mod@tech

More than a simple vehicle, the Golden Sahara II is a time capsule of 1950s futuristic fantasy. This legendary custom car, a wild reinvention of a wrecked 1953 Lincoln Capri, pushed the boundaries of automotive design and technology. From its transparent roof and gleaming gold trim to its most famous feature—the glowing tires—this car captured the imagination of a generation. After spending nearly 50 years hidden away, its dramatic rediscovery and restoration have brought this visionary custom car back into the spotlight.

The masterminds behind the masterpiece: Barris and Street

The story of the Golden Sahara II begins with two visionaries: acclaimed custom car builder George Barris and his client, Jim “Street” Skonzakes. After Barris’s personal 1953 Lincoln was damaged, Street commissioned an ambitious new project, sparing no expense to create a truly outrageous show car. Starting with the original Golden Sahara, the vehicle was later dramatically re-engineered into the even more radical Golden Sahara II in the early 1960s.

A car of tomorrow: The Golden Sahara II’s groundbreaking features

The Golden Sahara II was a showcase of technology decades ahead of its time. For 1958, its list of features was nothing short of science fiction:

Illuminated Tires: The most iconic feature was a set of custom-made Neothane synthetic rubber tires by Goodyear. Lit from within by internal bulbs, these translucent tires glowed, a dazzling spectacle that cemented the car’s legend.

Remote Control: The car could be driven remotely using a television-style remote control. This allowed Street to perform tricks for crowds, giving the impression that the car was driving itself.

Aircraft-Style Controls: Inside, the conventional steering wheel was replaced with an aircraft-inspired yoke, and a central lever controlled acceleration and braking.

Early Obstacle Sensors: Short antennas on the front bumper were integrated with an early concept of an automatic braking system, designed to stop the car if it detected an obstacle.

Luxury and Entertainment: The cabin was pure opulence, featuring gold and white upholstery, mink carpeting, a reel-to-reel tape recorder, and a dash-mounted television.

Lost and found: A Legendary Restoration

After touring for years and even appearing in the Jerry Lewis film Cinderfella, the Golden Sahara II was mysteriously stored away by Jim Street in the 1970s and disappeared from public view for decades. The car’s legend grew during its long slumber.

Following Street’s death in 2017, the custom classic re-emerged in a deteriorated state at a Mecum auction in 2018, where it sold for $385,000. It was purchased by Chicago’s Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum, owned by the late Larry Klairmont, who sent the historic icon to Speakeasy Customs and Classics for a painstaking restoration to bring the car back to its former glory. With help from Goodyear, which created modern, LED-lit replacements for the famous translucent tires, the project was a resounding success.

The fully restored Golden Sahara II was dramatically unveiled at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, where it stood alongside cutting-edge modern supercars and drew immense attention. The car, now in-between ownership, continues to be a star attraction, serving as a powerful reminder of an era of unbounded automotive creativity and future-forward design.

Larry Klairmont, the museum’s founder and collector, sadly passed away in July, leaving behind the Golden Sahara II among hundreds of other collector cars. The entire collection, including this custom beauty, is heading to auction at the end of this month.

The post The Golden Sahara II, A Legendary Custom Car With Glowing Tires, Is Heading to Auction appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.

For automotive enthusiasts and collectors, the Shelby name conjures images of powerful V8 engines, raw performance, and the legendary Cobra. However, in the late 1990s, Carroll Shelby pursued a different path, designing and building a car entirely from scratch rather than modifying an existing model. The result was the Shelby Series 1, an ambitious, modern roadster that, despite its troubled history, remains a fascinating and exclusive chapter in American automotive lore.

The genesis of a modern classic

Conceived as a modern reinterpretation of the Cobra, the Series 1 was first unveiled as a prototype at the 1997 Los Angeles Auto Show and released for the 1999 model year. This was the only car in Carroll Shelby’s extensive history to be designed and built from the ground up by Shelby American, a fact that gives it a special place in the lineage. Shelby’s vision was to combine the classic roadster feel with contemporary technology and performance.

Innovative engineering and design

The Series 1 was a forward-thinking machine built for performance. Its chassis was constructed from extruded and formed 6061 aluminum, with aluminum honeycomb panels bonded into the floorboards and rocker panels for added strength and stiffness. This advanced construction, more commonly seen in race cars, resulted in a featherlight curb weight of just 2,650 pounds. For the body panels, Shelby American employed a composite of carbon fiber and fiberglass, further reducing weight and enhancing rigidity. A double-wishbone suspension with inboard cantilevered coil-over shocks was utilized at all four corners, a setup that was praised for its balance and impressive grip.

A surprising heart and formidable performance

Breaking from the traditional Ford V8 engine expected in a Shelby, the Series 1 was powered by a 4.0-liter DOHC Aurora V8 sourced from General Motors’ Oldsmobile division. Though an unusual choice, this engine was derived from an Indy Racing League power unit and was surprisingly sophisticated for its time. In its naturally aspirated form, it produced a respectable 320 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. The engine was mounted behind the front axle and paired with a six-speed manual ZF transaxle, which helped achieve a near-perfect weight distribution. This combination was good for a 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph. A supercharged option was also offered, boosting output to as much as 450 horsepower and dropping the 0-60 time to just over four seconds.

Production woes and a collector’s legacy

Despite its cutting-edge design and impressive performance, the Series 1 had a difficult journey to market. Only 249 units were officially produced between 1999 and 2005, a far cry from the originally planned 500. Production challenges included regulatory red tape, financial issues, and a steep price tag of around $110,000 to begin with, which made it a tough sell compared to established sports cars. After regulatory certifications expired, some of the final cars were sold as “component cars” without an engine or transmission. The use of some GM parts-bin components for the interior also disappointed some potential buyers expecting a bespoke cabin.

Today, the Shelby Series 1 is a rare and unique collectible. It represents a brief but important moment in automotive history when Carroll Shelby pursued a singular vision. While it may have been overlooked by many at the time, its rarity, engineering, and place in Shelby’s personal history have solidified its status as an underappreciated gem. For collectors, it offers an exclusive piece of the Shelby legacy, representing not a modification of another’s creation, but a true original.

The post The Shelby Series 1: Carroll Shelby’s Forgotten Oldsmobile-Powered Supercar appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.

Love dogs and classic pickup trucks? Get geared up for the 2025 Fall Carlisle Auction, which is once again putting the power of the collector car community behind a worthy cause.  As part of the 2025 Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction, happening October 2–3 at the Carlisle Expo Center, Carlisle Auctions is proud to announce a charity partnership with Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue to benefit the Pups for Vets program.

Crossing the block during the auction will be a 1952 GMC 1-Ton Pickup, with 100-percent of the hammer price going directly to Harley’s Haven.  This nonprofit initiative helps connect veterans with rescue dogs in need of forever homes, while covering adoption fees and providing vital resources to ensure a successful match.  It’s anticipated that this 1952 GMC will be the first consignment to cross the block on Friday, October 3 at approximately 10:30 a.m.  

About Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue

Founded in honor of his father and grandfather—both military veterans with a passion for dogs—Jon Beagle, along with co-founder Laura Montai, created Pups for Vets as a way to serve veterans while giving dogs a second chance. Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the Philadelphia region, provides the pups and fosters until they’re matched with their new families.

“This cause is deeply personal to me,” said Beagle. “My father served in Vietnam and my grandfather in World War II. They were my heroes, and their love of dogs was my inspiration. With support from Carlisle Auctions and the sale of this incredible GMC, we can continue changing lives—for both veterans and the dogs they adopt.”

All Proceeds From the GMC 1-Ton Truck Go to the Rescue

Carlisle Auctions is waving all buyer and seller fees for this consignment, ensuring that every dollar raised from the sale of the truck goes directly to Harley’s Haven and Pups for Vets.

1952 GMC 1-Ton truck values vary significantly by condition, ranging from around $18,400 for a low-retail example to $101,900 for a high-retail, high-quality restoration, with individual sale prices from private sellers and auctions falling within a broad spectrum based on these factors. Factors like original parts, customizations, maintenance history, and overall cosmetic appeal heavily influence a truck’s final price.

“Charity consignments like this showcase the true heart of the collector car hobby,” said Tony Cline, Director of Auction Operations at Carlisle Auctions.  “We are happy to be working with Jon again to help a wonderful cause.  Every bid makes a difference.”

The Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction runs October 2–3 in conjunction with Fall Carlisle (Oct. 1–5) at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. To learn more about the auction or to register to bid, visit CarlisleAuctions.com. To explore Harley’s Haven and Pups for Vets, visit harleyshavendogrescue.com.

The post 1952 GMC 1-Ton Truck Sale To Benefit Dog Rescue at Fall Carlisle Auction appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.

The Chevrolet small block, regardless of its displacement, has been a cornerstone of the OHV V8 legacy. Fortunately, the engine’s global appeal and its appearance in over 50 years of OE production has benefitted performance enthusiasts due to the automotive aftermarket’s abundance of new speed-part technology, to the extent that it includes those parts that appear nostalgic but provide 21st century technology.

In this episode of the Summit Racing 70th Anniversary small block Chevrolet engine build, Evan and Mike install alloy cylinder heads and a roller-cam valvetrain on the fresh Summit Racing SPC short block.  The cylinder heads are Trick Flow DHC 200s which mimic Chevrolet camel hump castings for the perfect vintage look, but with modern CNC ported runners. Follow along as the short block fills out into a long block on its way to the engine dyno!

Miss the first episode of this series? It all starts here.

Fuel your knowledge with these handy links too:

 • OnAllCylinders Blog – https://www.onallcylinders.com/

• Summit Racing – https://www.summitracing.com/

The post Video: Assembling the Top End of a 435ci Small Block Chevrolet Sleeper Engine appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.

There’s no denying the lasting appeal of Chevy’s Camaro, launched for 1967 as a direct competitor to the hugely successful Ford Mustang but soon creating a following all its own. Though the Camaro had always been available in practical, attainable trim levels, the model has also consistently exuded an attitude of sporting performance, and from the very beginning, the Camaro lineup has included variants dedicated to just that. Initially it was the Super Sport, with exclusive engine offerings and trim, continuing a legacy that had already been launched with the Impala and then bolstered by the Nova and Chevelle.

But before the first model year was over, Chevy introduced a special package for the Camaro to homologate certain equipment for use in the SCCA’s Trans-Am series; it would quickly come to be known by its production code: Z/28. In 1969, Chevy dealer Don Yenko convinced the right people in Detroit to allow Chevy’s Central Office Production Order system to be used to install 427 engines in Camaros (and Novas and Chevelles) on the assembly line when such things were supposed to be forbidden by GM’s own displacement restrictions.

The list of performance-tinged Camaros is long and is brought to mind regularly while perusing listings of classics being offered online. This time around, we happened upon a few Camaros of varied eras, each with different intentions, but all having a knack for getting us to look a little deeper into their details.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro

The popularity of muscle cars like the first-generation Chevy Camaro SS and Z/28, as well as the 427-powered COPO models, provided the inspiration for the creation of the many “clones” or “tributes” that have been built through the years from standard Camaros. But then there are some first-gen Camaros that have been upfitted with the select bits and pieces from other models simply to suit their owner’s tastes.  

This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is a good example of that. Though it wears Z/28 emblems and deck stripes, along with spoilers and 15-inch Rally wheels, its seller is quick to point out that this car was not born a Z. The presence of a TH350 automatic transmission is the most apparent clue that this Camaro isn’t trying to fool anyone (all ’69 Z/28s were four-speeds). In this case, the small-block under the hood is a 350, upgraded with aluminum heads. This car also has four-wheel disc brakes using what appears to be the style of GM calipers and rotors used on ’79-’81 Trans Ams with the WS6 option. 

Camaros like this are an expression of enthusiasts’ desires to incorporate various preferred features—a hot rodding staple—and examples like this one can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, from a simple cruise night to a road trip to a bracket race at the local drag strip and beyond. 

1999 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Back in 1996, the retro movement hadn’t yet taken hold in the auto industry, though it soon would. For fans of legacy models like the Camaro, nostalgia was already a powerful force, so when Chevrolet announced the return of the Camaro SS—not seen since the 1972 model year—it sparked real excitement. 

Then, when the new variant emerged wearing retro-styled “SS” emblems that harked to the ‘60s and early ‘70s, that tug at the heartstrings intensified. Fortunately, the new SS wasn’t just about flash: The 1996 Camaro SS featured a composite hood with a functional ram-air scoop that helped boost the engine to 305 hp from 285. It also received revised suspension tuning, a “ducktail” rear spoiler, and 17-inch wheels (the Z28 still used 16s) that were styled just like the ones from the last Corvette ZR-1. 

Adding to the muscle car vibe of the new SS was the fact that the special equipment was added by SLP, a well-known late-model performance specialist, and that the work was done at a dedicated facility, reminiscent of the way Hurst and other specialists had worked with Detroit automakers to upfit certain models during the heyday. 

This example of the fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro SS is from the later years, after the ’98 “facelift” and the change to the LS1 engine, which was rated at 320 hp in the SS that year. These were great performers in their day and were probably the lightest cars ever to receive an LS from the factory. What makes this one unusual and, in our view, even cooler, is its lack of T-tops, giving it a more performance-oriented vibe; plus, it’s a six-speed manual. Also neat is the little detail of the red-trimmed SS emblems, which were only used on black cars. 

With only 18,000 miles and looking like it has lived a pampered life, it’s no surprise that the seller sounds like a serious enthusiast who went to lengths to preserve this car, adding only 18,000 miles from new and storing it in a garage on jackstands; he also maintained all of its original documentation. As a bonus, it even has the optional Torsen differential and Hurst shifter. This ’99 Camaro SS seems like a great find at a quite reasonable price.  

2014 Chevrolet Camaro COPO

It was a big deal to Camaro fans, and really to anyone who enjoyed muscle cars, when Chevrolet reintroduced the Camaro for 2010 after having killed the storied model off after 2002. What made the return even sweeter was the effort on GM’s part to style the new car as a clear homage to the first-generation Camaro. Still, even the most hardcore Camaro geeks probably couldn’t have dreamed that Chevy would bring back the vaunted “COPO” term, yet it happened for 2013. 

Originally, COPO stood for Central Office Production Order (or Production Option, depending on who you ask)—an internal method used mostly for ordering fleet vehicles. But, in 1969, it was employed to put 427 engines in Camaros (and Chevelles and Novas) on the assembly line that were not supposed to have them. 

Decades later, COPO seemed like the perfect name for Chevy’s entry into the factory-built drag car wars, intended to do battle with Ford’s Cobra Jet Mustangs that debuted for 2008 and Dodge’s Challenger Drag Paks that followed in 2009, all of them aimed at NHRA Super Stock competition.

During the time that Chevy built the modern COPO Camaro factory drag cars, which spanned from 2013 to 2023, only 69 were produced each year, and getting the green light to order one usually required winning a lottery drawing. However, this 2014 Chevrolet Camaro COPO and in virtually new condition from what the seller shares. This one was built with the supercharged 350-cu.in. engine, one of the available offerings for that year. As a bonus, it also includes a new, crated LS7 427-cu.in. V-8, which was another COPO option for 2014; both engines are said to be serialized to this car. This car also has the Weld Racing-produced wheel package available for 2014 COPOs. 

This list of equipment and details the seller lays out is lengthy and makes clear that this car is either a perfect collectible or an excellent nearly turn-key racer. Or maybe it’s both. In any case, this is a rare opportunity to acquire an example of a rare piece of Camaro racing history from a chapter that has closed. 

The post Camaros From Across The Generations Are Waiting For You At Hemmings appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.