Where's the Car That James Dean Died In?
The James Dean death car mysteriously disappeared in the 1960s, though it's said to have been recently found by a man in Washington.
Written by Serena Aburahma
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Celebrities
and cars go hand in hand. Just look at all the stars used in car commercials. But not every celebrity gearhead gets to ride off into the sunset. One of the biggest celebrities of the ‘50s, James Dean, was tragically killed while driving his custom Porsche.The car from the crash is almost as famous as Dean himself. So much so that the Porsche has become known as the James Dean death car. Even though Dean died nearly 75 years ago, his car has remained a subject of interest and fascination.
The James Dean death car
When Dean was alive, he drove a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder. But this wasn't a run-of-the-mill Porsche. It was custom designed by iconic designer George Barris. Barris was a well-known car designer in Hollywood, being the brains behind the Batmobile and Munster Koach.
On September 30, 1955, tragedy struck when Dean collided with a 1950 Ford Tudor on Route 466. The crash launched the Porsche into the air and landed in a far away gully. After the crash, the car would be repurchased by Barris.
Heartbroken by his friend's death, Barris lent the car to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP used the car as a display to warn against the dangers of speeding and reckless driving. While on display, the car became known as the James Dean death car.
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Is the James Dean death car cursed?
After the CHP no longer needed the car for their display, Barris decided it was time to sell the James Dean death car. At least partially. He removed the chassis and engine and sold it to two doctors who were racing enthusiasts. The two tires that were still functioning were also sold to a young New Yorker.
The doctors would share the same fate as Dean. On October 21, 1956, the doctors decided to test their racecar that was carrying the engine from the James Dean death car. The driver lost control, crashed into a tree, and was killed instantly.
That could be written off as a coincidence, but things got especially spooky for the New Yorker who bought the tires from the James Dean death car. Supposedly, both tires blew out at the same time, sending the car airborne. The car landed in a ditch, in an eerily similar way to the original James Dean death car.
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The hunt for Dean's car
Despite the fame of the James Dean death car, it mysteriously disappeared in 1960 while in transit from Miami to Los Angeles. Even though it was in a locked container, the remnants of the James Dean death car disappeared in thin air.
Undeterred from any supernatural elements, the Volo Auto Museum in Chicago offered a $1 million bounty to anyone who could locate the James Dean death car. An anonymous man from Whatcom County, Washington, claimed he knew the whereabouts of the car. He passed a polygraph test to prove it.
Supposedly, the Museum was able to locate the car. They are working out the legalities of ownership before any public announcement is made.
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