When James Dean finished shooting his second motion picture film, Rebel Without A Cause, he refused to return his character's jacket to the wardrobe department and instead kept it for his own personal use. It was to become his favorite jacket.

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Many have stated that this was made by the company Baracuta, but that's incorrect. Rebel's costume designer Moss Mabry would later state that he cut and sewed the jacket himself for Dean's character Jim Stark. We have chosen this timeless jacket as inspiration for our Dry-Waxed Cotton Windcheater.

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Wardrobe shot of Dean in his Red Jacket and Lee 101 Jeans.

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Natalie Wood and Jimmy working through a scene.

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It's obvious from this close-up that this is not a Baracuta jacket.

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James Dean began racing in earnest with his newly purchased 356 Speedster. An unusual car for a young 23-year-old American to own. He obviously chose to use this car as a machine for the purpose of racing only, with scant regard for it's cosmetic appearance. He must have read Road & Track religiously to have chosen this car over a Corvette or any number of American big-block heavyweights.

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Not only was he an incredible actor, he was a natural race-car-driver as well.

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Dean again in his beloved Rebel jacket, with a few of his winning trophies.

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In 1955 he took possession of a Porsche 550 spyder. An incredibly complex race car that had proven itself on the European circuits. He would have a Porsche supplied mechanic traveling with him to ensure the car's race reliability.

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Porsche mechanic Rolf Wutherich checks the 550 Spyder over with Jimmy.

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Dean leaves Hollywood for the weekend's races with his tow vehicle behind. It would be driven by stuntman Bill Hickman and photographer Sandy Roth. They would drive up the 5 freeway before turning onto the 466 towards the coast, heading for Salinas.

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He would pull in to Blackwell's Corner to re-fuel and grab a bite. He chatted with a couple of other racers, Lance Reventlow and Bruce Kessler, also heading to Salinas. He bid his new friends good luck and would see them at the track. He grabbed his red jacket from behind the Porsche's seat and put it on, as the PCH 1 coastal route ahead would be chilled as the sun set.

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  Our jacket is a medium weight 10 oz 100% cotton dry-wax treated, with brass zipper and elasticated waist at the back. Button cuffs, and two slash-cut D-Squared front pockets.

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The license plate number of Jimmy's Porsche 550 Spyder is

printed into the inside back of the jacket in memory of our favorite young American.

Dean and Wurtherich head out onto the 466 highway in the Little Bastard 550 Spyder.

Dean accelerated off into the horizon as the sun was slowly dipping in the west.

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James Dean was only 24 years old when he passed away in 1955.

Rebel Without A Cause and Giant had yet to be released.

He was about to start a revolution that would ignite a teenage generation.

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