The seller says that this 1954 Kaiser Darrin is all original and has never been restored and that’s amazing. Just the paint alone is in incredible condition to be 67 years old and all original. On top of that, this one has 22,000 miles on it. The seller has it listed here on craigslist in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona and they’re asking $99,000. Thanks to MattR for sending in this tip!
The first thing that strikes me, other than the superb overall condition, is the paint color. It looks aqua or teal to me in most of the photos but if it’s original it should be Pine Tint – a light green color – one of only four colors offered on the Darrin. It could very well be a trick of the light or camera that it looks teal or aqua in the photos. White, yellow, and red were the other colors.
The seller mentions that this Darrin is #317 out of a total of 465 examples that were made in 1954, the only model year that they were produced. Famous designer Howard Dutch Darrin was hired by Henry J. Kaiser and they produced some beautiful cars with famous Dutch Darrin touches such as the widow’s peak windshield on the Kaiser Manhattan. The task for the Darrin was to design a car for Kaiser to compete with all of the imports that were starting to hit the shores in America, and also to compete with the Corvette and the Thunderbird which came to market in the fall of 1954.
Here’s a photo that may show the correct paint color. You can see one of the Kaiser Darrin’s most famous features in the photo above, the doors that slide into the front fenders rather than swinging out to the side as with most other car doors. Another interesting feature is the three-position convertible top. Here is a photo of the top cover in the open position which is pretty unique to see. These are fiberglass cars, they were based on the Henry J chassis, and they were known as the KF-161.
Here’s a partial view of the 161 portion of the model name. This is about the only engine photo out of 23 photos that the seller has uploaded to the listing, unfortunately. It’s a 161 cubic-inch Willys F-head inline-six which had a mere 90 horsepower, one of the main Achilles heels of the Darrin. This one runs great and everything works. Hagerty is at $81,000 for a #3 good condition car and $114,000 for a #2 excellent condition car as a general reference. Have any of you seen a Kaiser Darrin in person?
I have seen one close-up, at a small car show in a trade school, downtown Detroit.
The pocket sliding doors are a feature which still has me amazed. Seems to me that it was also this color…
Back when I delivered papers as a kid, one of my customers had one that had a Mercedes grille grafted onto it and it also had a V6, I don’t know what engine. It was also rough-looking, the white paint mottled in spots. Even so, I thought a car with sliding doors was pretty cool!
They look to be a challenge to get out of. Somehow bring your knees to your chest, turn and step out?
Seen a few at car shows, this one looks original green color in most of the shots. Only a few hundred made, many survived due to its uniqueness, but very few untouched originals like this one. Price is within reason if it is as good as it looks.
Very hard after all these years, no cracks in fiberglass paint?
That brilliant white with red interior is very sharp. I.d buy one if I could, but as my ortho conditions are, I.d not be able to disembark LOL.
Strangely enough, I saw one as a teenager. It was in the driveway of some neighbors house whose cul de sac backed up to my father’s house, in the late 60’s or early 70s. It was quite impressive to me that such an exotic looking (to my young eyes) automobile was parked in our lower middle class neighborhood. It was white, and I think the interior was red(?). Stunningly beautiful, to me at least.
Gotta say that’s a pretty cool car. Completely missed the pocket doors. I’ve never seen one in person obviously but now I would definitely like to. Looks clean and the color looks great on this as well. I have one gripe. Perception is everything… if I’m coming to drop 100k on a car, I’m imagining it in it’s own area protected from the world. Not crammed into a corner of a rough garage with a compound miter saw and other stuff only inches away. At least roll it out to a nice open sunny spot for pictures. Sorry. Just my 2 cents
The TV Show “Superman” Clark Kent drove one of these.
George I believe that was a Nash Healy.
I don’t think so. Kent drove a Nash-Healey, not a Darrin. Lois drove a Rambler. Cop cars were Nashes. The producers apparently had a deal with Nash in the early years, not Kaiser. The later color episodes in ’57-58 used a lot of Chrysler products.
I had the opportunity to sell one of these on consignment a couple of years ago. Neat design that was on par with the Corvettes of the era. Definitely underpowered (just like the first year Corvettes I have driven) but with the added bonus of a manual transmission unlike the 2 speed automatics in the Corvette. The owner/restorer of the car gave me an education on the sliding doors when leaving the car with me. Apparently there is an art to setting the doors up to slide properly and not fall off the track while forward inside the fender, not unlike pocket doors in a house. Needless to say the doors were not opened much while in my care.
I know of one hiding in a garage up near harrison mich………im 66,i tried to buy the car more than once in the last 30+ yrs……last time i saw it was about 6-7 yrs ago….im assuming its still there..same color as this one……they also had a corvair w/turbocharger….and a few other cars
I had a drive in one at the Kaiser Convention in Atlanta in 1979.VERY difficult to get out of!They were advertised as “The Sports Car The World Has Been Waiting For”but were a flop – some were bought by Darrin and re engined with Caddy mills!
I have seen one in person. It’s a neat car but that “sucking on a lemon” grill is a ender for me. See Edsel.
The grille, is the artist’s, Dutch himself, impression of a heart. He has those artistic touches in every one of his design, e.g., rear window on Henry J, front window on full size Kaisers.
This is the same car that was posted here 6 months ago:
https://barnfinds.com/1-of-435-1954-kaiser-darrin/
Seems to not have sold in the meantime.
I thought it looked familiar.
You don’t forget a car like this very easily.
You’re right, Cain! I neglected to mention that Russ wrote it up last fall, my apologies to Russ and everyone.
I have seen a few at car shows, this looks nice. No good engine photos? Jay Leno are you watching?
In the 70’s, these were “around” and could be picked up cheap. No one seemed to like the grille or lack of V-8 performance, so they had no demand. The Darrin always struck me as elegant, not sporty, and thusly, I did not expect it to go fast or corner well. My path took me down the finned DeSoto route, and I never did tie up money in one of these. Wish I had. They are a real standout. A great car to tour the coastline or similar open air experiences, where “the right car” makes the trip even better.
In the TV series, The man In the High Castle, a really pretty German girl drove one of these in Berlin. I would buy it if she came with the car. (Just to drive if I got too tired)
I have seen so many of these that it’s hard to believe they only made 465. By comparison, I’ve seen fewer 53-55 Corvettes than Darrins.
I think it is dependent on what part of the country you are in. Here in the Midwest, I have seen a few at some of the bigger shows. As noted, not popular as a collectible because of Midwest power, so maybe the more modest incomes in the Midwest were able to buy them. The Vettes have a great big following, esp in compete collections. Those kind of people are on the coasts, plus those cars rarely see the light of day to the general public. Might be a possible answer.
Interesting All the comments no one said they had a DARRIN . I have one now (had two) but gave one to ny Grandson thats must be restored..Mine not a trailer but has been had a few rides to shows. But my big thrille is driving to Shows and seeing the crows engoy the car and My history of the car and Kaiser Corp. All look up KFOC CLUD RAY
I believe this car was recently on BAT….within the last two weeks. I could be wrong but I could swear I saw this car, this color, this location.
I have a pair of inner and outer tail light lens is for one of these if anybody needs them.
One just crossed the Mecum block, “Sold” at $85K + fees.
Off-white color, looked nice.