This might be old news and I'm sorry but my curiousity is getting the best of me and I need to know what the facts are about this. Is it true the kustom shoebox that was involved in James Dean's death is getting restored? Can anyone verify this? Who owns it? Where?
I never understood how an actor, James Dean could be associated with Kustoms when in reality he wasn't into them at all. He was killed by a driver who didn't see him coming while he was driving a Kustom and Dean speeding in his 4 cam Porsche Spyder going to a race in Salinas. Back in the 80's we always met at Cholame near the spot where Dean was killed. It became the James Dean Memorial Run, then moved over in Paso Robles the city where the Dean body was taken to. It turned into Paso and now the Santa Maria show. I have seen these shots before, They were taken by the officer who arrived on the scene 1st. I had no idea that the Ford still existed, I have seen many done like it, I worder if it is the real car that is being restored???
Correct spelling and the search works every time http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=517078&highlight=turnipseed&showall=1 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68687&highlight=turnipseed&showall=1 Info to be found in above threads.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=517078 See post #80 and forward by Trailer Park Playboy (Turnupseed's Grandson). He talks of hearing the car is in Eureka... Interesting that Turnupseed did all his own cutomizing, paint work, etc. IMHO, From the looks of the crash photos, the (5 yr. old) Ford looks to be a total Major body/frame damage. I'd guess that the existing car would more likely be a clone.
Interesting right to the end when this "ZXER" got on there and started asking Turnupseed's grandson some weird questions...and that is the ONLY thread ZXER ever posted on.
I'd like to know where the Ford is, and what it's current condition is too. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> On another thread a few months ago, ‘Trailer Park Playboy’ (Turnipseed’s grandson) said he’s got old photos of the shoebox Ford, and some other cars Turnipseed built. He said he’d post them when he gets them. <o></o> Hope he does, that would be cool! <o></o>
Having been part of the car scene around Eureka all my life (I'm 49) I can say that if that car were here, word would have gotten out, since this is a very small community, but you never know. I always wondered what happened to it as well.
Not to be the guy that brings up old posts, but here it goes. The Ambulance that hauled Dean's body was located in Napa CA, Rotting in a field. This was in the mid 90's. It was identified through one of the license plates, which is now removed and in someones private collection...... The shoebox that was involved in the accident was in a back yard near Modesto CA. In the late 80's It was outdoors and under a tarp.. It was located through word of mouth, and the owners would not talk about it...... I have seen a letter that George Barris wrote to the Promoter of the show and a trail of papered information regarding the Porsches disappearing act that if I remember right, was after the Auto Show in Florida... I have seen the shipping receipts and the contracts leading up to the famous disappearing act.... I have also seen a few post cards and a couple of letters that George wrote to the "Shady Promoter" that if memory serves me correctly, This promoter fled (or took a holiday as he states in his replies) to another country....With a massive amount of debt stacking up and people looking for him, plus the Dean death car being last in his possession... Shit looks a little Shady.. There is also people who have insinuated that George used this as an oppurtunity to make the memory and the hoopla disappear with this Dean car... That never added up for me because Barris is the master promoter. ..... OK, I will go back into my Lowrider world and watch midget porn.. xoxoxo Germ
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