reminder on why one should not name one's car "Little Bastard". Whenever I see a 550 trying to mimic the original car it always gives me chill. I'm not entirely sure on why someone would do such to his/her own 550.
I don't beleive them. I think they are fake. That VW engine would have to fall pretty far to shatter legs. I've had a couple motor drop on me while I was under the car.
The guy who pulled out in front of Dean last name was Turnipseed. He was not charged due to Dean's speed.
Wikipedia version, "The curse of "Little Bastard" Since Dean's death, his Porsche 550 Spyder has been infamous as being the vehicle that killed not only him, but for injuring and killing several others in the years following his death.[44][45] Over the years, many people have come to believe that the actor's vehicle and all of its parts were cursed. Legendary Hot Rodder George Barris bought the wreck for $2,500, only to have it slip off its trailer and break a mechanic's leg. Soon afterwards, Barris sold the engine and drive-train to physicians Troy McHenry and William Eschrid respectively. While racing against each other, the former would be killed instantly when his vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a tree, while the latter would be seriously injured when his vehicle rolled over while going into a curve. Barris later sold two tires, which malfunctioned as well. The tires, which were unharmed in Dean's accident, blew up simultaneously causing the buyer's automobile to go off the road. Two young would-be thieves were injured while attempting to steal parts from the car. One tried to steal the steering wheel from the Porsche; his arm ripped open on a piece of jagged metal. Later, another man was injured while trying to steal the bloodstained front seat. This would be the final straw for Barris, who decided to store "Little Bastard" away, but was quickly persuaded by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to loan the wrecked car in a highway safety exhibit. The first exhibit from the CHP featuring the car ended unsuccessfully, as the garage storing the Spyder went up in flames, destroying everything except the car itself, which suffered almost no damage whatsoever from the fire. The second display, at a Sacramento High School, ended when the car fell, breaking a student's hip. "Little Bastard" also found itself causing trouble while being transported several times. On its way to Salinas, the truck containing the vehicle lost control, causing the driver to fall out, only to be crushed by the Porsche after it fell off the back. On two separate occasions, once on a freeway and again in Oregon, the car came off other trucks, although no injuries were reported, another vehicle's windshield was shattered in Oregon. Its last use in a CHP exhibit was in 1959. In 1960, when being returned to George Barris in Los Angeles, California, the car mysteriously vanished. It has not been seen since."
You know I could buy the story up until the last one, It fell into 11 parts. Come on, Good story otherwise.
So the location of the Spyder is still unknown? Seems like as many "car in barn" finds as we've had lately this thing would have popped up by now.
The original "Captain America" chopper (Peter Fonda rode in Easy Rider) has also been missing for many years. That would be a treasure to find.
Archduke Ferdinand was shot while riding in a car. This eventually led to WW1 and all that followed from that situation. Steel from that car was used in the James Dean car. So his Porsche was cursed because it was made from steel bought after the war by Porsche when metal was in short supply? CH
