The Kaiser-Darrin sports car was introduced on January 6, 1954 and remained in production until June 30, 1954. Henry J. Kaiser and Willys Motors President Edgar F. Kaiser signed a contract to produce Willys commercial vehicles and Jeeps. This was the down fall for Darrin’s sports car, only 435 were ever produced and it is said that 50 cars were stored in a Willys plant storage lot. An early snowstorm hit and the cars were said to be too deteriorated and were to be sent to the scrapyard. When Darrin heard the news he quickly purchased them and moved them to his shop in Santa Monica, California.

Beautiful styling, intricate concept designs and absolutely one-of-a-kind; this vehicle has many unique features such as a small 14-slot chrome grill, chrome wire spoke wheels, windwings, dash-mounted rearview mirror, floor shifter, countersunk gauges and red leather interior with matching carpets. Most fascinating of all were Darrin’s beloved “pocket” doors, which slid forward into the front fenders to permit entry and exit. Darrin promoted sliding doors for decades, claiming that, as they did not open into traffic, they were a very safe alternative. Unfortunately that idea never caught on. They were the Kaiser-Darrin’s trademark, and they remain its best-remembered feature.

If you are looking for an extremely unique vehicle, this is the one, with its low production numbers and intricate details it has limited competition. The rich history is also something that should not be taken lightly, every car has a story, but very few have a background as significant as this Kaiser-Darrin. It is a shame that the production of these elegant automobiles never took off, but this particular vehicle is ready to move on and look great in any respected owners garage.