1954 Kaiser Darrin Convertible for sale! Motorcar Classics is pleased to offer this unique Kaiser Darrin, 1 of only 435 production cars ever made.
Legend holds that Howard "Dutch" Darrin's design for a sports car built of that new post-war miracle material, fiberglass, did not particularly move industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. Kaiser was a practical sort, and there was not much 'practical' about this sporty roadster. For his wife, Alyce, it was another story altogether, and in the end, Henry J.'s salesman side gave the lady what she wanted. The Kaiser-Darrin was America's first production fiberglass sports car, with its prototype debuting in fall 1952-just ahead of the Chevrolet Corvette (although production did not begin until 1954).
It was powered by the reliable Willys 161-cubic inch "Hurricane" F-head six-cylinder engine, and its design became a legend off 1950s motoring, with sweeping front fenders that plunged behind the doors into a "Darrin dip," a split windshield, and a distinctive "rosebud" grille, which, it was commented, always looked like it wanted to give someone a kiss.
Most fascinating of all were Darrin's beloved "pocket" doors, which slide forward into the front fenders to permit entry and exit. Darrin promoted sliding doors for decades, claiming that they were a very safe alternative as they did not open into traffic. While the idea never quite caught on, they remain a Kaiser-Darrin trademark, and one of its best-remembered features."
This example comes to us on consignment with its current longtime local Long Island, NY owner. The odometer reads 8,282 miles on the original engine which was rebuilt approximately 25 years ago. Presented in Yellow Satin paint and matching Satin yellow upholstery this Kaiser is in excellent condition and has won Best In Show at various car events. The paint and interior are original and in excellent condition along with the brightwork. The car runs and drives well and is mechanically sound. The wheels are 15 -inch steel equipped with factory stainless steel wire wheel covers paired with extra wide white wall tires to complete the look.
This is undoubtedly one of the finest American sport cars designs ever produced. There have been several attempts to recreate this design but to date this still is the only example of a fiberglass sliding door roadster in existence. This example comes with a dust car cover, 6 volt battery minder, Hershey Award, detachable satin yellow isinglass side curtains and wooden storage case, original manual and original parts list catalogue. This historic car is ready for its next caretaker!
