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Rare Mercury Cougar Blends Muscle with LuxuryThe Legend of James Dean’s Cars
From award-winning silver screen performances to first-place finishes on the race track, the history of James Dean's cars is one for the ages.
James Dean’s Car Collection
Though his fame was tragically short lived, James Dean left an indelible mark on both Hollywood and car enthusiasts the world over. In the span of barely two years, he would rack up serious film accolades alongside a striking record of racing and vehicle purchases. Right up there with the likes of Elvis Presley, who’s car collection we highlight here, James Dean cars are truly the stuff of legend.
Born in 1931, James Dean the actor is remembered for his incredible portrayals of teen angst and social rebellion. His legend is all the more incredible considering he only made three films in just one year – 1955. However, each of them is on the American Film Institute’s list of 400 Best American Films of All Time. On top of this, he was nominated, posthumously, for the Best Actor Academy Award in two of the films and only lived to see one of them released. It is a truly staggering story, the legend of James Dean.
A story that continues to fascinate as you look back at the history of James Dean’s cars. Though the cars were carefully noted, much of the stories behind the sheet metal are just that – stories. This can be partially attributed to the fact that Dean’s exploits of all things automotive took off in 1954 and he died just one year later in 1955. He covered a lot ground in that period and memories fade over time.
James Dean’s 1953 MG TD
After securing the role of Carl Trask in the film East of Eden in 1954, Dean went out and bought himself a Triumph Tiger T110 motorcycle and used 1953 MG TD finished in red. A golden era of sports cars, it was a time when European rides were relatively affordable and widely available Stateside.
In the entry-level space, British manufacturer MG was dominant with their T-type models including the TD. These roadsters had styling reminiscent of cars from the 1930s with independent suspension, a carbureted 1.3L inline-4 and 4-speed manual transmission. A cool little car with loads of British character, it was really a stepping stone into the brand for which James Dean cars became famous – Porsche.
The 1955 Porsche 356 Super Speedster
As East of Eden production wrapped up, Dean traded the MG for a new 1955 Porsche 356 Super Speedster and his interest in racing really heated up. Unlike a garden-variety 356 Speedster, the “Super” model came with a souped-up 1,500 cc flat-four that produced 70 horsepower, 15 more than the standard model.
Legend says Dean’s car was the first 356 Speedster to be fitted with the Super-1500 engine. His car was finished in white with black interior and like all models featured drum brakes and a 4-speed manual transmission. Be sure to check out our in-depth 356 Speedster review for more detail on this iconic Porsche.
Of all James Dean’s cars, he clearly loved the Super Speedster; as he was said to have racked up 1,000 miles in just 10 days. All with the intent of putting it to work as a race car. As the filming of Rebel Without a Cause started up, so did Dean’s racing, He took first and second place finishes at the Palm Springs Road Race in March 1955, first and third place results at Minter Field in Bakersfield that May, and a fourth-place finish on Memorial Day 1955 at the Santa Barbara Road Race.
At the same time, Dean was able to keep his automotive enthusiasm humming in concert with his acting career thanks to the killer 1949 Mercury coupe featured in Rebel Without a Cause. Sporting a 255 CID L-Head V8 and 2-barrel Holley carb, these cars were favorites of the hot rod community that only became cooler with James Dean behind the wheel.
1921 Rolls Royce Phantom
However, Warner Brothers got wind of Dean’s antics and forbade him from racing while filming Giant, his third and final film, between June and September of that year. That didn’t stop Dean from enjoying the gorgeous 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost featured in the movie, nor from putting down a deposit on one of the most serious race cars of the time, a Lotus Mark X.
Only about 30 of these aluminum-bodied British racers were ever built, but they successfully competed in Europe and the US, including a run in the 1955 12 Hours of Sebring. James Dean’s Mark X delivery was delayed and he would not receive it until just one week before his death. As a result, he never had the chance to put it through its paces.
The “Little Bastard” Porsche 550 Spyder
When production of Giant finished in September 1955, the speed bug had its teeth in deep and Dean traded the Super Speedster, with $3,000 cash, for the new, more potent Porsche 550 Spyder. Only 90 of these mid-engined, air-cooled race cars were ever made. They boasted a 108-horse 1.5L boxer-four with twin 2-barrel Solex carbs and dual overhead cams. The Spyder that Dean bought was said to be one of the first ever built. He also bought a 1955 Ford Country Squire station wagon to tow the new Porsche, a car he nicknamed “Little Bastard”, to and from race tracks.
In fact, he bought the 550 with the plan to enter it in the upcoming Salinas Road Race scheduled for October 1 and 2, 1955. But he never made it. Driving the Spyder, with his mechanic in the passenger seat, and friend Bill Hickman bringing up the rear in the Ford station wagon, Dean ended up in a high-speed head-on collision that would see him pass away at just 24 years old on September 30, 1955.
Between his abilities on the silver screen and behind the wheel of some of the most legendary cars ever built, James Dean created a legacy that has lasted some seven decades, in just two short years back in the 1950s. So, it’s no surprise he makes our list of Top 10 Hollywood Actors Who Raced.
I liked it. Great idea cars of the famous.