The Kaiser-Darrin was technically America’s first production fiberglass sports car, with its prototype built before the Chevrolet Corvette. Although production did not begin until 1954, the stunning Kaiser Darrin’s design became a legend of 1950s motoring, with a distinctive “rosebud” grille and sweeping front fenders that plunged behind the doors into a “Darrin dip.” It epitomized 1950s American styling with more than a dash of European flair. What made the Kaiser-Darrin so iconic were the unique “pocket” doors, which slid forward into the front fenders. Darrin promoted sliding doors for decades, claiming that, as they did not open into traffic, they were a very safe alternative configuration. Another special design for the Darrin was its special three-position Landau convertible top, a cue that harkened back to the pre-war coachbuilt era for which Darrin had also penned designs.

The lightweight fiberglass sports car was powered by the reliable Willys 90-horsepower, 161-cubic-inch inline-six-cylinder engine. Available transmissions included an automatic or a three-speed manual, offered with or without overdrive. Power was distributed through the rear wheels.

Despite debuting the prototype before Chevrolet’s Corvette, and even beating Ford’s Thunderbird to production, the Kaiser-Darrin came out just too late to save Kaiser-Frazer. The company, already suffering from financial problems, fell victim to the post war automobile consolidation in 1955. The Kaiser-Darrin was built for just one model year, with only 435 examples produced.

This 1954 Kaiser-Darrin Roadster on offer is number 99, finished in Yellow Satin with a white three-position top. The car rides on whitewall tires mounted on color-matched wheels with factory wire wheel covers. The Roadster is powered by Willys’ legendary “Hurricane” straight six-cylinder, fueled by a Carter YF carburetor. The engine is backed by a three-speed manual transmission. The interior features a full suite of instrumentation and comfortable seating for two.

Ahead of its time and one of just 435 produced, this is a rare opportunity to acquire an often-overlooked sports car with a breathtaking design penned by the legendary “Dutch” Darrin.