Today, Friday, September 30, 2011, marks the 56th anniversary of the death of American icon James Dean. Far less significantly but also noteworthy, it rather obviously marks the same anniversary of the passing of Little Bastard, the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder that Dean was driving west on U.S. Route 466 (now known as State Route 46) in Cholame, California, on his way to a race in Salinas.

Dean’s death was caused, not by speeding as some believe, but by a fellow motorist who veered into Dean’s path. Dean’s last words, as quoted by his mechanic and passenger that day, Rolf Wütherich, were, “That guy’s gotta stop… He’ll see us.” He didn’t see them, he did not stop, and the head-on collision led to Dean’s death about 10 minutes later.

While the legend of James Dean had already been firmly established even before his untimely death, the curse of Little Bastard, the name bestowed upon the Porsche Spyder by Dean himself, was just getting started. While details and the exact series of events are clouded in uncertainty, there’s no arguing that the wreck of Little Bastard was sold after the tragic accident and many of its parts were subsequently used in other vehicles… in some cases, with confirmed fatal consequences.

Was the car that killed James Dean really cursed? We’re not ones to cast judgment on such issues of mythical folklore, but the details surrounding Little Bastard are nothing if not an interesting story. We suggest you read more here, here and here, or watch the video we’ve pasted after the break that discusses the actor’s life and the curse of Little Bastard.

Continue reading Remembering James Dean and the curse of Little Bastard [w/video]

Remembering James Dean and the curse of Little Bastard [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The car that almost destroyed General Motors? That’s the title of a story recently published by Popular Mechanics all about the Chevrolet Vega. To be honest, there are a number of vehicles to which we could assign that ignominious title, but it’s hard to argue with the disaster that was the Vega.

2010 marks the 40th anniversary of the Chevy Vega (and, incidentally, the AMC Gremlin and Ford Pinto). Unlike other American subcompacts of the day, the Vega was actually a pretty decent-looking little car, and its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive architecture was something Americans were comfortable with, so it sold rather well. All was not well in Vega Land, however.

You’d think a few Vegas would still be running around, considering that nearly two million were sold before GM halted production after the 1972 1977 model year. That’s just not the case, for two big reasons. First, the Vega’s bodies were stamped from almost impossibly thin steel to save weight and costs, and they rusted very badly because of it. Second, and perhaps most damning, the car’s innovative-for-the-time aluminum engine, which went without cylinder liners in favor of coated bores, failed at an alarming rate due in part to a cooling system that was inadequately designed. In any case, blown engines common, as were high oil usage and blown head gaskets.

Was the Chevy Vega the car that most directly sent General Motors into the downward spiral that ultimately culminated in its recent bankruptcy? For an interesting take on that story, head over to Popular Mechanics for the entire article.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Remembering the Chevy Vega as it turns 40 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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