The
Golden Sahara is well recognized as one of the wildest customs ever
built.
The exotic custom started as George Barris' new car with which he
was towing a customer's car to a car show on a foggy night and ran
into the back of a big truck and literally totaled his new Lincoln.
Taking the remains back to his Hollywood custom shop that he ran
with his brother Sam, he had his workmen, Bill Carr and Bill DeCarr,
started customizing the remains.
Somewhere along the way Jim Skonkakes (AKA Jim Street) of Ohio bought
the car as it was being built. At what stage of construction, only
Barris and Street know for sure.
There were two versions with extensive modifications. Looking at
the photos you can see how extensive the modifications were. The
second version had much body work done by Bob Metz. including the
rear fins.
What really made this car wild was the extensive use of electronics
and the car could be started and steering by voice control. This
was in 1960. Jim Street toured the car to car dealers all over the
country and this allowed people back east to see the car in operation.
he car also appeared in the movie Cinderfella, and on television's
''To Tell The Truth'' celebrity quiz show.
I saw the car twice in Clearwater, Fl and later in Alabama where
I was stationed in the Army.
It is rumored to still exist, but the owner Jim Street is not allowing
it to be seen.
Bob Nugent
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