James Dean's transaxle sold for $382k
 

Who says a name doesn't add value?
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/gearbox/

Hey, cheaper than 'Charlie bit my finger'.

I guess you could make a coffee table out of it?

Nut jobs and their money are soon parted.

!
 

" Nut jobs and their money are soon parted. "

Yes, just so : quite a few of them buy old Mercedes' and think that's a smart thing to do.....:rolleyes: .

(guilty as charged here and NO REMORSE) :P .

A famous English actor was having dinner with Dean the day he took delivery of the car. The story went he suggested Dean send it back or he would probably be dead in a week. Apparently they laughed a lot about it and the English actor recanted during dinner. Stating he was probably tired or whatever to have made the remark.

True story or not who knows.I would not place any money on it was. The odd thing though I was reading an old book this morning at the cottage and stumbled across it. Personally I would not think that particular actor would construct a story like that afterwards as it would be in bad taste.

Premonition or common sense. Many people die in fast cars that are new to them.I drove a fast car once of the same brand. Kept the drivers window down a few inches as otherwise I did not sense the speed well enough.

I am the owner of a famous entertainers rear end as well. Still on the car though. I wonder if she would mind if I put her rear end up for auction. She is still alive and it should bring something on bring a trailor. Not being greedy get it ready to sell fast. Plus settle for far less would not be offensive.

Her rear end had a lot more millage than Deans. Although that should not matter. Strange world that I could probably see more that way than selling the whole car. To get the right buyers group. I would mention I take bitcoin as well.

Does it need to be rebuilt?

Not certain old cars are stupid. I suspect I have to change out an intercooler located on the back side of an engine of ours soon. Probably just about invisible until i remove a lot of stuff. The coolant pipes are all plastic.

I am at the age if the job looks too bad I will farm it out. Average depreciation on new cars around fifty percent over three years now. Gets cost per mile of usage right up there.

Now buying older cars with needs and farming out all the work. That can be a form of financial disaster. I have noticed some expensive parts on cars have come down somewhat with their age as well. The inter cooler I think I need was pretty expensive until aftermarket units came out eventually.

I have used her rear end and it still seemed to function well. :D

Been to the James Dean museum in Fairmont IN (so called his home town). Nice place, no charge, donations accepted, so I doubt it was purchased by them.

I drove past the spot that JD died many times in my commute to the SLO area from N Cal. Pretty remote area. here's a little site I found:
https://californiathroughmylens.com/james-dean-crash-site

James Dean Memorial
 

I was there last month and the cafe was closed .

Loads of really good farm to market roads around there .

Dean was still in the age group that consider themselves immortal. Many do not make it through that period unscathed. Adding massive value to a component of a car. That a person owned you never met. In reality even being sane could be questionable.

"Immortal"
 

I was young when Mr. Dean died .

I thought most all young 'uns think they're immortal , at least it seems that way looking back and watching them now......

I remember so many dying as I grew up yet I too took chances and did foolish (stupid) things although noticeably less than almost all of my peers did .

Looking back it's amazing I'm still alive .

I should have been dead as well. Playing on trains as a kid got two of the guys eventually. I had one very close call. Was the closest to extinction of any.It shook me enough that I stopped.