James Dean, as the misunderstood and rebellious youth, remains the symbol of teenage angst.

James Dean had appeared in some TV shows before his big break in 1954 when he was cast to play Cal Trask, the lead male in East of Eden (1955). This was the only Dean film to be released before his death.

As his movie career began to take off, James Dean also started to race cars. In March 1955 Dean raced in the Palm Springs Road Races, and in May he raced in the Minter Field Bakersfield race and the Santa Barbara Road Races.

Dean had the car specialized by having the number “130” painted on both the front and back. Also painted on the back of was “Little Bastard,” Dean’s nickname by friend Bill Hickman, Dean’s dialogue coach for “Giant.”

The Accident

On September 30, 1955, James Dean was driving his new Porsche 550 Spyder to auto rally in Salinas, California, when the fatal accident occurred. Originally planning to tow the Porsche to the rally, Dean changed his mind at last minute and decided to drive the Porsche instead.

En route to Salinas, Dean was pulled over by police near Bakersfield for speeding around 3:30 p.m. After being stopped, Dean and Wuetherich continued on their way. Two hours later, around 5:30 p.m., they were driving westbound on Highway 466 (now called State Route 46), when a 1950 Ford Tudor pulled out in front of them.

Donald Turnupseed, 23, the driver of the Ford Tudor, had been traveling east on Highway 466 and was attempting to make a left turn onto Highway 41. Unfortunately, Turnupseed had started to make his turn before he saw the Porsche traveling quickly toward him. Without time to turn, the two cars smashed nearly head-on.

The injuries among the three involved in the crash varied. Turnupseed received minor injuries from the accident. Rolf Wuetherich, the passenger in the Porsche, was lucky to be thrown from the Porsche. Although he suffered serious head injuries and broken leg, he survived the crash. Dean, however, was killed in the accident. Dean was just 24 at the time of the wreck.

Posthumous Oscar Nominations

James Dean is the only person to receive two Oscar nominations posthumously. In 1956, he was nominated posthumously for Best Leading Actor for his role in “East of Eden.”  In 1957, Dean was again posthumously nominated for Best Leading Actor, this time for his role in “Giant.”

Dean’s Car?

Many fans wonder what happened to the smashed Porsche. After the accident, the crumpled car was toured around the US as part of a driver safety presentation. However, en route between two stops, the car disappeared. In 2005, Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois, offered $1 million to anyone who currently had the car. So far, the car has not resurfaced.