- Seller: Cascadia Classic
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Mileage: 0 Shown
- Chassis #: 161001283
- Title Status: Clean
Automotive history practically explodes with larger than life personalities and interesting (and sometimes apocryphal) anecdotes. Vivid in my memory is one involving the Kaiser Darrin. Years ago when I was a young kid, my parents bought me a giant Consumer Guide book of sports cars, and I recall reading that Henry J. Kaiser was livid with Howard “Dutch” Darrin for building a Henry J-based prototype sports car without his approval. Kaiser’s much younger second wife then purred in his ear that the little sports car was beautiful, and he’d be silly not to produce such a thing. While I’m sure the reality of the situation was significantly more complex, I corroborated the story itself on the excellent Ate Up With Motor article on the Darrin (it’s good to know that my memory still has a little fuel in the tank). While this Darrin, now being offered as a Barn Finds Auction, may be many man-hours of labor from wooing the second wives of industry titans, it will offer the buyer an ambitious project or a rare stash of parts.
The bad news is apparent, as the car is a rolling chassis with no drivetrain, although it is set up for a Cadillac 331. Legend has it that the car’s designer, Dutch Darrin himself, bought a lot of 50 Darrins that were scheduled to be scrapped due to their bodies being damaged by a Toledo snowstorm (an interesting story in itself, if true). He then sold those 50 in his own Hollywood showroom, some with superchargers added to their Willys-based F-Head inline six, and (perhaps) a few with Caddy 331s. The seller is not claiming that this is one of them, only that the car is set up for its installation.
What the car does come with is enough fiberglass body parts for two Darrins. Considering that only 435 Darrins were built and restored models can sell for up to $100,000 or so, this could be the basis for a complete restoration or a huge parts hoard for fixing up another Darrin. It will be more efficient to list some of the items themselves:
- An extra front and rear clip, an extra passenger fender, and two trunk floors
- Two driver’s doors (one NOS, seen below) and a passenger door (Darrins use novel “pocket” doors that slide into the fenders)
- A floor section (it will need to be used as a pattern for a new one)
- Both seats (they will need upholstery work)
- Windshield trim, the gear shift assembly, hood hinges, trunk latch, hood latch, door striker plates, seat tracks, trunk lid stay rod, pedal assemblies, dashboard, bumpers, and hubcaps
- Both upper and lower door tracks and a schematic drawing showing the door assembly, plus door hardware, originals and also reproductions, gauges, tail lights, electrical items and the grill, hood hinges, door strikers, and windshield stanchions.
- A new gas tank
- A new windshield (one of 30 commissioned by the Kaiser Frazer Owners Club)
- A large roll of Pine Tint upholstery material (also sourced by the K-F Club)
Seriously, where would you find a NOS door for a Kaiser Darrin?
Yes, it’s hard to look at this frame and picture a rolling dreamboat like the “Pine Tint” example I captured on film at the 2009 Motor Muster at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, but with a little luck and an ambitious new owner, maybe there’s a future for this Darrin. At the very least, there’s a valuable pile of parts and a heck of a story to tell. If you want to tell it, bid now!
Bid On This Auction
- Dan F bid $1,500.00 2025-05-16 09:14:30
- Dv8stroker bid $200.00 2025-05-15 17:11:35
Depends on what this car goes for, a completely restored or immaculate Darin can got deep into six figures. I remember when I was a paperboy back during the Paleolythic era, one of my customers had one. He’d customized the front to carry a Mercedes grill, making the car extremely ugly as it badly needed paint too. It didn’t have a top either. But I really thought those sliding doors were cool!
Originally not a kit but sure is now. With all the pieces and a chance to buy it at a low price this could be a great project that might get you a rare car with a good price tag.
I drove down to Portland to look at this car. The collection of parts is impressive but the amount of fiberglass repair needed is scary. If I was younger instead of 75, and not allergic to resin fumes, I would have brought it home. It will be a great project for the right buyer.
Yes these are very cool, i hope for all it sells.
Bid to $2800 on BaT in March, reserve not met.
That was me. I know what it would take, and it’s way more than that.
When I was at UW in ’65 there was a used car dealer on “The Ave” that had 2 of these. Colors were pastel green and yellow. The sliding doors were the curiosity, but even then to my 18 year old eyes they were an ugly beast.
IF, you enjoy working with fiberglass and you are good at it. AND IF, YOU ARE NOT A PURIST dedicated to make one “authentic ” THEN, this could be a good project for you. I would enjoy trying to rebuild it to somewhat original form. But I would not get “too involved ” into making it a perfect example. Use some original parts to make molds and build a different looking “modern ” example after the original build. Since the doors have always been a “cool” factor of these cars. Make them Lambo style hinged at the top front of the door to open by swinging them up!???. Modern chassis and engine with a ’50s flare ‘glass body. I know, I’m weird. I will go to my corner now.
I need to go to bed early tonight after thinking about how much work would be involved in this project.
Buy this project at 25 years old and you might be able to drive it at your retirement party.
YIKES! Fiberglass needing work. Back a few decades ago I worked a summer job fitting 455 & 454 engines and jet systems in fiberglass boats. That fiberglass gets in your skin along with perspiration on hot summer days I would itch all day and all night. Cold shower after cold shower couldn’t stop the itch, but those Sidewinder jet boats were fast and very cool. I finally graduated from the Jr. College I was attending and left fiberglass in the rear view mirror. I hope someone gets this and builds a nice car, but it won’t be me. LOL.
God Bless America