On September 30, 1955, actor James Dean died in a high-speed car accident near Cholame, California, while traveling to the Salinas Road Race. The vehicle involved, a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, which Dean had purchased less than two weeks prior, was completely destroyed in the collision. This event marked the end of a rising Hollywood star’s career at the age of 24, and the subsequent history of the car’s remains remains a subject of ongoing mystery and urban legend.
The Acquisition of Little Bastard
James Dean had developed a passion for racing, despite warnings from his studio, Warner Brothers, which had banned him from the sport to protect their investment. Before the 550 Spyder, Dean had owned a Porsche 356 Super Speedster, in which he entered several races in Palm Springs and Bakersfield. However, after a mechanical failure during a race in May 1955, Dean sought a more competitive vehicle to compete in the Salinas event.
The Porsche 550 Spyder, which Dean nicknamed “Little Bastard”, was purchased in September 1955. The name was reportedly inspired by a disagreement with a Warner Brothers executive. Dean had the name painted on the back of the vehicle. Shortly after the purchase, actor Alec Guinness, as detailed in his autobiography Blessings in Disguise, recalled a premonitiony warning up to a week before the crash.
Details of the Fatal Collision
On the day of the accident, Dean and his mechanic, Rolf Wütherich, were driving from Hollywood to Salinas. The journey spanned approximately 300 miles. During the trip, they were stopped by the California Highway Patrol for speeding, receiving a ticket for exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph. Around 3:30 p.m., they were stopped.
The crash occurred near Cholame on U.S. Route 466. A Ford Tudor, driven by 23-year-old Donald Turnupseed, turned left in front of the Porsche. While some reports at the time suggested Dean was traveling at 85 mph, a report from the Los Angeles Times cited an officer on the scene who estimated the speed was closer to 55 mph.
Impact and Aftermath
- The Collision: The head-on collision was so violent that the Ford was pushed 40 feet down the road.
- The Casualties: James Dean was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital at 6:20 p.m. Rolf Wütherich survived, although he sustained severe injuries.
- The Other Driver: Donald Turnupseed walked away from the scene without criminal charges.
The Aftermath and the Purported Curse
Following the crash, the Porsche 550 Spyder was declared a total loss. However, its components were salvaged and sold. Dr. William Eschrich purchased the wreckage and dismantled the car, integrating the engine into his own Lotus Mark IX. He also distributed other parts, such as the transmission, to other drivers.
A series of unfortunate events followed, which led to the rumors of a “curse.” In October 1956, Dr. Eschrich crashed his Lotus during the Pomona Sports Car Races. While he survived, another driver, Troy McHenry, was killed in a crash during the same race, allegedly driving a car that contained a part from Dean’s Porsche.
The Role of George Barris
The shell of the vehicle was purchased by George Barris, the renowned auto customizer. Barris restored the crumpled body of the car and used it as a traveling highway safety exhibit. According to Barris, the car was plagued by misfortune: tires that blew out simultaneously, a mysterious fire while in storage in March 1959, and reports of the car falling on people during its tour.
The Disappearance of the Vehicle
The mystery of the “Little Bastard” continues because the vehicle vanished in 1960. While being shipped from Miami to Los Angeles in a sealed boxcar, the car disappeared from the locked container. The car has not been seen since, despite a $1 million reward offered in 2005 to its return.
Skeptics believe that many of the stories regarding the injuries and the accident-prone nature of the car’s salvaged parts were either exaggerated or part of a publicity stunt orchestrated by George Barris to increase interest in the visiting exhibit. Regardless, the fact that the remains of the remains of the Porsche 550 Spyder remain missing, remains a central part of the automotive and Hollywood history.
