Herbert Linge, who has died aged 95, was one of the founding members of the small team who helped to establish Porsche as a car manufacturer. He was the firm’s first lead mechanic in 1948 and went on to make a significant mark as a racing driver and manager as Porsche’s global reputation for motorsport success blossomed.
This early roadster from Porsche history was famed for two things: performance on the track and the death of James Dean. But it was the 90-units limited production that made it such a desired vehicle and with so many replicas.
There’s a market for celebrity memorabilia, and a smaller niche for more macabre stuff related to showbiz. Small as it is, it still generates plenty of profit, because humanity will forever be fascinated with death and whatever comes after it.