Anyone know if it still exists? I haven't seen anything about this odd Barris Lincoln since about 1994, in a book Barris wrote then. Said the guy he built it for still owned and drove it then. I've been transfixed with it since I heard about it and saw pictures, even though I think it's one of Barris' least attractive cars.
I believe Jim Skonzakas (Jim Street) still owns the Golden Sahara, Grabowski's "T" and several other cars and has them stored away in Dayton, Ohio. the Golden Sahara is reportedly still the same, but he had the Grabowski car radically modified, with dual slicks etc. Jim woul;d be getting pretty long in the tooth so possibly these cars may become public again. Mick
That belongs to Tom Leichty of Onsted Michigan and was built for his,"son" Iggy.In case you don't know,Iggy is a bear(of the Theodore variety).Tom does a cable tv program called,"Automotive Lifestyles" around here.Tom has been building cars forever.Had a custom 54 Chevy he bought new.(see pic 1)He has a small museum at his house that features the car pictured below(pic 2).Picture 3 shows Tom's custom golf cart w/air suspension and WAY too much other cool stuff to list. The guy must know every customizer in the universe.
Ha ha, that's a model and the license plate is the wrong scale, unless a giant license plate is part of the customizing. Thanks, Kurt
------------------------------------------------------------------- DAMN the computer send the wrong photo-sorry about that, this is what it looks like after Bob Metz restyled it or maybe its Tom Liechty's dream again-------ha ha TwoChops
----------------------------------------------------------------- Bet you don't remember when it looked like this. TwoChops Is it still hot in Michigan?
Wow! I never saw pics of it like that! I'll have to download them(with your permission of course)and bring them out to Tom's;he'll get a kick out of them.His place is only about 10 miles from me.Technically he lists me as his "Art Director" on the program but I really don't do a whole lot. As for the weather;there has been a coating of ice on all the trees(the ones still standing anyway)for the past 3 days and I think it made it up to 25 today(it is officially 22 as I write this).I didn't see the thermometer at the bank go over 16 today personally.
Here is a photo that I got when the car was touring in Clearwater, Florida in 1960. The owner toured it to Ford dealers across the country along with the "Kookie T". Owner Jim Skonkakes, AKA Jim Street reportedly still owns the car in his garage and that has been the end of it for all these years. Sad thing that we may never see it again.
I had heard that it was here in Dayton, and had been (mostly) since Jim Street bought it from Barris. I read about 12 - 13 years ago that the car was still driven fairly regularly, as well. I would love to have seen it when it was, but wasn't afforded a whole lot of time in Dayton then (I've only lived in the Dayton area since 1990).
I have heard about this car for about 15 years and I have lived in the Dayton area all my life and never remember seeing it,what is it made from?. Jeff
Art Director I guess ive never noticed ! Ive missed the program and cant remember when its on here in Jackson. My 30 and my 34 were both on tv a number of times. When I took the 32 to hastings the first summer out and got the 38 inch high trophy tom was at the end of the road when we left an I got another tv shot. Last year not long ago i was heading to Ididit where I chatted with you,,, and Tom was standing on the side of the road! Nother tv spot Ya its dam cold here too Ray.. spitting some **** on the way home .. We dont need anymore ice cause i never lost power and dont want to... Im off to the tv and barrett jackson here in bout 1/2 hour! Dave
Have any of the Dayton area hamber's been able to contact Jim Street? Is he an approachable type guy, who will talk about the cars he owns? Just wondering. Stu
The Jalopy Journal
