1948 Mercury Saturn custom (bob Hope spécial)

The car made its first splash at the 1951 Minnesota Motorama, where it was voted 'Best All-Around Car,' a feat it repeated the following year at the same event. Other shows and awards followed, including television appearances, parades and other promotions, a high point coming when the car won the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award” at the 1954 Miami Motor World Fair. In fact, the ‘Templeton Saturn’s’ career stretched well into the 1970s, but it was on the show circuit that it came to the attention of entertainer Bob Hope, who it is said expressed an interest in using the car in an upcoming movie.