To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Arizona
event, 17 - 18 January 2019.
Estimate:
$140,000 - $180,000
- Renowned Dutch Darrin design
- Fewer than 500 ever built
- Multiple trophy winner and cover car
The Kaiser-Darrin had its beginning in secret, in the shops of
Howard "Dutch" Darrin in California. Darrin had designed the 1951
model Kaisers, but fell out with Kaiser management. The car's
fiberglass body incorporated the hallmark "Darrin dip" along the
doors, which were of a novel sliding design. To enter the
Kaiser-Darrin, one twisted the door handle and pushed the door
forward into the front fender.
Henry Kaiser was not initially impressed, but his wife, Bess, was.
Through her influence, Kaiser was convinced to put it into
production. An F-head Willys six was chosen as the powerplant
(Kaiser had bought Willys in 1953), and a few cars were finished
toward the end of that year. At $3,668 it was expensive - more than
a Series 62 Cadillac or a Lincoln Capri - but came with lots of
standard equipment: a three-position landau top, tinted windshield
with washers, and a tachometer. Weather protection was furnished by
side curtains. Production began in January 1954, eventually topping
out at 435 cars. Alas, sales were slow. At year's end, about 100
remained unsold.
This handsome Kaiser Darrin in the distinctive light green Pine
Tint hue was completely restored during the period 1999-2001. It
has received accolades in SCCA Concours competition, as well as
concours events at Carmel, Hillsborough, Palo Alto, Palos Verdes,
and many other venues where it was the recipient of numerous
trophies and awards. It was the cover car on the February 2012
issue of Motor Market magazine. The restoration and subsequent
servicing are documented in a portfolio of invoices that
accompanies the car. It also includes Kaiser-Darrin sales brochures
and memorabilia of the 2005 U.S. Postal Service stamp issue "50s
Sporty Cars," which pictured a Kaiser-Darrin in this very
color.
Although some 60 percent of production survives, it amounts to
barely 300 cars. The next owner of this Kaiser-Darrin is unlikely
to meet another on the road.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az19.
