The Golden Sahara II brings the past back to life

This is the Golden Sahara II, a freshly restored show car from the '50s that claims to be one of the world's first autonomous car concepts.

This golden vision was a joint project between Goodyear and famed Hollywood car customizer George Barris during the Jet Age.

Based on a 1953 Lincoln Capri hardtop, this one-off show car, commissioned by Ohioan Jim Street, has been the subject of an intensive restoration effort ahead of its debut here at the Geneva Motor Show.

Get past the car's outrageous Barris bodywork and focus on the '50s future tech: The Golden Sahara II employs an "aircraft-inspired control lever for acceleration, braking and steering," and it featured a sensor-based automatic braking system that relied on antennae to spot objects in front of the car.

The original car, which debuted in 1954, even featured a form of voice control, as well as remote-control doors and engine start.

Goodyear's chief involvement with the car -- both then and now -- is a set of translucent tires made of synthetic rubber.

Dubbed Neothane, the material allows for internal lighting.

Another novel wheel-based feature? Crystal hubcaps that feature built-in turn signals.

This show car cost the then-outrageous sum of $75,000 to be built, but we're guessing the just-completed restoration ended up costing much, much more.

Click or scroll through for lots more shots of this car at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.