Customs GOLDEN SAHARA SELLS FOR $350,000

Frankly, I thought it would bring more. It's history for one and the amazing electronic gadgets were space age. Never mind most think it is not good looking.

 

Beauty, it’s been said, is in the eye of the beholder. I for one thought that the car was a work of art (albeit modern art).


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Did Moriarti get it? I would have bought it but I'd have to live in it.

 

I thought it was, "Beauty is in the eye of BEER holder". HRP

 

The car certainly is a taste to be acquired. Personally, I like it because of the craftsmanship and space age inspiration. It's like that Back to The Future Delorean, but for hot rodders and people that don't eat tide pods or get confused by what gender they are... The car didn't bring nearly as much as I thought, to the right people, it is worth much more. It's not just another custom car, that car was THE cutting edge of its day. Nothing like it had ever been done before and it inspired not only new styling traits within the custom car world, but the technology used in it then, has been catching on with modern vehicles in recent years. It really is a car that paved the way for many things within the automotive industry and made its place as one of the most iconic cars to ever be built. Not to mention the history of the car being one of Barris' personal cars, and later being in a Jerry Lewis film and used in countless auto show promotions and so on.

That said, I'd rather see the car preserved as is, than restored. Maybe, at most, fix the electrical systems, keep and fix what's there to run it all and make the car a functional piece once again if one dares, certainly do nothing aesthetically to it though. The historical value of what is there, outweighs any that it would have if redone. Definitely would be nice to see this car return to the show circuit and be as mind boggling today as it was back in 1955. The mass majority of today's generation has never really seen anything like it, and they'd start to get the understanding that not all "new" things to them, are really new. The car can still serve a purpose and be appreciated if shown to the public. Even the Petersen Museum would be a good way to care for it, preserve it and present it to the public, I don't think another spot as a private collection dust collector is the life that car deserves.

 

Kookie Kar $440,000

 

I watched a youtube video of it being on the "I've got a Secret" TV show from 1962 with Jim Street showing all of the unheard at the time electronics it had. Just amazing. He could drive it outside the car. Look it up on youtube under GOLDEN SAHARA II JIM STREET.

 

Wow! Wonder who the new care taker is????

 

This is the video. HRP



After watching the video I am more impressed with the work and all to electronics that have become commonplace in the world we live in now. HRP

 

This reminds me of a contemporary statement made about the Chrysler Airflow : "No matter how advanced, an ugly design won't sell" (for what we think it should).

 

Thanks Danny. You have to see this to believe it. I read somewhere Jim Street did all the electronic devices himself and that he was early into home security electronics development and made a fortune.

 

If I had got it, I couldn’t leave it as is. And the only one to get it right would be Junior Conway. Hope it went to a good home.

 

I wonder if they went to the same person. Will be interesting to see where they go from here. I would like to see the kookie kar go back to its original configuration.

Cliff Ramsdell

 

I read somewhere ( HAMB ) that the current paintjob is a Larry Watson paint job...............which would you choose ? Back to Norm's hot rod or treasure an artist piece of work

 

I was at the auction. I have to give big credit to Mecum for putting together an outstanding display for the Golden Sahara. The display was right out of an auto show. Amazing graphics, and a professionally made and constantly running audio/video presentation. I bet the Mecum-created display costs in excess of 50K? Unfortunately, I only took one photo of the display, as it was usually mobbed with people. I apologize for the poor quality photo, maybe someone has a better one? This photo does the presentation no justice what so ever.

On one level, the car maybe should have brought more money. However, reality is this is an unrestored custom that really can't be used as-is and restoring it would take away from its historical value. It would be a great, static museum piece, but how many museums are buying things like this? Not many.

Having sold some historically significant rods and customs, I can speak from experience that the actual cash market for these cars has never been is strong as the interest. While there is a lot of appreciation and genuine knowledge about these cars, the people that appreciate them the most don't have the money to purchase them. The other part of the equation is that hot rods and customs are "personal" cars and the guys that have the big money to spend, want a creation of their own, not something someone else made. They would rather spend the big bucks having an Autorama or GNRS contender built.

 

So,should it be restored,or left as it is?

 

That’s a great question. Would love to hear some well though out answers to that one.

 

JMO, but I think it should be restored back to it's former glory. It was built to be an awe inspiring vehicle. Not as it sits. It , to me is a car that has been neglected for too long. Needs to be inspiring again. Younger people will look at the run down car and probably shrug their shoulders and walk away. It needs to be restored. Again, JMO. Lippy

 

Yes the paint really degraded,given that he probably used the best paint available at the time,perhaps the problem was with the fish scales or clear coat.I dont buy that it is just age,as there are numerius examples of cars from the 30s ,40s and 50s with original paint that are still bright and glossy.

 

I don't believe it can be appreciated as is. There are very few collectors that knew what this car was and how much it impacted our world until it surfaced recently. If it had changed hands a few times over the last 50 years and received the publicity from that it would be a totally different story today and more cherished, therefore more valuable.
It deserves to be brought back to 1956 condition when it did get overwhelming attention.

 

Altho I personally am not a fan. This really is the best option. I. M. H. O. Snowman

 

Guy named Ross. Don't know his last name. He is going to restore it. He was bidding about 15 feet away from Jim's widow, Sally. He's going to invite her to see it when it's done. Supposedly keeping the paint job.

 

Not just home security. Government security. He was a genius.

 

Did not go to same person.

 

He says he is keeping the paint job.

 

True!

 

they show it driving around in the Jerry Lewis movie "Cinderfella" looks good driving down the road. I always thought it was just a big useless blob. spoiler alert: his driver turns into a fish and the car turns into a bicycle

 

Great picture except for the guy in the middle.

 

Larry Klairmont, Klairmont Collections