James Dean died 55 years ago today

Great article about him and the car here



Too fast to live, too young to die, bye-bye.

 

Weird...he was kinda talking bad about George!

 

He died when his Porsche ran in to a mild custom 50 Ford shoebox in Cholame California - outside of Paso Robles.

Look at the custom below. Appears to have 55 Pontiac Chieftain or 2 door wagon 860 side trim

 

Rip

 

...may have been a mild custom. Here's some interesting info on Donald Turnupseed and his car. As with all this info, it's sometimes hard to seperate fact from fiction but the letter looks like it could be legit.

http://deathofjamesdean.com/death-of-james-dean-donald-turnupseed.htm






.

 

The reason Dean was driving the Porsche 550 Spyder and not towing it was that it was so new it wasn't broken in yet. He had just finished shooting the movie "Giant" and it was the first time he got to drive the thing.

 

Look at the iconic gas station picture in the article linked. See the car and trailer? His pal Bud Ekin (sp) was following with the tow rig. Bud later jumped the bike for Steve McQueen in the Great Escape among other things.

Also note in the gas station picture that the drivers marker light is busted out. I assume from a previous race. I have the poster above my fab area in the shop and tend took look at it everyday

 

Closed thread

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305353&highlight=james+dean&showall=1

 

2005 Thread

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68687&highlight=james+dean&showall=1

 

Godspeed

 

Gotta Love' em......

 

that would be hard to believe, as I have a picture of him sitting on the back ofthat car at el mirage with my grandmother and another lady...

 

Some critics said he was an imitation of Brando, but I disagree. Nothing against Brando, but Dean raised the bar big time when it came to emotional acting. RIP

 

lets see the picture.

 

The Human Ashtray. I can't wait until he's been dead 56 years...

 

That urban legend still alive and well huh?

 

explain this?

 

Oh lord ...here we go......

 

Rumor is he would go to gay clubs and have men put smokes out on his chest! AGAIN JUST A RUMOR!!!!

 

A true rebel..... R.I.P.

 

So he was a 50s composite of Jeff Gordon and Tom Cruise?

 

Sorry wild Bill the driver of the Bulliet charger and french con and pontiac
in 7 ups was the driver of the following ride. James died in his arms and it hunted him till his death, he also is the one that trained him track raceing
I cant remember bill last name look on wikapedia

 

You owe me a keyboard! it now has Dr Pepper all over it! HAHAHAHA

 

Bill Hickman

 

thank you what a driver!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I admire this actor and its films! It gives to me of forces!

 

Rebel without a Cause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I combined stories by mistake!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud_Ekins

 

Yer welcome John!

 

Has the stolen remains of the James Dean car ever been spotted in a private collection? I understand the engine/transmission/tires are long gone. It seems to me in the world of car collecting sooner or later someone would loud mouth and say "Guess what I have in my collection?