This famed Petersen Motorama showcar was lost for 50 years, but has since returned to light and is now slated to go to auction at Mecum’s Indianapolis event in May. The 1953 Lincoln Capri on which it was based became what you see here: the Golden Sahara, a bonkers custom designed by none other than George Barris. Thanks to an accident that sheered the roof off of the Lincoln, Barris decided to build a showcar for the ages with the help of a friend. Find the full story here on Hagerty.com.
In 1955, this car cost $25,000 to produce. That’s huge money, and Barris had to have been grateful that he had a financial partner for the project. The 24K gold paint was made from fish scales and occupants rested their feet on white mink carpeting. As you can see here, the top is a see-through glass canopy with a targa-style opening, and the wild styling of the body effectively erases any traces of the Lincoln this once was. Supposedly, Barris’ partner Jim Street owned the Golden Sahara when it disappeared, only occasionally using it for nighttime cruises.
Technology was also a big part of the cost to build, including – and this is according to Hagerty – “…selectable electronic steering, push-button steering, aircraft-style centered uni-controls for acceleration and braking, remote functionality, and front bumper sensors that allowed for automatic braking.” Although many of Barris’ creations are considered pure fantasy, it’s hard to deny that some of his whiz-bang ideas were the basis for many features we now consider standard equipment in every vehicle made today.
The Golden Sahara was a sensation when it emerged on the show car circuit, and if this period show photo provided by Hagerty is any indication, a crowd followed it wherever it went. It’s amazing to think that a creation this memorable could be hidden for so many years, but perhaps Street was aware of the intrigue it inspired and didn’t want to risk theft or gawkers from hounding him at home. It’s selling at no reserve, and given it is one of the most iconic Barris cars lost for decades, it’s safe to say the final hammer price will be breathtaking.
Honey, where is the remote? Cool ride, I wonder whats up with the tape? Thanks for the Hagerty link Jeff, great video.
I’m going to guess from the positioning of the tape that at some time they taped a cover over the targa opening. I’m guessing again but they didn’t remove the tape due to the possible damage it would do to the paint.
It’s early here in CA; that’s what I came up with. It’s odd that someone wouldn’t take the time to get rid of the tape.
I’d drive the wheels off of it just to piss off those arrogant vette schmucks. Like I care what other people think, and what fun
Well with any luck at all you won’t be the new owner!
SLICK, you’re my hero.
The Golden Sahara was never “lost,” it was always known who owned it and where it was garaged. It was just not shown in public.
Always bums me out to see these creations in disrepair. A mere shred of what they were. Think of all the oohs and ahhs this car generated. I hope someone restores this to it’s former glory, to show future generations, when the sky was the limit for custom cars. Was this the car with “glowing tires”?
Wow!!! Check it here a great description of the car by Mrs. Street herself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umHr2y87bBM
I give credit for creativity but IMHO it’s fudgly.
Man..I can’t believe Revell / AMT/..ect, didn’t
do a model of this car…!Really wild,and far out,,
Very cool…!..,must have set the standard for years!
I would love to build a model of this for sure…!
George Barris… the king of bling.
The P.T. Barnum of Bondo and body putty. Who else would make their custom grill from Western Auto chrome kitchen cabinet knobs. I think his Barris maker emblems are more valuable than his cars. While you have to credit him with putting Automtive art in the public eye you don’t have to like his aesthetic. He was part of the culture and history of our passion.
Rest In Peace, George.
I get the image of him lying in repose, nesteled in a diamond-tufted, metal-flake, mirrored-lid coffin afloat a sea of angel hair with a color-changing flood light…
I thought those were the days before bondo, where everything was done in lead?
No Mirror, but was Gold Metal Flake, with Wings……….
George started using plastic instead of lead by the early-60s. I knew him and worked with him during one of his many ‘down’ periods, after many of the gimmick cars (Ice cream truck, etc) were built with Particle board bodies.
George Barris was a product of his times. His earlier work was restrained and the “Kustoms” were real improvements on the fussy styling of the 1940 and 1950s. As time went on Barris and other well known customizers produced some very garish and pretty ghastly creations. This group later turned their talents to Hollywood and television vehicle production.
Back in the early 1980’s I went to the Oakland Roadster Show. I saw George Barris off to the side speaking with one of the show producers. There was a huge crowd around him and they were totally ignoring him and the cars that he had on display. He and his ugly cars were old news, and he was forgotten. Luckily in the mid 2000s there was a rebirth of the custom car culture and famous names from the past were rediscovered by a new generation and they regained even more of the acclaim that they had in the past. Bill Hines, Darryl Starbird, Gene Winfield, Rod Powell and others. Many of these have passed on in the last few years but I’m glad that they got to experience a new era of appreciation at the end of their life times.
Peter, Barris was the businessman and his brother, Sam, was the artist. This car was one of the significant customs (‘Kustom’ was a Barris trademark), and while it looks kind of hokey, today, the Golden Sahara was considered pretty damned cool back in the 1950s.
Rube, a lot of custom cars ended up rotting away in garages and warehouses after their show days were done. My old buddy, Jay Ohrberg – who, at one time worked for Barris (and like many former Kustom City employees, got pissed off at George claiming credit for their creations!) – located a lot of them in the 1980s and had them stored away so that they could be refurbished and displayed again.
I was browsing a totally unrelated site and came across this picture that looked very familiar but I couldn’t place it. Then I recalled seeing it here this morning. Then I dug a little deeper and found this: https://www.kustomrama.com/images/f/fe/Golden-sahara-brad-masterson-collection.jpg
Apart from the Munster Koach and the Batmobile (Drag-U-la wasn’t a Barris creation, IIRC) I was never that keen on Barris’ work. But this is pretty darn nice.
I’ve been following on Facebook for at least a couple of years, a woman named Alison Martino. She’s the daughter of the singer, Al Martino (from the Godfather movies) and she’s a great booster of Hollywood history and has lived there all her life. She is a TV producer and she interviews all kinds of people and earlier this week, she made a visit to George Barris’ offices in North Hollywood. His grandson gave her a guided tour of his cars and she got to sit in The Batmobile. (well, at least one of the many). It was fun to see her pictures. She has lived and grown up in Hollywood and knows lots of people. She did that Instagram story thing so all the pictures she showed have now disappeared, so I’m not sure where to find them. She may put them online later. She posted today a picture of Marilyn Monroe in a Cadillac given to her by Jack Benny after she was on his TV show. She’s holding a picture of Abraham Lincoln, and Alison says she was a fan of his.
http://alisonmartino.com/
What is the Petersen Motorama?
Actually this is the “Golden Sahara II” a redesign of the Original and when all the gagets were added.
Video of it in action below:
https://youtu.be/n72FLMtSs4U