Event Coverage Ever seen a Kaiser Darrin?

There's one in the Wichita area that I see at the Lake Afton show. I think it's orange metalflake now.

 

The first time I ever saw one was back in the 60's. I was just a kid, driving around with some friends and spotted it in a storage yard along with a lot of misc. junk. The car was complete and in good condition. Just faded and dirty, obviously not driven in a long time. We chased down the story on the car, and it had just sold to an investor/restorer for $500 and was awaiting transport. It was gone a week later.

The one Denise posted sure is a fine example! When I see the concourse cars like this, it makes me wonder how much effort and expense is involved in finding all the proper stuff to restore something like this. Like, the proper embossed mint green vinyl for a Kaiser Darrin.

 

I would NEVER fit in one comfortably.

I've seen 3, once when I worked at a used car lot (2002)
2 at a car show in Jersey, they were following each other.

 

Yes.

 

Yeah, there's a white one running around my neck of the woods, goes to all the local shows.

 

They're beautiful cars, but in some ways the novelty of the top and doors detracts in typical display poses. The lines just flow so nicely with the door shut and top down/off that it's almost a shame to showoff it's funkiness.

Didn't the V8 cadillac converted cars have additional grillework? I'm thinking 2 seperates in a more traditional location

 

Its a wonder that car didn't overheat with such a small grille.
Reminds me of a sucker fish. I love the lines!

 

I seen a Couple was going to buy one way back when <br> until opened the Door & it fell to the Ground,<br> the guy said it needed a little Work, Trunk was rotted out I did not need another Project car at the Time <p> so the folling week I bought a Brickland it needed a little Work fixed it drove for a year & Sold it

 

Neighbor has one.....along with 60 other cars at his house, and they all RUN

 

Yes I have, ....and stop calling me Darrin!!!

 

Those are some very cool tail lights. Over the years have only seen two of at car shows. A very good looking sports car that should have been a bigger hit and stayed in production.

CRUISER

 

There's one out near State College,PA,too. I wonder how many were built/survive?

 

I once worked for a man that had a seafoam green one. Used to sit in it when no one was looking.

 

the first and only one i have seen is a white one roaming around shows near long branch nj. i would have never expeted there to be 3 of them in nj. wild car. must have blown peoples minds back in the day.

 

Saw one today in Holmdel N.J. and spoke to the owner, Ray Weber. Beautiful white Darrin, and Ray's a great guy. He mentioned he used to have another one, but Corvette powered...

 

Just saw one sold at the Barrett-Jackson last night on TV!
Thanks for the site 'Mo--I forgot what they were called before I could get to the computer to look them up!

 

I got to sit in one about 15 yrs ago. it was sitting out in the lot of a local gas station in Milwaukee. it was yellow and in pretty rough shape. It must have sat there for over a year before the closed up shop.

 

hey zerk did you go to the auction in holmdel?

 

Went to the Concours(sp?) that was across the way from the Verizon building.
This was the first year for the event, and I'm kicking myself for not bringing a camera. Very heavy on restored Classics, lots of big Packards, Cadillacs, brass cars, a Pierce Arrow, a swoopy Delage, some '40s-'50s, a very few modified cars. They really limited the entries, like invitation only. It was a good time. They will run it again I'm sure.

 

friday i was at a nursery buying trees on 34 and i saw about 10 old cars drive by in a group and thought WTF? there was a convt 48ish blue woody, a 50ish maroon woody wagon, a black mid 40sblack 2 dr lincoln, a few retractable hardtop cars and some other run of the mill stuff. then i found the link. i would have went but had to work.

 

Only pictures but a guy was bought into ED one night. His name was Darren and he thought he was the Kaiser.
True story.
Doc.

 

find the hard cover book Kaiser-Frazer ,The Last Onslaught On Detroit
by Richard Langworth.It has 14 pages on the Darrin. Plus 2 full page color
pic. Very neet book,also covers Willys Jeepster,Henry J,Willys cars. Also some about Scarab,Graham-Paige, all about Joe Frazer,Henry Kaiser and
Dutch Darrin

 

saw a mint green one yesterday at a show in Roseville Ca.

 

... Kaiser Wilhelm

 

... and Kaiser Soze

 

Busted

 

oh, I mean Virgil!

Sorry Denise

 

I heard about one going together in Tucson with a big Chevy motor; it is a recreation (or maybe restoration) of one the same guy raced about 40 or so years ago. I understand he isn't on really good terms with the Kaiser Darrin club.....

 

Yep, I remember seeing them at the local dealers when they first were introduced to the public. I think it was 1949.-----------Don

 

Theres a few of them at the Hudsen museum in Anarbor Michagin