Vehicle Description
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. Offered here is
number 22 of 435 ever produced and finished in the desirable
combination of factory code correct (153) Champagne White over
factory code correct (7200) Scarlet Pincrush vinyl upholstery with
a tan convertible top. Powered by its original 161ci Hurricane
Inline 6-cylinder F-Head engine numbering (3495010) and with
factory Carter YF carburetion producing an approximate 90
horsepower, and 3-speed overdrive manual transmission. Features
include the sought after wire spoke wheels, BF Goodrich Silvertown
5.90-15 wide whitewall tires, full dash instrumentation, wide turn
signals, Plexiglas windscreens, engine oil filtration system,
heat/defrost, tinted windscreen, front & rear bumper guards, fitted
side curtains, and more!
A rare chance to own a cared for, limited production roadster
famous for its unconventional doors that slide into the front
fenders behind the wheels. The previous owners, Tupelo Auto Museum,
have taken great care of this Kaiser-Darrin Roadster until their
closing in the spring of 2019. Due to sitting in the museum
environment for two decades, the original engine has been rebuilt
with line-honed cylinder walls, new piston rings, crank bearings,
resurfaced head, fresh valve job with new guides, head gasket, all
new seals, new spark plugs, rebuilt carburetor, etc. The complete
wiring harness was renewed from front to back, and a new fuel
sending unit inside a cleaned tank. New brake lines were installed
along with new wheel cylinders and fresh brake shoes. In 2020 the
interior was redone with new seat covers, carpet, shift boot, and
weather stripping.
Coming to the St. Louis Car Museum this February 2022, and only
needing a new battery we installed this May, along with a new
distributor cap and rotor, it continues to run and drive
terrifically! We also elected to re-plate the chrome taillight
housings before being professionally detailed to join our museum
showcase. A unique roadster that makes for a great collector's car
that is sure to surprise at any cruise or car show. Thank you and
please call with any questions or to schedule a visit to see this
rare piece of automotive history first-hand.