Before the Grapevine - there was the Ridge Road - a narrow passageway linking Los Angeles and Bakersfield - ripe with dangerous curves and bandits.  Steve B sends us the story of the Ridge Route Tejon Pass a historic mountain highway built in 1915 connecting Los Angeles County and Kern County.  It featured over 700 sharp curves over the mountains before being replaced by U.S. Route 99 and later Interstate 5. Most of the original road is now closed to through traffic.  Even with its 15MPH speed limit major accidents were a daily occurrence.
More pics and information here.