New Series Explores the Alleged Curse Involving the Porsche 550 Spyder Owned by James Dean

Beloved actor James Dean tragically died in a car wreck near Cholame, California, on September 30, 1955. He was just 24 years old and at the height of his career.

Over the years, parts of the Porsche 550 Spyder driven by Dean on that fateful day have been sold at auction and used on other Porsches.

“One motor will fit many, many different vehicles, so it doesn’t take long for the parts to get parted out and put onto other vehicles,” Kirk Brown, a transportation historian, told American Pickers star Mike Wolfe during the first episode of History’s Greatest Picks via Daily Mail.

Dean’s tragedy wasn’t the only one connected to that 550 Spyder, however.

Dr. William Eschrich purchased the Porsche’s engine and used it in his Lotus IX race car before nearly losing his life in a crash at a 1956 race in Pomona, California, according to the outlet.

Eschrich’s competitor, Troy McHenry, died in that crash. Many believe McHenry’s car was equipped with Dean’s transmission and suspension, Daily Mail reported.

According to Wolfe, “[It] doesn’t really matter [whether the curse is real or not] because people are prepared to believe it.”

History’s Greatest Picks is airing now on History Channel.