- A reported $100,000-plus comprehensive restoration by a marque specialist
- 2021 AACA National First Prize winner
- 1 of just 435 production examples built
- Designed by Howard "Dutch" Darrin; One-year-only production
LOT 305
Selling on Saturday
1954 Kaiser Darrin Roadster
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
There have been many great automobile designers that have left their mark on the motoring landscape. Among these greats is Howard "Dutch" Darrin, whose design talent was favored among many of Hollywood's elite. If you were famous and you wanted a car with a bit more flair, Howard Darrin was the man to see. This is how such notables as Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Al Jolson, Dick Powell, and Joan Blondell got themselves noticed around Hollywood. Darrin's work was usually found on custom-bodied Packards of the day. He was also responsible for the highly successful Packard Clipper in 1941. Toward the end of his career, Darrin had formed an alliance with Kaiser-Frazer and it was a contentious relationship at best. Henry Kaiser favored the functional and utilitarian look of the automobile while Darrin still longed for the sleek and sexy custom design work to which he was so accustomed. The two adversaries met on the design battlefield in the form of the Kaiser Darrin. Built on the utilitarian Henry J chassis, Darrin used this foundation to come up with what would be the swan song of his design career, the sporty Kaiser Darrin. Believing that there was room in the market for a sports car, Darrin went to work on his car, even financing the project with his own money and working on his own time. He also had heard of the progress being made in the use of glass reinforced plastic for sports car bodies, which would eventually come to be known as fiberglass. He then contracted with the Glasspar Company to build a prototype of his clay mockup in 1952. But even after the design was laid out, it still required the approval of Henry himself, which didn't come easily. When Henry saw it, he rejected it on the spot, but his wife loved the car and it ended up going into production. The rest as they say, is history, but suffice it to say that the Kaiser Darrin became a car that contributed to the American sports car movement that is still evident in the present day.
Featured here is an eye-catching example of a unique American sports car, a comprehensively restored 1954 Kaiser Darrin finished in stunning red with black interior. In total, just 435 production examples and six prototypes were built, as 1954 was the only year these Roadsters were built. Totaling over a reported cost of $100,000, the restoration was performed by a Kaiser Darrin marque expert. Every nut and bolt was tended to, resulting in one of the finest Kaiser Darrins of the 435 originally built. Howard Dutch Darrin's most masterful work is alive and well in this example, as the doors slide open into the front fenders for a smooth and seamless look. The signature design feature of Darrin's work, the "Darrin Dip" in the form of the fender sweep dipping just at the doors, is clearly evident in this example as well.
Power for this Kaiser Darrin comes from its 161-cubic-inch F-head Willys "Hurricane" inline six-cylinder engine that generates a sporting 90 horsepower and is backed by a three-speed manual transmission. Performance is respectable due to its lightweight fiberglass body and a black three-position top makes for a car that can be used in any weather conditions. This example is an excellent running car that is more than capable of extended and reliable touring.
The profile of this sporty car looks great from any angle, but perhaps the best place is behind the wheel. The recipient of an AACA National First Prize Award in 2021 and comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration, this one-year-only Kaiser Darrin would be a pleasing addition to any collection.
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