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.
Quote from: deathsled on October 03, 2020, 09:23:43 AM
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.
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.
That is a load of BS IMO.
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...
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.
Hemmings also had an article about it.
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
Quote from: papa scoops on October 04, 2020, 05:41:42 AM
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....
Quote from: Kent on October 04, 2020, 03:02:42 AM
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
Quote from: papa scoops on October 04, 2020, 05:41:42 AM
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
+1https://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
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.
Here is an interesting accident reconstruction of the crash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYPAPJIxOa8
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.
Two Friendly Ghosts short movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOYewd-LSsw
Never seen that before, cool.
I like how JD opened the gas cap with the lit cigarette in his hand :o
From the narration in the vid of the reconstruction of the crash, he says the Ford was turning early to cut the apex of the corner ?
also says Donald Turnupseed was a hot rodder and would do this ?
Many years ago, '80s I visited the site, the road has been reconfigured, there was a memorial at the garage, I think it was put up
by some one from Japan ? It was a bit surreal that day, there were fires in the area and it was very smokey.
Maybe this is another one of those stories like the Morrison Shelby ?
Mike
I've stopped there too, a couple of times over the past 40 or so years. Road configuration is different, but you can kind of get a feel for the event.
Also, in several places east of the collision site (on Hwy 46) you can still glimpse sections of the long-abandoned old road that he drove on.
Quote from: honker on October 06, 2020, 10:14:39 AM
From the narration in the vid of the reconstruction of the crash, he says the Ford was turning early to cut the apex of the corner ?
also says Donald Turnupseed was a hot rodder and would do this ?
Many years ago, '80s I visited the site, the road has been reconfigured, there was a memorial at the garage, I think it was put up
by some one from Japan ? It was a bit surreal that day, there were fires in the area and it was very smokey.
Maybe this is another one of those stories like the Morrison Shelby ?
Mike
Exactly what I was saying at reply #13.
Quote from: Side-Oilers on October 06, 2020, 12:23:52 PM
I've stopped there too, a couple of times over the past 40 or so years. Road configuration is different, but you can kind of get a feel for the event.
Also, in several places east of the collision site (on Hwy 46) you can still glimpse sections of the long-abandoned old road that he drove on.
I love old abandoned roads. They have a real haunting feel about them. I will have to get out there to the site. Been to Dean's grave though in Fairmount, Indiana. Strange imagining him mouldering away under the earth. But still there.
Sold for ...... ready ???................................................................................387 000.00 USD !!!!!!!
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/transaxle-from-james-deans-porsche-550-spyder-sells-for-387000/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Wednesday_DailyDriver&hashed_email=c7d34f1fe6c17c51beb01af1db5a946502199680d1931770797de2f7e1aa3d77
Quote from: Side-Oilers on October 03, 2020, 06:39:31 PMThese 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.
Barris tried to con Chuck Beck out of 2 of his 550 Spyder kits and a frame for cheap and ahead of others on the waiting list. Said he wanted to do a movie on the history of the car. Beck having heard it all before declined.
Barris did haul it around to shows and schools. After it was stolen who knows what happened. From this it looks like it was parted out. Someday the engine cases may turn up.
Quote from: deathsled on October 04, 2020, 02:47:33 PMSure are a lot of 55's in his life on that day.
and all the 7s in the license plate
$387,000 is heading into Ford GT territory. I'd rather have a drivable object than an artifact from that car.
Quote from: deathsled on June 02, 2021, 07:33:25 PM
$387,000 is heading into Ford GT territory. I'd rather have a drivable object than an artifact from that car.
Good Lawd that's alota money !
Imagine if you will....how much would Marylin Monroe's bumpers go for?
I've always been intrigued with the story surrounding 'Lil Bastard. In the world of missing super famous cars, it's in the top three along with Morrison's GT500 and the Aston Martin 007 car stolen from a Florida hangar years ago. That one they actually do know where it is I'm told. George Barris almost certainly 'disposed of' 'Lil Bastard at some point, that just leaves The Blue Lady and everyone knows Dave Mathews has been holding on to it at his home in Connecticut for years now. ;)
Quote from: BGlover67 on June 04, 2021, 09:51:04 PM
I've always been intrigued with the story surrounding 'Lil Bastard. In the world of missing super famous cars, it's in the top three along with Morrison's GT500 and the Aston Martin 007 car stolen from a Florida hangar years ago. That one they actually do know where it is I'm told. George Barris almost certainly 'disposed of' 'Lil Bastard at some point, that just leaves The Blue Lady and everyone knows Dave Mathews has been holding on to it at his home in Connecticut for years now. ;)
Morrison's GT500, we know where portions of that car are.....