$1M offered for James Dean death car

Just_me · 11-07-2005, 04:52 AM

Museum offers payment for Porsche Spyder in which star died, if someone knows where it is.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - An Illinois auto museum is offering $1 million for the car in which actor James Dean died in 1955. The car's whereabouts are currently unknown.

Dean crashed the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder on Sept. 30, 1955 on a California highway. The badly wrecked car was purchased by car customizer George Barris, who created the customized 1949 Mercury that Dean drove in the movie, "Rebel Without a Cause."

Barris is famous for creating the Batmobile from the 1960s "Batman" TV series as well as the Munster Koach used in the series "The Munsters," and several other TV and movie cars.

Barris had also customized the Porsche for Dean, adding the number "130" and the nickname "Little Bastard" on the back of the car.

Barris sent the wrecked Porsche around the country as part of a police safety demonstration. The car disappeared shortly after one such demonstration in Florida.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dean's death, the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Ill., is exhibiting artifacts from the crash including a passenger-side door from the car. The Museum says it will pay $1 million for the car, if someone will come forward to sell it.

To be eligible for the $1 million payment, the car will have to be authenticated by Barris, the museum said in an announcement.

The price would not be an unreasonable amount for a museum to pay for the car, said McKeel Hagerty, president of Hagerty Insurance a company that insures collectible cars.

Ordinarily, a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, in nearly pristine shape, would sell for about half as much, he said.

lemansman · 10-16-2007, 05:17 PM

That car no longer exists. If there's a hell, you can be sure that's where it resides.

Gullwing · 11-24-2007, 03:13 PM

Pretty much everyone who came near that car after the crash was either killed or badly hurt.
I would not want to get near it.

11-07-2005, 04:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Just_me Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 12,612 Thanks: 741 Thanked 2,035 Times in 1,028 Posts	$1M offered for James Dean death car Museum offers payment for Porsche Spyder in which star died, if someone knows where it is. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - An Illinois auto museum is offering $1 million for the car in which actor James Dean died in 1955. The car's whereabouts are currently unknown. Dean crashed the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder on Sept. 30, 1955 on a California highway. The badly wrecked car was purchased by car customizer George Barris, who created the customized 1949 Mercury that Dean drove in the movie, "Rebel Without a Cause." Barris is famous for creating the Batmobile from the 1960s "Batman" TV series as well as the Munster Koach used in the series "The Munsters," and several other TV and movie cars. Barris had also customized the Porsche for Dean, adding the number "130" and the nickname "Little Bastard" on the back of the car. Barris sent the wrecked Porsche around the country as part of a police safety demonstration. The car disappeared shortly after one such demonstration in Florida. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dean's death, the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Ill., is exhibiting artifacts from the crash including a passenger-side door from the car. The Museum says it will pay $1 million for the car, if someone will come forward to sell it. To be eligible for the $1 million payment, the car will have to be authenticated by Barris, the museum said in an announcement. The price would not be an unreasonable amount for a museum to pay for the car, said McKeel Hagerty, president of Hagerty Insurance a company that insures collectible cars. Ordinarily, a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, in nearly pristine shape, would sell for about half as much, he said.

10-16-2007, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
lemansman Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: $1M offered for James Dean death car That car no longer exists. If there's a hell, you can be sure that's where it resides.

11-24-2007, 03:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gullwing Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 309 My Mood: Thanks: 12 Thanked 83 Times in 64 Posts	Re: $1M offered for James Dean death car Pretty much everyone who came near that car after the crash was either killed or badly hurt. I would not want to get near it.

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