PLNewman

This is the last known photograph of him and his brand new 550 Porsche Spyder. He had just filled the tank at Casa de Petrol in Sherman Oaks. He named the car "Little Bastard."

Mechanic Rolf Wütherich rode with Dean in the front seat.

Dean was killed near Paso Robles at approximately 5:45 p.m, at the junction of Route 466 (now 46) and Route 41, when a 23 year-old Cal Poly student Donald Turnupseed, driving a black-and-white 1950 Ford Tudor, crossed into the highway intersection and slammed into Dean's Porsche.

Turnupseed and Wutherich survived the crash. Dean became a legend. He was only 24 years old.

http://www.laobserved.com/intell/2016/09/james_dean.php

Mike in Chi

Thanks for posting that. Good article.

I drove past the intersection a few years ago, on our way from Death Valley to Pebble. Probably bored my wife telling her the whole story. Should have stopped and taken a pic of the infinity marker.

zedcat

Too fast to live, too young to die.

My junior high art teacher was still in mourning in 1965, she always wore black.

996SPECticle

Wasn't it "Lil' Bastard."
I've seen that pic before but never noticed the trailer behind the wagon. I had always thought he drove the whole way to break in the engine and get to know the car or so I heard. Sure looks like they are caravanning.
How did that lawsuit with Porsche go? ....ooops, wrong generation.

mark kibort

so sad!

993PET

Very well written, article!

JF

mklaskin

Good article. I must have gotten my car washed 100 times at the Handy J and I never knew the history.

johneecatt

Couple of years ago, I was coming back to LA from Laguna Seca on 46. The section I was on was 2-lane, and there was a really long line of cars and trucks, but I was in my silver Cayman, so I owned it! Pulled back in front of the line at a pretty healthy clip, and started to slow down when I saw the sign - "James Dean died on this spot in 1955 in his silver Porsche..."

Makes ya think.........

albaran

Just found this thread and I have that picture hanging in the garage. Here is a picture of my wife's 911 and my tribute car to that picture.

gums

Years ago I was at a dinner party and got to talking with a Mexican gentleman about racing. He told me that he had an in with the Porsche factory after he drove in the Carrera Panamerica and Sebring a few times and they sold him one of the first Carrera motored cars, it was very special. When his brother was killed in a road accident he put it up for sale, and someone sent a trailer down from Hollywood to fetch it, sight unseen, paid. Off it went to James Dean. He sold him that car.

jrgordonsenior

From The CHP's incident file.....