1958 Golden Sahara II
INCREDIBLE 1958 GOLDEN SAHARA II FUTURE CAR HAD LIGHT-UP TYRES AND A REMOTE CONTROL
The Golden Sahara II was the brainchild of visionary Jim Street and legendary car customizer George Barris. The Jet Age’s influence of this car is clear, from the aircraft-inspired grille and tailfins to the fighter canopy glass. Inside, a control stick, reminiscent of an airplane, handled acceleration, braking, and steering duties.
Like its namesake, the automotive ‘Golden Sahara’ enthralled wherever it went, and for good reason – for that was its very purpose. With an eye-catching finish in pearlescent white paint combined with several dazzling gold embellishments, the Golden Sahara was the definition of sheer decadence on wheels, and the result of one man’s perseverance to create his dream car.
Most of those who were drawn over to take a better look at the Golden Sahara would’ve struggled to believe that this stunner started out as a somewhat mangled Lincoln Capri from 1953. The Lincoln had belonged to car customizer George Barris, when it suffered an accident that literally peeled the top off, as well as significantly damaging most of the body.
The front-end of the Lincoln was cut-off completely and an alternative face with an oval-shaped grille was constructed. A handmade wireframe provided the foundation for most of the bodywork behind, with sheet metal being shaped and welded to create an entirely unique profile.
One of the most dramatic features were the rear fenders, each with twin tail fins that fitted around taillights taken from a 1954 Kaiser Manhattan. Between the tail fins was a trunk lid that incorporated a steel spare tire cover from a 1930s car. Up front, a futuristic pre-production wraparound windscreen was sourced from the Lincoln Mercury dealer parts department and was completed with a glistening gold surround.
A thin T-top canopy, complete with lift-up Plexiglas panels, was constructed in the workshop, while the manufacture of an enormous and curved rear window also made of Plexiglas was commissioned out to a local company in Los Angeles. All components could be fixed in place or removed entirely to make the Golden Sahara a full convertible.
To keep attention focussed on the bold lines that had been so painstakingly crafted by hand, Street opted for a white car. Street may have chosen a modest colour but this most certainly did not apply to the gold-plated ornamental trim lavishly applied onto the front grille, on a stripe that ran down the middle of the bonnet, wheels, rear bumperettes and, most noticeably, along the bottom half of the rear fenders. The gold contrasted well against the white, delivering a bold look.
Developed by Goodyear and made from a see-through synthetic rubber known as Neothane, the tires were translucent and could be internally illuminated. They were said to improve night visibility and safety, in the movie they just looked oh-so-cool. Further complimenting the lit-effect from the Neothane tires were crystal hubcaps that had turn signals built into the rim, which would blink on and off and thus serve as indicators.
Various rumours on the whereabouts of America’s automotive darling circled but they always came to nothing. A car that had been known all across the US lingered on in the memory of those who’d lived through 1950s America, most likely assumed to be yet another flash in the pan. A fitting, if inaccurate comparison, of a car that possessed so much gold-plated ornamental work to highlight its graceful features.
Those products and services of the future involve a new design study for a wheel with flexible spokes that double as propellers, potentially allowing for flying cars to finally take off. It’s heartening to know that some people never stop dreaming.
