It's not done yet but here is a couple of pics. Same blue metallic paint, old school flames, red interior, white roll /pleat deck lid .Got any of yours ?
Once again, dads pictures Rik used in his book taken on Sioux City Sent from my SM-J320V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I can't even imagine doing anything but faithfully restoring Norm's car to it's Life Magazine persona. Watson, Shmatson. Who cares? All he did was spray paint on it. In fact, I'd guess that the original blue paint is still under the tasteless white Watson-applied finish...
I like the blue version, and it was the main reason I watched the TV show. But when you think about it, Norm's T could have been played by just about any cool T of the day, like Ivo's for example. Regardless, I wonder why no model kit of Norm's T was ever made (that I can remember). I would have bought quite a few of them. Gary
Just my opinion but the Golden Sahara was an example of what could be done with enough money, but the Kookie car was an inspiration to thousands of kids to try and build a car. You could not build the Golden Sahara in your garage- it cost 25,000 to build back then, but a T was easy to find. I think many of us found out that we did not have Norm's skills or eye though.
100% agree. I have no interest in the white version. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Wish I did. Not that far along yet. Been collecting my favorite and hard to find parts for years. Almost there. Waiting for some to be shipped in now. Getting very excited.
From Rik Hoving's article: "Jim had told me about the Radar Security business and how it came from all the electronics Jim and Henry Meyer had developed for the Golden Sahara. Jim ran the Radar Security business for over 30 years. By the time Palle and I visited Jim in the building it had been closed down as the security business, and he used the building as storage for part of his collection." https://www.customcarchronicle.com/...s-customizer/jim-street-collection-uncovered/
the kookie car, imo, is a tasteful, timeless thing. golden sahara is barris at his worst; total excess.
Since there are only a dozen or so Kookie clones around now, If it were MINE, I'd pull all the "dual" stuff off and keep in the white and red Watson version. There's only so many original Watson paint jobs around. That makes this car pretty special for that reason alone!
What the hell is that thing? I just got an e-mail from Mecum auction and they have for auction the Norm Grabowski "Kookie" T. I can't believe they would use that history to try and sell whatever that is. Pat
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0112sr-norm-grabowski-kookie-kar/ The build details....also I noticed it ran 103 mph with the Caddy engine in the 1/4 mile, maybe that's about a low-mid 13 sec?
This isn’t the first cool hot rod to get taken apart and changed into some unrecognizable dream. Someone should take a heat gun and a razor blade and save the Watson paint job. It could then be displayed in a vintage mayonnaise jar for future generations to marvel at. Just my opinion... which is equally as valuable as all the other opinions... in my opinion. Sam
Holy crap there's some incredible boats coming out of his collection! I bet a couple of those boats will probably bring as much money as the GS or the Kookie T!
There are lots of comments regarding the Watson paint job; but if you look at the photos in the auction listing, it looks as if the paint is in pretty bad condition. Pretty much past saving I would think.
HE is a SHE, Norm's niece. She was with him to the end, (endsville) saw to his health needs and said farewell.
It was suppossd to be Tweedy Pie until production started. The owner backed out last minute when he found out an actor was going to be driving his car around. Norm filled in at zero-hour with his T. Tweedy Pie is a cooler T than Norm's in my opinion, and that fateful decision to back out changed the course of hot rod history in immeasurable ways. I love the Kookie car, but a "restoration" is not required after Franco's effort. It would be more of a recreation than a restoration at this point anyhow. Sent from my LGLS992 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
O.K., Now knock Bitcoin. 1.) Were the original 'replaced parts' included in the sale? 2.) Will we get updated, or is the new owner a 'non-HAMBer'? 3.) Might Revell of Germany finally release a kit of this former Icon? 4.) Can Franco clone this last version?
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