James Dean

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(''Giant'')
(Racing career and "Little Bastard")
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==Racing career and "Little Bastard" ==
 
==Racing career and "Little Bastard" ==
When Dean got the part in ''East of Eden'', he bought himself a red race-prepared [[MG TD]] and shortly afterwards, a white [[Ford Country Squire]] [[Woodie]] [[station wagon]]. Dean upgraded his MG to a [[Porsche 356 Speedster]] (Chassis number: 82621), which he raced. Dean came in second in the [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] Road Races in March 1955 after a driver was disqualified; he came in third in May 1955 at [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]] and was running fourth at the [[Santa Monica]] Road Races later that month, until he retired with an engine failure.  
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When Dean got the part in ''East of Eden'', he bought himself a red race-prepared MG TD and shortly afterwards, a white Ford Country Squire Woodie station wagon. Dean upgraded his MG to a Porsche 356 Speedster (Chassis number: 82621), which he raced. Dean came in second in the Palm Springs Road Races in March 1955 after a driver was disqualified; he came in third in May 1955 at Bakersfield and was running fourth at the Santa Monica Road Races later that month, until he retired with an engine failure.  
  
During filming of ''Rebel Without a Cause'', Dean traded the 356 Speedster in for one of only 90 [[Porsche 550 Spyder]]s. He was contractually barred from racing during the filming of ''Giant'', but with that out of the way, he was free to compete again. The Porsche was in fact a stopgap for Dean, as delivery of a superior Lotus Mk. X was delayed and he needed a car to compete at the races in [[Salinas, California]].
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During filming of ''Rebel Without a Cause'', Dean traded the 356 Speedster in for one of only ninety Porsche 550 Spyders. He was contractually barred from racing during the filming of ''Giant'', but with that out of the way, he was free to compete again. The Porsche was in fact a stopgap for Dean, as delivery of a superior Lotus Mk. X was delayed and he needed a car to compete at the races in Salinas, California.
  
Dean's 550 was customized by [[George Barris (auto customizer)|George Barris]], who would go on to design the [[Batmobile]]. Dean's Porsche was numbered 130 at the front, side and back.  The car had a [[tartan]] on the seating and two red stripes at the rear of its wheelwell. The car was given the nickname "Little Bastard" by [[Bill Hickman]], his language coach on ''Giant.'' Dean asked custom car painter and pin striper [[Dean Jeffries]] to paint ''"Little Bastard"'' on the car.<ref name=StAntoine-MT>St. Antoine, Arthur. - [http://www.motortrend.com/classic/features/c12_0511_dean_jeffries_interview/index.html "Interview: Dean Jeffries, Hollywood legend"]. - ''[[Motor Trend|Motor Trend Magazine]]''</ref> When Dean introduced himself to [[Alec Guinness]] outside a restaurant, he asked him to take a look at the Spyder. Guinness thought the car appeared "sinister" and told Dean: "If you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week." This encounter took place on September 23, 1955, seven days before Dean's death.<ref>Guinness, Alec. ''Blessings in Disguise'' [Random House, 1985, ISBN 0-394-55237-7], ch. 4 (pp. 34-35)</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p_ZLFiq_fs YouTube - Premonition of Sir Alec Guiness<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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Dean's 550 was customized by George Barris, who would go on to design the Batmobile. Dean's Porsche was numbered 130 at the front, side and back.  The car had a tartan on the seating and two red stripes at the rear of its wheelwell. The car was given the nickname "Little Bastard" by Bill Hickman, his language coach on ''Giant.'' Dean asked custom car painter and pin striper Dean Jeffries to paint ''"Little Bastard"'' on the car.(St. Antoine, Arthur. - [http://www.motortrend.com/classic/features/c12_0511_dean_jeffries_interview/index.html "Interview: Dean Jeffries, Hollywood legend"]. - ''Motor Trend Magazine'') When Dean introduced himself to Alec Guinness outside a restaurant, he asked him to take a look at the Spyder. Guinness thought the car appeared "sinister" and told Dean: "If you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week." This encounter took place on September 23, 1955, seven days before Dean's death.(Guinness, Alec. ''Blessings in Disguise'' [Random House, 1985, ISBN 0-394-55237-7], ch. 4 (pp. 34-35), [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p_ZLFiq_fs YouTube - Premonition of Sir Alec Guiness])
  
 
==Death==
 
==Death==

Revision as of 17:10, 25 August 2008

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