I enjoyed telling the story of Kookie's Kar in the September, 2018 issue of Classic Car Round-Up. The previous owner, Jim "Street" Skonzakes sold it at a recent Mecum Auction. His estate had several boats, hydroplanes and cars up for sale and I originally wasn't planning on writing about the George Barris crafted "Golden Sahara" custom. But several readers remembered seeing it paired with Kookie's Kar at various promotions and sent me their memories, so this column will focus on this classic custom that was a mainstay in the late 50's and 60's at car shows and dealer promotions across the country.
One loyal subscriber, William Bobb, wrote - I just got my September issue of Classic Car Round-Up. I read your article on Kookie's Kar. Although the car has changed a lot over the years, I remember the car because of your story. My dad took me down to the local Chevy dealership back in the 60's. I'm 65 now but I still have the picture of it when it was in its TV form.
Setting on the TV set of the show 77 Sunset Strip. Thanks for the whole story of it. Did not know whatever happened to the car 'til now. I always knew the car as Kookie's Hot Rod. Sorry I left out some of the story if you haven't figured it out. The car was displayed at the dealer ship with another car called the Sahara back in the 60's.
So sit back and let me tell you about the Golden Sahara. Like the Kookie T-Bucket, this car went through several variations. George Barris took a friend's 1953 Lincoln Capri hardtop and went to town. The top of the car was allegedly crushed during an accident so Barris had free rein to make some alterations to the car. His shop planted a wraparound windshield and half of a bubble top for a roof. He painted it a gold pearl, actually using fish scales to create that "pearl" look. He gold plated the rear fenders and included air scoops in them. Of course it had tail fins.
The interior was done in gold and white, with a white mink carpet. It included a television, tape recorder, and a refrigerator. Barris coined the name "Golden Sahara" and it debuted in Los Angeles in 1954. It was an immediate hit and the public demanded to see it in person, so of course Skonzakes accommodated the public with a road trip across the country.
But two years later, in 1956 Skonzakes took it off the road for a "refresh" by an Ohio shop and they went crazy. They added quad headlights and swapped out the tail fins for a double set of fins. The roofline and hood were altered and the windshield raked back further. Then they really went to town adding a slew of electronics that could remotely control the car. A lever in the center of the car controlled speed and braking, like an airplane. They installed an automatic braking system that used feelers to sense approaching objects. The rims actually had glass centers that allowed for turn signals and the tires glowed in the dark.
The remote could start and stop the engine, open doors and in effect this might be considered an "autonomous" car. It now was called the "Golden Sahara II" and was in the Jerry Lewis film Cinderfella. The car and Skonzakes was featured in an episode of television's I've Got a Secret. The futuristic styling was a public winner and Skonzakes toured the car again, often using female models in gold body paint to pose with it.
Just like the Kookie Kar, Skonzakes took the car off the show circuit unexpectedly and squirreled it away at his shop. Regretfully time was not good to her and it showed its age when auctioned at the Indianapolis Mecum Auction. But it still garnered a winning bid of $385,000. Here's hoping that the new owner can restore this one of a kind beauty to its golden glory.
Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions
©2018 Mark C. Bach