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16/04/2026 9:41 am
The 1954 Kaiser Darrin 161 fiberglass roadster had so many cute and unique features. Built on a modified Henry J chassis, it offered pocket doors, a 3-way landau top and that cool "Kissing" front grill with matching parking light bezels. Always in financial straights, its drawback was its 90 HP 161 cid Willys "Hurricane" flat head 6 which only gave the car a top speed of 95 mph and 0-60 in about 15 seconds. Designed by Howard "Dutch" Darrin, the body also featured the "Darrin Dip" behind the pocket doors. This one year only sports car sold only 435 units that year, basically being out performed by the Corvette. Kaiser had a deal with Oldsmobile for their Rocket V8 but the contract was nixed by the government do to production requirements of the Korean War requirements. The following year was to be the last model year in America for Kaiser who moved their facilities to Argentina where the continued producing their Manhattan models rebranded as the Carabela.
I love the display options offered on this Automodello model as well as the pastel colors and red also offered. Here it is in plain white.
16/04/2026 9:47 am
Mmm, she's a purdy thing. Great as always Rich. 💯👍
16/04/2026 12:25 pm
I have to be honest and say that this car doesn't do it for me at all; I think it's the tiny grille and particularly those sliding doors that don't appeal. I remember when I bought the Brooklin model of it and had it in hand it had the same effect. It's an unusual car with an interesting history though; too bad the Rocket V-8 deal didn't materialize as it may have sparked sales big time.
Tony Perrone and Rich Sufficool reacted