Today, it’s hard to believe how this vehicle once occupied the American nation. Equipped with all the refinements of technology, the pearlescent Golden Sahara was originally a simple ’53 Lincoln Capri owned by famed custom car magnate George Barris.
After the entire tip was peeled off during towing, like the lid of a can of sardines, Barris came up with the idea of saving the wreck with an ambitious special project. Jim Skonzakes, an Ohio client of Barris, better known as Jim Street, provided the financing. The duo overhauled the car from the ground up, from the all-new Space Age body to extravagant pearlescent 24-karat gold paint (made from fish scales), a half-bubble top, and white mink carpets. There was even more luxury on board the vehicle: a cocktail bar with a built-in refrigerator, high-end radio, cassette recorder and an in-dash TV. The whole thing cost a staggering $25,000. And the fantasies of car fans were set in motion…
After traveling throughout the U.S. in 1956 for various exhibitions and events, Barris and Skonzakes added even more glitter, glamour and flair with new features and a host of new technologies. The car, which was then christened Golden Sahara II, now offered extended extras. For example, selectable electronic steering, push-button control, aircraft-style centered controls for acceleration and braking, remote functions, and sensors for the front bumper that enabled automatic braking. This time, the bill came to $75,000. But that was actually beside the point, because the car was a real celebrity and even made an appearance in the 1960 Jerry Lewis film Cinderfella. By the end of the 1960s, the Golden Sahara II was only a memory. He disappeared from the limelight. Only rumours said that the collector Jim Street had the car in his garage and that it had been occasionally seen driving at night in the 1980s. Needless to say, speculation picked up again after Jim Street’s death in December 2017.
