THE STRANGE STORY OF THE "LITTLE BASTARD"

Everyone knows the German automobile manufacturer Porsche, especially for some car models that are, by now, part of the history, as the Porsche 911. Created by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in the 1963, it took part in many rally races, gaining the victory for two times in Montecarlo’s one.

More recently, we can find great models such as the Panamera and the Cayenne: they have a magnificent elegance perfectly mixed to an aggressive and sportive character.

Although Porsche can boast of numerous historical cars, used also in racing sports, on the other hand there is a model that is known for its bad name: we are talking about the Porsche Spyder 550, remembered mostly for one legendary pattern, but due to his cursed story.

Produced between 1953 and 1957 for a total amount of 90 models, the best qualities of the 550 Spyder were its handling and lightness; in fact it was used by professional drivers in various car completions, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.

However the most (sadly) remembered driver is, of course, James Dean.

Reaching the popularity in the Hollywood of the 50s, Dean is always remembered as a rebel figure, which inspired many teenagers both in the past but also in the present. Moreover the American Film institute put him in the 18th place among the greatest stars in the history of cinema.

His fame comes also from his untimely death, when he was only 24, after a fatal car accident, just on board of the Porsche Spyder 550.

Dean had a big passion for the fast cars, and he bought the Porsche in the 1955, nicknaming it instantly “Little Bastard”, in virtue of the great performances of the car.

Dean chanced to benefit from the Little Bastard only for nine days, since, after buying it, Dean decided to park the car in George Barris’ garage, a friend and mechanic of the actor, who made some changes in the car, as the number 130 written on the bonnet.

The accident happened on the 30th of September, which involved, besides Dean, two other people, that survived ; the Porsche instead was in bad repair.

Nevertheless, the story of the Little Bastard continues, and giving life to the legendary reputation of the cursed machine: in fact Barris decided to buy scrap of this car, and shortly after while it was loaded on the trailer, the supports that held it broke and the 550 swooped over a mechanic who was seriously injured.

It did not end here: parts of the car, such as the engine and axle shafts, were sold (except for the bodywork and chassis which remained barris) to a doctor and a collector respectively, both amateur drivers. at this point the curse struck, as the doctor was the victim of an accident while the collector crashed and was paralyzed.

After the Little Bastard had wounded with a sheet metal a thief who had tried to steal her from Barris, wounds that cost him his right arm. At this point george frightened more and more by the rumors circulating about a possible curse of the spyder, decided to lend it to an organization whose aim was the creation of a campaign against high speed. Even here, however, the machine caused the death of an individual and the injury of some insiders, so that the same organization decided to send it back to the sender.

It was loaded on a train, which had no accident, but the spider 550 never reached its destination, mysteriously disappearing from the wagon in which it traveled.

Barris put a millionaire bounty on it, hoping to see it again. Even today the Little Bastard is nowhere to be found and its last public appearance dates back to 1960.