James Dean's "Little Bastard"

James Dean

James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American film actor.He is a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were as loner Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955), and as the surly ranch hand, Jett Rink, in Giant (1956). Dean's enduring fame and popularity rests on his performances in only these three films, all leading roles. His premature death in a car crash cemented his legendary status.
Dean was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Dean the 18th best male movie star on their AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars list.

Dean's Little Bastard

In April 1955, after securing the co-starring role of Cal Trask in East of Eden, Dean purchased a 1955 Triumph Tiger T110, 650 cc motorcycle and later, a used red, 1953 MG TD sports car.In March 1955, Dean traded the MG for a new 1955 Porsche Super Speedster purchased from Competition Motors in Hollywood. He traded the Triumph T110 for a 1955 Triumph TR5 Trophy three days after filming wrapped on East of Eden.

Friends had warned Dean that the car was a trouble - a rare Silver Porsche Spyder, one of only 90 made in 1955. Dean nicknamed it "The Little Bastard," 

That "Little Bastard" not only killed James Dean, but killed and maimed others who came in contact with it causing many to say that the damn thing was cursed.
George Barris, a friend of Dean and a car customizer, bought the wreck for $2,500. When the wreck arrived at Barris' garage, it slipped and fell on one of the mechanics unloading it. The accident broke both of the mechanic's legs.

Dean's Car Wreck

During a race at the Pomona Fair Grounds on October 24, 1956. Two racers, Troy McHenry and William Eschrid, were racing cars that had parts from the Dean's Porsche. McHenry died when his car, which had the Porsche's engine installed, went out of control and hit a tree. Eschrid's car rolled over. Eschrid survived despite serious injuries, later told that the car locked up suddenly when he went on a curve.

The car's influence continued after the race: one kid's arm was gashed, while he was trying to steal the Porsche's steering . Barris sold two of the car's tires to a young man; within a week, the man was nearly involved in a wreck when the two tires blew out simultaneously.

Followed by this Barris loaned the wrecked car to the California Highway Patrol for a touring display to illustrate the importance of automobile safety. Within days, the garage where the Spyder was stored burst to flames, leaving nothing but the Porsche.When the car was put in a exhibition in Sacramento, it fell and broke a teenager's hip. George Barkuis, the driver ,who was hauling the Spyder on a truck, was killed instantly as the Porsche fell on him when he was thrown out from his out of control truck .

The mishappenings associated with the car continued till 1960, when the Porsche was on exhibition in Miami, Florida. When the exhibition was over, the wreckage, mysteriously vanished, while being transported to Los Angeles on a truck,. Since then the "Little Bastard's" has not been seen or heard of. 

Source: http://www.qsl.net/w5www/dean.html

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