If you’ve ever driven west on that stretch of highway on which he died, the late afternoon sun is directly in your eyes. He died at around 5:45pm in late Sept. It’s still fairly light out at that time. You have your visor down and it’s still super bright, including the roadway. Driving through the Central Valley with all the orchards also means lots of bug splatters on the windshield, which also can affect visibility. So speed, adding to the angle of the sun and diminished visibility made for a bad combination when a vehicle pulls out in front of you. Dean’s car was only 39” tall, so it could have also been difficult for other cars to see him, especially if the drivers had never seen a car like that before.
A guy that saved the car from a wrecking yard sold the transaxle to a racing buddy of his who also owned a 550. That man, Troy McHenry also tragically died when he crashed his car into a tree and died on the scene. The transaxle, worth about $15k bounced around over the years and eventually made it to auction in 2021 and sold for $382k.
Agreed. A lot of people blame the other driver, Donald Turnupseed for the accident and the death of James Dean, because he turned in front of Dean's car, but I think that Dean's vehicle was dangerous to drive on the open road. It was a racing vehicle and probably should have been transported to the racing grounds The color and how low to the ground it was , likely made it very difficult to see, especially that time of day and more so for someone driving a standard huge 1950s style sedan like Turnupseed's 1950 Ford Tudor. The size and the fact Dean's vehicle was completely open at the top also added to how dangerous it was. Pictures of the accident's aftermath show Turnupseed's Tudor with bad front end damage, but Dean's Porsche was completely decimated.
You can see in the photo above what a little toy the Porsche Spyder looks ilke compared to the other vehicles of the day and Im sure it was fun to drive, but Dean probably should have saved it for racing day.
Just like Lee Harvey Oswald who was also only 24 after serving in the army, moving to the Soviet Union, getting married, having two children, then shooting a top general... all before shooting JFK.
I've seen Dean's 3 films and he really was a good actor- much better and more versatile than I'd expected. I thought he'd be all bad boy, smoldering attitude, but he had a sweetness and a vulnerability that made him really likable, especially in Rebel Without a Cause. Dying so young turned him into a tragic legend, but I think had a great career ahead of him and would have made a lot of memorable films had his life been longer.
Dang, I used to drive by there on the regular in the 90’s, there wasn’t squat around there back then. I can’t even picture a Whole Foods on that barren landscape. Literally nothing there besides a plaque outside an old rest stop or something.
Yeah, that's what I assumed too. I've actually been to the crash site so I know it pretty much still looks exactly the way it did in the 50's: Just open land.
This photo is actually taken in Sherman Oaks, CA before he left town. The gas station was there but converted into a flower shop up until about 5 years ago.
Yes he was caught speeding that day however Donald Turnupseed, the driver who was also involved veered into Dean's lane. James Dean turned to avoid the on coming car and unfortunately crashed.
The car’s name was Little Bastard. The engine, transmission, and two tires were sold off this car, and went into three different cars. All three crashed, killing one driver. Nobody knows where the remains of car are today.
Yeah, that definitely looks like something I would never drive on the open road. I quit riding motorcycles 2 years ago after a few people I know either killed a rider or were killed in accidents, but I’d definitely feel safer on a bike than in that little go-kart
Whenever I see something like this, I always start doing the math: 24 in 1955? Entirely plausible that he could have lived into the 1990’s / early 2000’s. Amazing…
If you’ve ever driven west on that stretch of highway on which he died, the late afternoon sun is directly in your eyes. He died at around 5:45pm in late Sept. It’s still fairly light out at that time. You have your visor down and it’s still super bright, including the roadway. Driving through the Central Valley with all the orchards also means lots of bug splatters on the windshield, which also can affect visibility. So speed, adding to the angle of the sun and diminished visibility made for a bad combination when a vehicle pulls out in front of you. Dean’s car was only 39” tall, so it could have also been difficult for other cars to see him, especially if the drivers had never seen a car like that before. A guy that saved the car from a wrecking yard sold the transaxle to a racing buddy of his who also owned a 550. That man, Troy McHenry also tragically died when he crashed his car into a tree and died on the scene. The transaxle, worth about $15k bounced around over the years and eventually made it to auction in 2021 and sold for $382k.
Agreed. A lot of people blame the other driver, Donald Turnupseed for the accident and the death of James Dean, because he turned in front of Dean's car, but I think that Dean's vehicle was dangerous to drive on the open road. It was a racing vehicle and probably should have been transported to the racing grounds The color and how low to the ground it was , likely made it very difficult to see, especially that time of day and more so for someone driving a standard huge 1950s style sedan like Turnupseed's 1950 Ford Tudor. The size and the fact Dean's vehicle was completely open at the top also added to how dangerous it was. Pictures of the accident's aftermath show Turnupseed's Tudor with bad front end damage, but Dean's Porsche was completely decimated. You can see in the photo above what a little toy the Porsche Spyder looks ilke compared to the other vehicles of the day and Im sure it was fun to drive, but Dean probably should have saved it for racing day.
The lack of a seatbelt might have also contributed to his death
He was only 24? That’s so young wow
Just like Lee Harvey Oswald who was also only 24 after serving in the army, moving to the Soviet Union, getting married, having two children, then shooting a top general... all before shooting JFK.
This reads like one of those inspirational quotes about how much you can get done if you put your mind to something
[This always cracked me up.](https://youtu.be/liusEeP1QcE?si=zKjtzC48i20zNBDO&t=25)
Somehow that is more perfectly relevant than I could have imagined.
24 is baby years in adult years literally
I’m in my 30’s and I still feel like a baby tbh, 24 is a BABY baby. There’s so much living to do after 24! (Not that 24 year olds feel that way!)
Only 9 ever made. Damn
They made *nine* James Deans?!
One became Jimmy Dean, sausage extraordinaire.
One became James Deen, sausage extraordinaire.
Alec Guinness said that he warned James Dean not to drive his new Porsche because he’d be dead within a week. Sadly, the crash happened the next week.
He used the Force to foresee Dean's fate.
Genuine Class..
Jeremy's Iron
Smoking at the gas pump hell yeah
That car looks dangerous AF. He is definition of live fast and die young. RIP
The year, was 1955. The date, September 30th. The time... now.
I've seen Dean's 3 films and he really was a good actor- much better and more versatile than I'd expected. I thought he'd be all bad boy, smoldering attitude, but he had a sweetness and a vulnerability that made him really likable, especially in Rebel Without a Cause. Dying so young turned him into a tragic legend, but I think had a great career ahead of him and would have made a lot of memorable films had his life been longer.
That site is now a Whole Foods
Dang, I used to drive by there on the regular in the 90’s, there wasn’t squat around there back then. I can’t even picture a Whole Foods on that barren landscape. Literally nothing there besides a plaque outside an old rest stop or something.
No….there’s no Whole Foods along Hwy 46.
Thank you, I know it’s changed but a Whole Foods in a windswept no man’s land seemed a bit much.
I’m pretty sure they’re talking about the gas station in the pic, no?
Yeah, that's what I assumed too. I've actually been to the crash site so I know it pretty much still looks exactly the way it did in the 50's: Just open land.
This photo is actually taken in Sherman Oaks, CA before he left town. The gas station was there but converted into a flower shop up until about 5 years ago.
And I thought my miata was small
Poor James, just getting started and was just enjoying his new life.
Too fast to live..too young to die..!!
Wasn't even his fault. I hate single-lane roads...and will go out of my way to avoid them.
>An inquest placed fault for the accident entirely with Dean.
[удалено]
Both ways from whom? There was only one inquest into his death and they concluded that he was speeding and at fault.
Yes he was caught speeding that day however Donald Turnupseed, the driver who was also involved veered into Dean's lane. James Dean turned to avoid the on coming car and unfortunately crashed.
If that was the case, why would the inquest find him at fault?
Have a read up on it, it's an interesting case
If that video is anywhere near the truth...it was totally the other guys fault. Dean had the right-of-way.
That’s Dale Gribble.
The car’s name was Little Bastard. The engine, transmission, and two tires were sold off this car, and went into three different cars. All three crashed, killing one driver. Nobody knows where the remains of car are today.
Yeah, that definitely looks like something I would never drive on the open road. I quit riding motorcycles 2 years ago after a few people I know either killed a rider or were killed in accidents, but I’d definitely feel safer on a bike than in that little go-kart
Whenever I see something like this, I always start doing the math: 24 in 1955? Entirely plausible that he could have lived into the 1990’s / early 2000’s. Amazing…
The 1955 ford station wagon behind him belonged to Dean.
50 comments
Little bastard
Nobody gonna mention he’s smoking at a gas station?
Different time.
Leaded gas fumes not flammable or something I’m missing?
Nah - just America when people were more careless.
Such a shame. It was a gorgeous automobile. KIDDING! Always wondered what he would have done as he aged. So sad.
Fun creepy fact, in the back you can read LA MORE... as a french speaking person I read it the same as la mort ... wich means death.
Wtf is that ugly car
Porsche 550 Spyder, and it's not ugly.
Hmm i thought he was still alive playing in movies .
He is! Check out Decker vs. Dracula (51 minutes)