Legends never die.
Rolf Wutherich accompanied James Dean on his 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder trip from Los Angeles to Salinas to start his motorsport career. Dean was stopped for speeding at 3:30 pm, but he continued on his journey with Rolf Wutherich. Two hours later, the 550 Spyder struck a 1950 Ford Tudor being driven by a student aged 23. Shortly after the accident, Dean was declared dead at his hospital bed.
Dean was a major star in America during the 1950s. American teens loved him and identified himself with his roles, particularly that of Jim Stark on Rebel Without a Cause. His legacy and his iconic status remain strong, even decades after his death. Many are happy to spend thousands of dollars to purchase an item that Dean owned. Even indirectly.
A four-speed manual gearbox is up for auction on Bring a trailer. It is believed to be part of James Dean’s 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder. According to the listing, there is a copy from Porsche confirming the transmission’s origin as well as a documentation file. It’s likely that this is the gearbox Dean used right before his death in 2005. The transmission was believed to have been stored at an unidentified location for many decades before it was purchased by the current owner last year.
After Dean’s accident, his 550 Spyder was purchased by his insurance company and sold to a Southern California race driver. The gearbox was removed from the car and stored in storage. It is currently being sold with an axle, axle tubes and drum brake assemblies on a steel display stand.
The current bid is $128,550 with approximately eight days remaining before the auction ends. You want to own a piece in movie and motorsport history? Get ready to take on the world.