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Thread: Kaiser Darrin

  1. #1
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    Kaiser Darrin

    Kaiser Darrin

    In 1954, Chevrolet introduced the ground-breaking Corvette. However, the Corvette was not the first fiberglass bodied production American sports car. That distinction belongs to the Kaiser Darrin. However, whereas the Corvette is still in production today, the Kaiser Darrin is largely forgotten, the last hurrah from a dying manufacturer.

    Created by the talented designer Howard “Dutch” Darrin, the Kaiser Darrin was first announced in 1952. Prototypes were built and displayed in 1953, and production began in September, 1953, with sales beginning in January, 1954, thereby beating the Corvette to market by one month. According to one anecdote, the company’s head Henry Kaiser didn’t much like the design or the idea of building a sports car, but he gave the project the go-ahead anyway because his wife loved it, reportedly calling the prototype (created by Darrin on his own time using his own money) “the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

    The sleek body incorporated some styling cues from other Kaiser models, but for the most part looked like nothing else on the road. The most distinctive feature of the design is doubtless the sliding doors. When the door handle is turned, the door moves inward and can be slid into a pocket in the front fender. This patented design has never been used on any other production car.

    The Darrin sports car was based on the chassis of Kaiser’s compact Henry J sedan. This decision was based on the appropriately sized 100 inch (2.54 meter) wheelbase and the commensurate savings on development costs, but it limited the sporting ability of the roadster. The Darrin cost $3668 when new, a lot of money at the time, and more than the Corvette.

    Power for the Darrin came from a Willys 161 cubic inch (2.6 liter) inline six with a single Carter Type YF single-barrel carburetor. Like the chassis, the engine was derived from the Henry J sedan, although it was modified to produce 90 horsepower, approximately 10 more than in the sedan. Though not very powerful, the car’s weight of only 2175 pounds (987 kilograms) permitted a top speed just shy of 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour). The transmission was a three-speed manual unit that had standard overdrive, an unusual feature for the time. After regular sales ceased, the remaining 100-or-so cars were sold independently by Darrin, some of which (one source gives the number as 6) had Cadillac V-8 engines producing 304 horsepower, enough to push the Darrin to 140 miles per hour (225 kilometers per hour).

    Despite its unique styling and advanced features, production of the Kaiser Darrin ended midway through 1954 after only 435 units were produced, partially due to low sales and partially due to Kaiser’s increasing financial problems. The last Kaiser automobile was produced in 1955.

    The 1954 Kaiser Darrin pictured here was in attendance at the annual antique car show at Sully Plantation in Chantilly, Virginia, on June 17, 2007.

    The Kaiser Darrin on UCP: 1954 Kaiser Darrin D.K.F. 161 - Images, Specifications and Information
    Attached Images Attached Images
    UCP's biggest (only?) fan of the '74-'76 Mercury Cougar.
    UCP's proudest owner of a '74 Cougar

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  2. #2
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    Few facts about Corvette.

    The first Corvette rolled off the production line in June 1953 and the first sale was in July same year. Though there was a decision to make 1953 Corvettes available only to outstanding high-volume car dealerships, and for sale only to important high-visibility persons, GM still managed to sell 183 out of the 300 1953 Corvettes built by the end of the year.

    So, it is highly questionable if the title of first fiberglass bodied production American sports car belongs to Kaiser Darrin.

    BTW, for all the Corvette facts you will ever want to know, here is a fantastic site.

  3. #3
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    Here's a couple of photos taken at Watkins Glen in 2007.




  4. #4
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    What an absolute beautiful car...first time i see something like that. Like the doors and the sleek body styling. Also like the old greyhead driving the beauty...
    I'm just an oldhustler trapped in a hotrodders world
    I have been doing so much with so little for so long I can do anything with nothing.
    Fiberglass is traditional.From Malmesbury,South Africa

  5. #5
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    Quirky little car, but pretty cool.

    I would imagine it would be pretty darn scary to go 140 in a car of this vintage.

  6. #6
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    Does anyone know of any of the Cadillac-powered Darrins still in existance?

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