Latest news with #JamesDean
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Best Looking Porsche Models Ever Made
Porsche has never been about flamboyance. Every curve, angle, and detail reflects a relentless pursuit of engineering perfection. With just a few exceptions — like the first-gen Cayenne, Panamera, and yolk-eyed 996 — Porsche is yet to make an objectively ugly car. Beauty is subjective, of course. Porsches may lack the wild flair of their Italian rivals, but their sleek, simple designs ooze elegance with just the right hint of aggression. Porsche found different ways of innovating, without slapping buck-tooth-inspired front grilles on their cars. These are the best-looking Porsches of all time. The Porsches featured in this article are based entirely on my personal opinion. All technical specifications, historical details, and performance figures are sourced from Porsche's official website, unless otherwise stated. Entries are ranked from oldest to newest. The 356 was Porsche's first-ever production car, introduced in 1948. It had four different generations, with the first one being called the Pre-A. Apart from its traditional Porsche silhouette, the Pre-A 356 Coupe's details are what make it exceptionally beautiful. Beyond its classic Porsche silhouette, it's the finer details that make the Pre-A 356 Coupe exceptionally beautiful. Chrome bumper guards, window trim, hood accents, and 'PORSCHE' badging on the nose highlight its sophistication — a trait many premium sports cars of the era flaunted. In many ways, the 356's design still echoes in today's 911, especially through its round headlights and iconic coupe roofline. After the Pre-A generation came the Porsche 356 A in 1955. Since we've already covered the 356 Coupe, I only see it fitting to give the open-air version, the Speedster, a spot in this article. While it shares the same design philosophy as the Pre-A Coupe, the 356 A Speedster feels like an entirely different animal — less subtle and even more jarring. Minor updates like the addition of the Porsche crest and chrome side accents were like the cherry on top of the cake. But it's the low, roofless silhouette that steals the show. Describing it as crescent moon-shaped sounds odd on paper, but somehow, Porsche made it look exquisite. It's no secret that many big-name celebrities have a knack for Porsche. But one of their original fanboys was James Dean, who traded his 356 Speedster in for a 550 Spyder. Unfortunately, this was also the last car he ever had the chance to drive. The 550 Spyder was as much a race car as it was artwork. Powering the extremely lightweight 1,212-lb topless Porsche was a four-cylinder boxer engine with 110 horsepower (hp) available. The 550 Spyder is one of my favorite Porsche cars of all time, not just because James Dean saw it as a worthy successor to the 356 Speedster, but because of its performance prowess and simple, yet stunning design. The 904 is probably the closest thing Porsche has ever made to an Italian supercar, at least regarding its appearance. Its short nose and rear overhang remind me of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, as well as its headlights. But under its voluptuous body, the 904 is a true Porsche sports car. Being a homologation special, the 904 Carrera GTS's main purpose was racing. Therefore, it had an eight-cylinder boxer engine mounted behind the driver with 240 hp. Albeit a capable performer, the highlight of the 904 for me is its bespoke design, which no other road-legal Porsches have managed to replicate since, in my opinion. The original Porsche 911 is one of the most beloved sports cars of all time. Introduced in 1963, the 911 was the successor to the Porsche 356. It pioneered the rear-mounted air-cooled flat-six formula, which 911s are famous for nowadays. Although its design took inspiration from the 356, it smoothed some things out and made it even classier. Its round headlights, thin tail lights, and side profile are borderline flawless. As a result, every single 911 generation that came after it still sports a similar design language. As you know, there's beauty in simplicity. At first glance, the original Porsche 911 and Carrera RS might be nearly identical, apart from a few stickers. But that couldn't be further from the truth. The Carrera RS 2.7 was lighter, more powerful, and it was Germany's fastest production car at the time, according to Porsche. While the standard 911 had a 2.0-liter flat-six, the Carrera RS had a larger 2.7-liter unit with more than 200 hp. It received some tasteful upgrades too, making it look especially mean, including a ducktail spoiler and wide wheel arches. Fun fact: This was Porsche's first time using the Carrera name — a title used by near-base model 991s nowadays. Porsche redesigned the 911 for the 1974 model year. This generation, called the G, was initially available in two different body styles, namely a hardtop coupe and a targa, with the latter being my personal favorite. Despite having black plastic bumpers and trim pieces, the 911 G didn't lose its sophisticated undertone. And thanks to a wide stance accompanied by 15-inch Fuchs wheels, the Carrera didn't sacrifice its sporty nature either. With the plastic top removed, the Carrera Targa looked like nothing else on the road with its stainless steel roll bar and gigantic rear window. In the '80s, Porsche introduced the first-ever 911 Turbo, also referred to as the 930. In standard form, the 930 Turbo was a gorgeous piece of kit already, but there's a specific version thereof that I consider even more beautiful — the Flachbau. In essence, this was a 930 Turbo with pop-up headlights and a sharp front end. Believe it or not, the Flachbau wasn't done by some sort of aftermarket company like Singer. Instead, some Porsche customers could order it via the Sonderwunsch program. In English, Flachbau translates to Slantnose or Flatnose — pretty self-explanatory if you ask me. In 1982, Porsche released the 944 — a front-engined four-cylinder sports car meant for those who want something a bit more tame than a 911. Albeit vastly different from the rear-engined 911, the 944 was still a sight for sore eyes. And even better-looking was its Turbo variant. Instead of having heaps of black plastic and rubber, the 944 Turbo's bumpers were all color-matched, with the only outlier being a black rear wing. The 944 is one of the lesser-popular Porsche models — a shame, honestly, especially considering its mighty 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Porsche 959 is arguably one of the most innovative cars of all time. In 1986, it had active suspension and a sequential twin-turbocharged engine that allowed it to reach 199 mph. Performance set aside, the 959 is a true piece of art to look at. Usually, Porsche will have their cars feature a purposeful design that's not too in-your-face. The 959 was the exception. At first, the 959 was supposed to be a Group B rally car, based on the 911. But because Group B was cancelled, Porsche went on and built their very first-ever supercar. I consider the 964-generation Porsche 911 as the most underappreciated 911 of the bunch, especially the Turbo. Not because it has a lackluster performance, or is heinous to look at, but rather because it existed at the same time as the aforementioned 959. Like its predecessor, the 930 Turbo, the 964 has a monstrous rear wing that complements its flared wheel arches, emphasising its uniqueness. That said, it's still not as attention-grabbing as its Italian rivals, such as the Lamborghini Diablo. I know, I know; another 911 Turbo. And like the Porsche that came before it, it too isn't vastly different from the one prior. From a mechanical point of view, the 993 Turbo changed quite a bit, including the use of two turbochargers instead of one, and all-wheel drive. It's sleeker than those that came before it — almost like Porsche put a 964 in the sun and remolded it. As a result, the lines flow slightly better, the headlights are slightly slanted, and its monstrous rear wing is more integrated. This also marks the end of the air-cooled Porsche 911. The Carrera GT wasn't about innovation, but rather pure insanity. Inspired by LeMans, Porsche ditched the traditional flat-six in favor of a symphonic 5.7-liter V10 with more than 600 hp on tap. In my mind, I'll always think of the Carrera GT as a 911 that became severely obsessed with working out. The Carrera GT takes the average 911 and turns everything up to the max. It's longer, wider, lower, and much more intimidating than the 996 Carrera, yet doesn't stray too far from its roots. The result is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous Porsche supercar that's on every enthusiast's bucket list. A phrase that gets thrown around a lot regarding the 911-based GT cars, like the GT3 and GT2, is that it's 'a racecar for the road.' While that statement carries a lot of truth, I don't consider all the Porsche GT cars necessarily beautiful. And while I know many consider the 997 GT3 RS 4.0 one of the best-looking Porsches ever made, I argue that its more hardcore, turbocharged version, the GT2, looks infinitely better. Its design isn't as rowdy as the GT3 RS, yet it still honors the same race car spirit. It retains the humongous wing and wide hips and intakes you'd expect from a GT Porsche, but doesn't share the RS's over-the-top appearance. Simple, classy, with a hint of aggression. The Porsche 918 Spyder forms part of the Holy Trinity of plug-in hypercars, which include the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. All these cars have aged tremendously well, with the Porsche's design showing no age at all. Therefore, I'd argue it's one of the best-looking Porsches ever made. Being the spiritual successor to the Carrera GT, it shares a similar philosophy to its V10 relative. This includes exhaust pipes mounted right behind your head, an extremely low, wide stance, and a cheeky rear spoiler for that extra touch of pizzaz. Although some may argue the 911 GT3 is too much of a purpose-built race car to be considered a work of art, I think it's the perfect balance between the two. Although it has a rear spoiler, it's conservative in size and tastefully integrated. Other race car exterior elements include 20-inch center-lock wheels, dual exhaust tips, and front and rear bumpers that nearly scrape the ground. Once again, the guys over at Stuttgart created a racecar that looks like it belongs in a museum. I suppose you can consider the 911 Speedster somewhat of a Frankenstein creation — a pretty monster, that is. The Speedster is a prettier, more understated version of the otherwise track-ready GT3. It shares a host of performance parts from the GT3, including its wheels, brakes, and 503-hp flat-six that revs up to 9,000 rpm. However, its design is truly bespoke. Unlike the ordinary Cabriolet or Targa, the 911 Speedster has a unique roof that consists of only one piece of fabric. That's not all Porsche has done, though. They also shortened the window frames and made the side windows smaller to give the Speedster, as they say, an "athletic profile". For a long time, many called the Boxster nothing more than the poor man's Porsche — a wannabe 911. How those people are eating their words now. The Cayman GT4 uses a mighty 4.0-litre flat-six, similar to the one found in the 992.2 GT3, but it weighs a lot less. With that engine comes a racecar-inspired exterior refresh, too. Like a proper Porsche GT car, the Cayman GT4 benefits from a stupendous rear wing, accompanied by a front lip spoiler, 20-inch wheels, and pronounced side air intakes. Albeit not as hardcore as the GT4 RS, I feel the GT4 is far easier on the eye. The 718 Spyder is mechanically identical to the previous entry, the Cayman GT4. Yet, I think the Spyder looks exponentially better than its hardtop twin in every single way. Although I adore the GT4's rear wing, I still prefer the Spyder's petite spoiler. Look past the spoiler, and you'll see the Spyder has similar humps as the 918 Spyder and 911 Speedster. And although removing the fabric roof is quite a tedious process, it's worth it. Not just for aesthetic purposes, but a topless Porsche GT car gives you a driving experience like no other. Although the 992-generation GT3 RS is a cool-looking car, I can't bring myself to associate its boldness with beauty. And while the much less extravagant GT3 is gorgeous — and just broke a Nürburgring record — its wingless version, the GT3 Touring, is the Porsche that wins my heart. It's timeless. It combines the traditional 911's iconic silhouette with some more bold design elements from the GT3, like its bumpers and wheels, but ignores the spoiler. I know we're supposed to just focus on exterior appearances, but I think the latest GT3 Touring deserves some brownie points too, since it's one of the very few cars on sale that still come with a manual transmission. Porsche's greatest designs aren't just beautiful — they're timeless. From the earliest 356 to their latest halo cars, Porsche has perfected the art of evolution over revolution. Rather than chasing trends, Porsche designs stick to their roots. Many Porsche models, particularly the 911, have maintained a familiar design language for decades. It's not laziness or lack of imagination — it's because they got it right the first time. It's a rare balance that very few brands in the automotive world have ever mastered.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Notorious stretch of California highway dubbed ‘Blood Alley' where James Dean died is to close for safety work
A stretch of California highway where actor James Dean died will temporarily shut down. The road, known as 'Blood Alley,' spans 20 miles of Highway 41 and connects the state to the Central Valley, Paso Robles and Kettlemen City. The high volume of traffic and the narrow lanes have been blamed for a high number of accidents. Authorities will be carrying out construction on the highway for five days from June 9 to 13. The work will extend from the interchange of highways 41 and 46 near Cholame, about 20 miles east to Reef Station near the junction of state Route 33, according to SFGate. The Independent has emailed Caltrans, the state's transportation authority, for more information. Jim Shivers, a Caltrans spokesperson, told the San Francisco Chronicle the new works were the latest effort to make the stretch of road safer. He said: 'There will be some lengthy detours, which we have acknowledged. The flip side of that is we'll have a brand new interchange opening up soon. It's a major upgrade, it's a major safety enhancement.' In 2002, the San Francisco Chronicle reported 54 people had died on the stretch of highway, with James Dean being one of them. An additional 690 people were injured in the same spot. On September 30, 1955, the 24-year-old actor – who had recently achieved superstar status with his movies Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant – got into his Porsche 550 Spyder and started driving up the coast toward Salinas. Around 5.45p.m., he passed through the intersection in Cholame, about 227 miles from San Francisco. Ford Tudor, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, turned onto the road and struck Dean's car. The actor's vehicle crumpled on impact and Dean died from severe injuries, including a broken neck. He became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award acting nomination, and later received a second. The site of the crash has become a tourist attraction, featuring a sculpture of the actor. Caltrans has spent two decades working to improve safety conditions on the road. The State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project expanded the number of lanes and added a new interchange. Officials believe the established detour will be operable through the improvement efforts. Drivers heading west from the Central Valley are being advised to take Highway 41 to state Route 33 south to Highway 46 west before rejoining Highway 41. Officials say they are optimistic the work will be completed ahead of July 4.
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Notorious stretch of California highway dubbed ‘Blood Alley' where James Dean died is to close for safety work
A stretch of California highway where actor James Dean died will temporarily shut down. The road, known as 'Blood Alley,' spans 20 miles of Highway 41 and connects the state to the Central Valley, Paso Robles and Kettlemen City. The high volume of traffic and the narrow lanes have been blamed for a high number of accidents. Authorities will be carrying out construction on the highway for five days from June 9 to 13. The work will extend from the interchange of highways 41 and 46 near Cholame, about 20 miles east to Reef Station near the junction of state Route 33, according to SFGate. The Independent has emailed Caltrans, the state's transportation authority, for more information. Jim Shivers, a Caltrans spokesperson, told the San Francisco Chronicle the new works were the latest effort to make the stretch of road safer. He said: 'There will be some lengthy detours, which we have acknowledged. The flip side of that is we'll have a brand new interchange opening up soon. It's a major upgrade, it's a major safety enhancement.' In 2002, the San Francisco Chronicle reported 54 people had died on the stretch of highway, with James Dean being one of them. An additional 690 people were injured in the same spot. On September 30, 1955, the 24-year-old actor – who had recently achieved superstar status with his movies Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant – got into his Porsche 550 Spyder and started driving up the coast toward Salinas. Around 5.45p.m., he passed through the intersection in Cholame, about 227 miles from San Francisco. Ford Tudor, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, turned onto the road and struck Dean's car. The actor's vehicle crumpled on impact and Dean died from severe injuries, including a broken neck. He became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award acting nomination, and later received a second. The site of the crash has become a tourist attraction, featuring a sculpture of the actor. Caltrans has spent two decades working to improve safety conditions on the road. The State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project expanded the number of lanes and added a new interchange. Officials believe the established detour will be operable through the improvement efforts. Drivers heading west from the Central Valley are being advised to take Highway 41 to state Route 33 south to Highway 46 west before rejoining Highway 41. Officials say they are optimistic the work will be completed ahead of July 4.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
The legend of rural California's ancient buttonwillow tree
BUTTONWILLOW, Calif. — Honestly, I stopped for the dateline. In newspaper and wire service parlance, a dateline is the name of a place, typically written in capital letters and followed by an em dash, at the beginning of an article. It signifies a journalist's physical location while reporting or writing a story. As a state reporter who often writes about rural communities, I pride myself on getting obscure datelines from far-flung towns and census-designated places here in the Golden State. Until this week, I had never been to Buttonwillow, an unincorporated farm town of about 1,200 people in Kern County. While plotting a drive north on the 5 Freeway for another story — I can't give that one away just yet — I was drawn to a location marker on Google Maps that read: 'Buttonwillow Tree-Kern CHL #492.' It stands for California Historical Landmark 492: An ancient buttonwillow tree for which the town is named. I pulled off the freeway early Tuesday morning and onto a small, dusty clearing in front of the bushlike tree, which is surrounded by a short concrete wall. The buttonwillow grows next to a drainage ditch. In front of it is an unadorned rock bench, a utility pole, and, on this morning, a discarded plastic jug on the ground. It might not look like much. But the tree has a fascinating history. According to the bronze historical marker placed in front of the tree by the Kern County Historical Society in February 1952, the tree was an 'ancient Yokuts Indian meeting place' along a trail that cut across the Central Valley. 'The tree stood all alone and clearly visible for many miles almost in the center of a vast plain,' the Reedley Exponent newspaper reported in October 1952, noting that Indigenous people in the region met at the buttonwillow for 'every social or tribal event of importance,' including dances. Later, the newspaper reported, white cattle drivers turned the tree into a makeshift post office, affixing letters to it for those who followed. They also held rodeos at the site. It was hard to believe this tree — currently boasting ball-shaped white flowers that look like little pincushions — has survived so much: drought, extensive groundwater pumping, the transformation of the arid plain around it into farmland. I was glad I made the stop. Here are a few of my other favorite datelines from across this endlessly fascinating state. — Volcano: A town of about 100 people in Amador County that sits in a bowl-shaped valley Gold Rush miners thought might be the crater of a dormant volcano. It is home to a thriving, all-volunteer theater company. — Weedpatch: In Kern County, this was home to the former Weedpatch Camp, the federally run camp for migrant laborers — many of them Okies — immortalized in John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath.' — Blackwell's Corner: James Dean made his last stop at this gas station — and census-designated place, hence the dateline — in rural Kern County. The convenience store has become a roadside shrine to the 'Rebel Without a Cause' actor, who died in a car crash 26 miles west of there. — Cool: In early 2020, I reported from this tiny town in El Dorado County where residents tried to fight a planned Dollar General store, fearing it would gentrify the place. That was just before pandemic lockdowns began. The store eventually was built. — Peanut: This speck on a map in Trinity County is said to have been named by a postmaster who was snacking on a bag of goobers when he proposed the moniker for the Peanut post office, which became the town name. Cynthia says: 'Pismo Beach.'Terri says: 'Morro Bay.' Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. On May 29, 1973, Tom Bradley became the first Black mayor of Los Angeles as well as the first Black mayor of a major U.S. city. He went on to serve an unprecedented five terms from 1973 to 1993. Hailey Branson-Potts, staff reporterKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Fashion Network
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Sacai and Levi's channel James Dean in latest collab collection
Sacai and Levi's have channeled James Dean in a Rebel Without a Cause moment for their new denim-driven latest collab collection, unveiled Monday. Entitled Levi's® x Sacai, the collection disrupts the American brand's iconic silhouettes via the Japanese label's distinctive assemblage techniques and experimental design. 'While embracing Sacai designer and creative director Chitose Abe 's visionary approach to transforming familiar garments into unexpected new forms, the new Levi's® x Sacai collection celebrates the heritage of Levi's® denim craftsmanship,' the giant jeans label said in a release. Abe had teased her initial partnership ideas for the capsule collection in her June 2024 show. This new collection features overalls with elephantine legs, or classic denim jackets subverted with Abe's signature flight jacket nylon trim. Others are reimagined as Victorian layered cloaks. Blazers in black denim are finished in yellow stitching, as are denim Tyrolean tunics. Pockets are displaced, doubled up or overlapping, in a collection that includes womenswear and menswear. Featuring actress and model Chase Sui Wonders, alongside model Chandler Frye, the ad campaign blends the timeless lived-in quality of denim with the avant-garde approach of Abe. Shot by photographer Craig McDean and styled by Karl Templer, it's all about a rebel with a fashion cause—part of the essence of both brands' DNA. The Levi's® x Sacai collection will be available through exclusive pop-ups at Selfridges on May 26, Landmark Hong Kong on May 27 and worldwide starting May 28 on the Levi's® app, in select Levi's® flagship stores, and at select Sacai retail locations. Founded in 1999 in Tokyo, Sacai is now consistently one of the ten best runway collections staged in Paris, where it presents every season. Levi's, founded in 1873, is the ultimate denim brand par excellence. Available in 110 countries in 3,400 stores, the corporate entity Levi Strauss & Co. reported annual revenues of $6.4 billion in 2024.
