Race With Destiny was a fact-based movie portraying the story of the ill-fated love affair between James Dean and Pier Angeli. It was shot on location where James Dean lived and loved until his death at the wheel of his Porsche 550 Spyder outside Chalome, California.

George Barris had become acquainted with James Dean in the early 1950s when Dean visited his shop (driving the Porshe in which he was later killed). For the movie about Dean, Barris built the cars for the film and oversaw all of the stunts involving vehicles.

After the completion of filming, George Barris kept this car at Barris Kustoms in North Hollywood, California as part of his personal collection until it was moved to Hollywood Star Cars Museum in July 2013.