Did you know designer Howard Darrin patented the Kaiser Darrin's signature sliding doors eight years before the car ever reached production? He filed the patent in 1946 — the Darrin didn't arrive until 1954.
Lead trim: Darrin 161 cu in Willys F-head six (90 hp)
Kaiser Darrin1954–1954
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Kaiser Darrin yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactDid you know designer Howard Darrin patented the Kaiser Darrin's signature sliding doors eight years before the car ever reached production? He filed the patent in 1946 — the Darrin didn't arrive until 1954.
The Kaiser Darrin (also the Darrin 161) was an American sports car designed by Howard "Dutch" Darrin and built by Kaiser Motors for the 1954 model year (435 produced): essentially a revamp of Kaiser's Henry J compact, it was the second American car with a fibreglass body (after the 1953 Corvette) and had doors that slid on tracks into the front fender wells. Conceived to compete with imported European roadsters, it used the 161 cu in (2.6 L) F-head six of the Willys Hurricane (90 bhp, three-speed manual with overdrive) on a 100.0 in wheelbase (184.1 in long), reaching a top speed of just 95 mph and 0-60 mph in around 15 seconds, faster than the MG TF but slower than the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider and Triumph TR2. A factory supercharged prototype could do 0-60 in about 10 seconds and over 100 mph; Darrin converted six cars to Cadillac Eldorado V8s of 305 bhp and sold them as Kaiser-Darrin Specials at $4,350.
Collectors Spotted in the Kaiser Darrin Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Kaiser Darrin yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darrin 161 cu in Willys F-head six (90 hp) | 1954–1954 | 2.6 L Inline-6 | 90 hp | — | 15.0 s | — | manual | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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