James Dean's cursed Porsche 550 Spyder

So everyone has heard of haunted or possessed houses, but what about cars. There are many ghost stories, myths or urban legends that involve haunted or possessed cars. One of these stories is about a cursed Porsche. Whether it is a myth, urban legend, or fact that this car is cursed is under debate.

One car that was believed to be cursed was James Dean's car. James Dean bought a Silver Porsche 550 Spyder in 1955 called "The Little Bastard" which eventually becomes a quite accurate name. When Dean got the car he was told by Alec Guinness that he should get rid of the car or would be dead within a week. Sadly, Guinness's prediction came true. Below is the last known photo of Dean alive.

Dean and Rolf Weütherich, a German mechanic, were on their way to a sports car race in the Spyder, a Ford Coupe crossed into Dean's lane. Dean died from a broken neck and was was taken to Paso Robles War Memorial hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival at 5:59 pm, a week after Guinness's warning. Weütherich survived the crash with a broken jaw and several other injuries. Dean's reported last words after being told by Weütherich to slow down when he saw the Ford about to enter their lane was "that guy's gotta stop... He'll see us."

After the accident, the car was sold to George Barris, and while the mechanics unloaded the car, it fell on a mechanic breaking both of his legs. Barris had bad feelings about the car but still used the cars parts for two race cars. The car that had the Porsches' engine stalled went out of control and hit a tree, killing the driver, Troy McHenry. William Eschrid's car also had parts from Little Bastard. His car suddenly locked up while going on a curve during a race and flipped over. Eschrid survived the wreck but still suffered some severe injuries.

After the incidents at the race, a kid tried to steal the Porsches' steering wheel slipped and gashed open his arm. Barris decided to use the car for good use and loaned the wrecked car to demonstrate the importance of automobile safety. After a few days of the Spyder being in the garage house, a fire broke out; every car and thing on the lot was destroyed except for Little Bastard. The car was then moved to Sacramento to be put in an exhibit; however, the car fell of the display and broke a teenager's hip.
The car was then on its way to a different destination when it took its next victim, George Barkuis. The Spyder fell off of a flatbed truck right on top of Barkuis, killing him instantly. Little Bastard amazingly made it out to Miami, Florida for another safety exhibit, and seemed to have taken a break from killing. The car was to go to Los Angeles after the display in Miami, but mysteriously vanished in 1960.

Now, don't let any of this freak you out, I am sure your car is not an evil possessed demon car. Your car is probably the nicest sweetest thing ever known to man, and is not out to kill you or your passengers. Take care of your little prince or princess by having car insurance and by caring for your car. If you don't have a car, or think your current car maybe the reincarnation of Little Bastard, you can look at trading in your monster car, or looking at getting a car loan for a new spirit free, curse free car.


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