a silver Porsche 550 Spyder

?While [James] Dean had done some professional racing early in his brief Hollywood career, he had been banned from participating in the sport by Giant director George Stevens for the duration of the lengthy, expensive shoot. Thus, once Dean?s scenes on the film were completed, he was raging to race again. . . . Consistent with this fervor, Dean had gone ?Hollywood? with his first pricey purchase?a silver Porsche 550 Spyder. . . .

James so related to this symbol of speed that he had his own provocative nickname, ?Little Bastard,? painted in red on the Porsche?s tail. . . .

Metaphorically, . . . speed defined Dean?s acting. . . . Dean?s tendency to constantly push the proverbial envelope was entertainingy exciting and dangerous. And it was a key reason why many people saw him as a ?Little Bastard.??

?Wes D. Gehring, from James Dean: Rebel with a Cause, 2005.