Yesterday at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center I saw this Porsche – look how low it is compared to other cars:
Minolta DSC
Minolta DSC
Of course, the MINI is probably shorter … there are a few cars on the US roads that are less tall, or less wide – but (so the adverts claim) none that are less long.
Something else about this Porsche reminded me of my MINI, too – headlights, anyone?
M&I / GBMINI 
Looks like a 550 Spyder . The type James Dean died in back in 1955.
Thanks RB.
I had no idea but I described it to my friend Roberto this morning and he said the same – except he said it was probably a replica (he knows someone in the area with a replica in this color).
Watch out soon for pictures of REAL fancy motors courtesy of Roberto (like these last year) 😉
I think only 90 were ever made of the 1955 Spyder.
The James Dean car has a real odd past. It was sold to George Barris, a California custom car guy, Batmobile, Munsters car and so on, and was used by the California Highway Patrol in anti drunk driving campaigns. The car was shipped to Florida and on the journey back to CA it disappeared from the transporter. The legend goes that the car is haunted and all who touch it or use it’s parts get hurt or find trouble. The last I heard there was a million dollar reward for the car and I also heard that the car had been found and restored, who knows what’s true.
Did ya know James Dean only did 3 movies: East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant.
http://www.barris.com/