1 of 435: 1954 Kaiser Darrin Project Drop-Top
Small European sports cars were starting to catch fire in the early 1950s, leading Chevrolet to pioneer the Corvette as an American-made alternative. Fledging independent manufacturer Kaiser-Frazer also got into the act with the Kaiser Darrin, the second of two American sports cars with fiberglass bodies. But it would last only one year (1954) and no more than 435 copies were ever built. The seller has a disassembled project that may be largely complete, waiting for someone to put the pieces together again.
Since Kaiser-Frazer was short on funds, they contracted Howard “Dutch” Darrin to design their sports car based on the Henry J sedan. It was one of the last initiatives of the company that moved on from car production in the mid-1950s by buying Willys, turning its attention and limited resources to Jeep production. The cars were powered by a 161 cubic inch flathead-six (90 hp) and a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive.
It’s estimated that maybe 300 of these rare cars are still around, a rather stout survival rate. We’re told this one was painted Mint Green before all the grey primer was applied. We assume a restoration was started but stalled with a few pieces left to be accounted for (convertible top, radiator, and steering wheels, at a minimum). The seller’s car is said to be number 283 out of the 435 assembled. More fiberglass work is needed, including refitting the sliding side doors which were a trademark of this car.
The original drivetrain is gone, with a rebuilt 331 cubic inch Cadillac V8 and LaSalle transmission now available for installation. We’re told the seller will consider a trade but would rather thin the herd instead. From Vancouver, Washington, this noble project is available here on craigslist for $22,500 (one dollar for every mile on the odometer). Is this an undertaking you’d like to tackle? BTW, our thanks to “Zappenduster” for the tip!
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Comments
Sorry, folks. Vancouver is either in British Columbia, Canada, or in Washington, USA, right across the northern border of Oregon, but NOT in Oregon. This car is in Vancouver, WA.
Fixed. Google led me astray.
This looks like one of those “labor of love” projects that would appeal mainly to a Kaiser-Frazer (or Darrin) fan with lots of time and money to lavish on it. At $22.5K, it will be underwater very, very soon. I hope there’s a big fan out there.
Fun Fact: after K-F stopped building these, Dutch Darrin took some to his shop in California and fitted Cadillac engines to them. So I suppose if one can’t find a proper “161” six, this wouldn’t be as inaccurate a swap as, say, the ubiquitous SBC.
I have seen one before restored and can say very cool cars with the sliding pocket book type doors.
Good luck in sale and drop a six back in the car please …
That fiberglass is in sad shape. It looks like someone used the wrong chemical to strip the paint and ate into the gelcoat.
Good writeup except the Henry J never came in sedan form. Came only in two door. The same outfit that built the fibreglass bodies for KF was also building the fibreglass bodies for the Corvettes at the same time.
The body will require someone well versed in it’s repair. I looked at a 58 Vette 10 years ago that got stripped of its gel coat and pushed outside for 20 years. A arm mounts rotted off the and the suspension was jammed up into the frt fenders. I poked the body gently and my finger went through it. I figure it got scrapped along with the 38 Chevy coupe with a V8 that sat net to it as they both disappeared.
I have restored two of this model and know all the problems with the restoration. I would only be interested in a sales price in the range of $8,000 as paint, fiberglass repair, lost instruments, wiring, etc will really hit you hard.
What about the claim that it was the famous Ray Sinatra car?