Make:
Kaiser
Model:
Darrin
Year:
1954
Mileage:
77979
Miles
Condition:
Used
Country:
United States
Region:
Arizona
City:
Phoenix , AZ
Zip:
85035
1954 Kaiser Darrin 161 Roadster 3 Speed Manual 161ci 77979 Miles
As the European sports car market invaded the United States after WWII, American auto manufacturers took notice. Very few, if any, produced a 2-seater oriented sportscar. By the early 1950's, Jaguar, Austin Healey, Triumph, MG and other small English sports cars were finding garages in the United States, not to mention Alfa Romeo, Porsche, etc. Pushing an effort to supply a unique 2-seater for the Kaiser brand was designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin, renowned automotive stylist for Packard and Duesenberg. Although, the longtime sedan-oriented Henry J. Kaiser was a tough sell on pushing such an automobile. His selection of traditional family style automobiles was a major focus to save his namesake in an ever-growing market where larger firms were eating up their competition. Darrin was able to push his stunning Roadster with unique, disappearing doors that slid into the front fenders forward into production, some say with the prodding of Mrs. Kaiser after seeing the design! It would appear at the 1953 New York Auto Show with many admirers. Unfortunately, Kaiser Motors was struggling as whole to stay alive, so only 435 Roadsters would be produced, and today represent the last of Dutch Darrin's automotive legacy. The 1954 Kaiser Darrin 161 Roadster was designed to stand up to the English dominated market of lightweight sports roadsters with very few produced and only offered for a single year.
As the European sports car market invaded the United States after WWII, American auto manufacturers took notice. Very few, if any, produced a 2-seater oriented sportscar. By the early 1950's, Jaguar, Austin Healey, Triumph, MG and other small English sports cars were finding garages in the United States, not to mention Alfa Romeo, Porsche, etc. Pushing an effort to supply a unique 2-seater for the Kaiser brand was designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin, renowned automotive stylist for Packard and Duesenberg. Although, the longtime sedan-oriented Henry J. Kaiser was a tough sell on pushing such an automobile. His selection of traditional family style automobiles was a major focus to save his namesake in an ever-growing market where larger firms were eating up their competition. Darrin was able to push his stunning Roadster with unique, disappearing doors that slid into the front fenders forward into production, some say with the prodding of Mrs. Kaiser after seeing the design! It would appear at the 1953 New York Auto Show with many admirers. Unfortunately, Kaiser Motors was struggling as whole to stay alive, so only 435 Roadsters would be produced, and today represent the last of Dutch Darrin's automotive legacy. The 1954 Kaiser Darrin 161 Roadster was designed to stand up to the English dominated market of lightweight sports roadsters with very few produced and only offered for a single year.
Email
Share
Report
Favorite