“Dad always told us kids, – ‘If the museum starts costing you money, then liquidate everything and move on.'” Dusty continued, “Roy and Dale’s fans are still out there, but they are getting up in years and don’t travel like they used to. I spoke with Roy’s son, Roy ‘Dusty’ Rogers, Jr., last summer when he was in town for Brian Lebel’s Old West Auction, about the closing of the museum. It was part of the very well publicized auction of Roy Rogers memorabilia. The car was first displayed at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evens Museum in Victorville, Calif., and, for the past 10 years, at the Roy Rogers museum in Branson, Miss. It is in perfect condition for a 1963 car and has 28,107 actual miles on the speedomoter.

The Nudie Mobile on display at the National Western Stock Show is a perfect and well preserved example of the customized cars that Nudie Cohn designed. Porter Wagoner said he had accumulated 52 Nudie Suits, costing between $11,000 and $18,000 each. John Lennon was a customer, as were John Wayne, Gene Autry, Cher, Ronald Reagan, Elton John, Tony Curtis, Michael Landon, Glenn Campbell, Hank Williams, and numerous musical groups, notably Chicago and ZZ Top. He designed the iconic costume worn by Robert Redford in the 1979 film “Electric Horseman.” Many of the film costumes worn by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were Nudie designs. Among his most famous creations was Elvis Presley’s $10,000 gold lame suit. Many of Nudie Cohn’s designs became signature looks for their owners. He also became famous for his outrageous customized automobiles. Nudie Cohn (1902-1984) was known for designing rhinestone-covered suits, known popularly as “Nudie Suits,” for some of the most famous celebrities of his era.

Visitors to the 2011 National Western Stock Show have a rare opportunity to see a customized “Nudie Mobile.” If you did not grow up in the 1950s or 60s or are a fan of Hollywood Westerns, then Nudie Cohen and Nudie Suits are probably not familiar to you.

Porter saddle collectors