Zak Bagans Buys James Dean’s “Cursed” Porsche Transaxle for Haunted Museum
Josh Millican
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The latest relic headed to Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum in Las Vegas is “Little Bastard”: the “cursed” Porsche 550 Spyder that James Dean died it–or at least what’s left of it.
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Iconic actor James Dead (Rebel Without a Cause, 1955) arguably loved racing more than acting, often extolling what he described as the “liberating prospects” of driving. In 1955, Dean was driving “Bastard” from LA to Salinas to participate in a race when he slammed head-on into another car, sustaining multiple fatal injuries.
Parts of “Little Bastard” that weren’t demolished in the wreck were refurbished and used in the construction of other vehicles–some of which resulted in additional accidents. This is what lead to the rumors of a “curse” that have become synonymous with both the car and Dean’s untimely death.
Bagans paid a whopping $382,000 for “Little Bastard’s” 4-speed transaxle, the only significant piece of the car that remains intact. TMZ reports:
The transaxle’s rep as an eternally doomed piece of equipment is obviously what drew him to the purchase — he notes it’s known as one of the only items from Dean’s wreck that’s still intact and in circulation. That means it’s one of the final items around that might still carry the “curse” that’s supposedly responsible for Dean’s fatal wreck.
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You can check up some footage of “Little Bastard” in action below.
According to Wikipedia:
An inquest into Dean’s death occurred three days [after the accident] at the council chambers in San Luis Obispo, where the sheriff-coroner’s jury delivered a verdict that he was entirely at fault due to speeding. However, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times of October 1, 2005, a former California Highway Patrol officer who had been called to the scene, Ron Nelson, contradicted reports that Dean had been traveling at 90 mph, stating “the wreckage and the position of Dean’s body indicated his speed at the time of the accident was more like 55 mph”. A “James Dean Monument” has been placed at Shandon next to Highway 46, and stands to this day.
Are you a fan of Zak Bagans and/or James Dean? Are you excited to see Dean’s “cursed” transaxle when it takes up residence at Bagan’s Haunted Museum in Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican. Dread Central on Google News!
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