James Dean's 550 Spyder transaxle found

[deathsled]

Big news in the automotive world.
https://www.manufacturing.net/automotive/video/21196211/part-of-james-deans-porsche-discovered-65-years-after-crash#:~:text=A%20key%20component%20of%20the,been%20discovered%20in%20rural%20Massachusetts.

[Side-Oilers]

Big news in the automotive world.
https://www.manufacturing.net/automotive/video/21196211/part-of-james-deans-porsche-discovered-65-years-after-crash#:~:text=A%20key%20component%20of%20the,been%20discovered%20in%20rural%20Massachusetts.

These days, a guy "could" (not "would" or "should") not only rebuild Dean's "actual car" from that component, he could probably 3D print an actual James Dean to go in it.

[deathsled]

Yes, I agree. But...read up on the curse surrounding his car. (If you believe in that sort of thing.) Perhaps an automotive exorcism is merited over said transaxle.

[Greg]

That is a load of BS IMO.

[deathsled]

It could be BS. Who is to say that the serial number wasn't stamped on the transaxle at a later date. Plus it is the only news article that presented itself in my feed and further research did not find any other news outlets on the story. Unless you are referring to the so-called curse...

[Side-Oilers]

Supposedly, George Barris had the wreckage and paraded it around to auto shows as part of a "safe driving" campaign. 

At this point, learning the "real truth" is probably pretty difficult. But, therein lies the fun of the mystery.

[Kent]

Hemmings also had an article about it.

[papa scoops]

I've heard several stories about the body being in a tiny town just north of here,(Washington) stored in a building, since the 60's. phred

[chris NOS]

I've heard several stories about the body being in a tiny town just north of here,(Washington) stored in a building, since the 60's. phred

i m pretty sure even  back in the day ,who ever got the wrecked body , would not scrap it because it was The James Dean's 550 , it has be somewhere....

[2112]

Hemmings also had an article about it.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/09/30/is-a-four-speed-transaxle-once-considered-merely-a-spare-part-the-only-remaining-piece-of-james-deans-1955-porsche-550-spyder

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2005/09/01/1-million-reward-offered-for-dean-s-porsche

[2112]

I've heard several stories about the body being in a tiny town just north of here,(Washington) stored in a building, since the 60's. phred

+1

https://www.newsmax.com/US/james-dean-porsche-death-car/2015/09/29/id/693942/

https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/the-haunting-story-of-james-deans-little-bastard/

https://www.thedrive.com/porsche/8863/did-george-barris-fabricate-the-curse-of-james-deans-spyder

[deathsled]

Thank you for the additional links.  Not that I am a numerologist or anything but how interesting is it that Dean died in 1955 and then note the following:
"Porsche's own records confirm that Dean's 550 Spyder carried chassis number 550-0055..."
Sure are a lot of 55's in his life on that day.

[deathsled]

Here is an interesting accident reconstruction of the crash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYPAPJIxOa8

[69mach351w]

I'm wondering, in the reconstruction, why the narrator has the Ford attempting the left turn way ahead of time. I know this is speculation but by looking at the video and the animation, it seems the Ford is turning several yards before reaching the apex of the left turn.

But seems the narrator and author is spot on in the crash summary.

[deathsled]

Two Friendly Ghosts short movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOYewd-LSsw