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 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 it came with a three-position landau top, tinted windshield with washers and a tachometer. Weather protection, however, was furnished by side curtains.

Painted in uncommon metallic silver, this Kaiser-Darrin has attractive maroon leather upholstery. The floor is lined in matching maroon carpet. The body contours are excellent and correct, paint and brightwork both very good. The F-head six-cylinder engine and its compartment are correctly detailed, and the undercarriage is clean, undercoated in black.

Kaiser-Darrins had few options, as most equipment was standard. In addition to the tachometer and windshield washers, this car has windwings and directional signals. The wheels have chrome Kaiser-Darrin wheel covers and Michelin blackwall radial tires. Just 435 Kaiser-Darrins were built before production ceased in mid-1954.