I live outside of Memphis, TN and some older fella around here has one. It's almost always at any local car show. It's such a beautiful and unique part of automotive history.
I rode in a Kaiser Darrin only once. A neighbor in Newark NJ had one, and it would pass me every morning as I walked to school. One day I stuck up my thumb to hitch a ride in this unusual car, and got a ride to school in it. Interesting car today, but the only thing that impressed me as an 11 year old was the sliding doors. I had no problem getting in, but today a 6 foot+ 250 pound me wouldn't be able to do the contortions to get in.
The Kaiser story is crazy from Kaiser Steel to Kaiser cars to Kaiser Healthcare. Kaiser steel was a behemoth in the steel industry and had tens of thousands of employees and they offered them health insurance which became the Kaiser Healthcare that we know today. The part of the story that is often lost is the Kaiser automobile and it is a remarkable one.
I like the presentation, but it is not completely factual. The prototype Darrins were built by Howard Darrin and shown in 1952 at shows like at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Henry Kaiser was show the prototype Darrin and hated it, but his wife loved it and suggested he build it. The Darrins were produced in 1953 but the actual release was delayed due to Kaiser's acquisition of Willys Motors in 1953. The Kaiser Darrin was on showroom floors in January of 1954. The first Corvettes available for the public were on showroom floors in February of 1954.
that L-head 6 ,is a power house . I have one of those Kaiser hub caps hanging in my garage . I always wondered how that Darrin radiator could cool with such a small grill intake .
7:10 Thats what Halo cars do. They don't make the brand money directly through sales. Id argue putting Halo R&D and Production into the marketing budget. Thats what those products do. Its all marketing for the brand because they don't sell in volume or make money at all.
Thanks, interestingly, the short part about the “STORY behind this Kaiser DARRIN , LICENSED , GUAM, THE Original Owner” is fascinating , & then giving it away a short time Later !!!!!!!, (**?????)… Anyways, great tease, *& overview of rare *& nice looki;g Car, ………..ps: This is Great, wonderful History, etc. ( I am from Northern Indiana: Studebaker,Auburn, DUESENBERG,Cord Country originally)…could use more depth, close ups, engineering,restorations, Operating/Driving Vehicle, etc. ……
I saw this car, 1954 Kiser Daron at the Woodward cruise it was in the memorial park in Royal Oak I have pictures of this car . I was just wondering if that is the car I saw at the memorial park. Nice car same age as me.
I’m always surprised that that sliding doors weren’t pursued. I have a two door car with large doors and sliding doors would make it easier in any parking space and my garage.
Cars get into accidents. Besides being a nightmare to repair side impact damage, maybe the driver and/or passenger could be trapped in the vehicle… That’s bad enough, but if the vehicle catches fire, you’re toast!
The engine actually came from Willys and not Kaiser. Kaiser bought Willys in 1953. The 161 F-head was common in the Willys Aero line of cars I had a '54 Willys Aero Lark with that engine. The engine had a flaw though where the block would crack between the cylinder and the exhaust valves. I don't think the F-head six ever made it to the Henry J but the flat head 161 did as well as the 4 cylinder Willys flat head.
Like the majority of mouse trap and cork screw variants, automotive designers just can't leave well enough alone. Seemingly compelled to come up with ridiculously awkward doors to pass through. If it ain't broke...
so many errors in this video. Firstly, the Kaiser Darrin was released to the public months before the Corvette. it was shown at the Los Angeles Motorama in Sept. 1952. Kaiser did not commission Dutch to make the car, Dutch did it on his own. He took an existing GlasPar G2 and re-glassed it into the Darrin, The G2 was one of the plethora of fiberglass kitcars that were to be mounted on a Henry J chassis.
I like these videos but the camera spends 90 percent of the time on the left front fender. I want to see dash detail, in the trunk, under the hood, views from the drivers perspective. Also, more photos of the historic references. Lots of interesting facts but they lose punch with a bland delivery staring at that fender.
Boa tarde congrats carro 1953 icon thrifimaster Tor of details parto, 1965 Chevrolet c-10 powered by 1100 Hp engine street rodder, icon BR 30 restored and modified 1974 branco Tesd drive vai amém bom
I live outside of Memphis, TN and some older fella around here has one. It's almost always at any local car show. It's such a beautiful and unique part of automotive history.
I saw one of these once in an auto show. What a work of art!
Wow...such a cool car with a great story behind it. I've seen a few of these, at shows, and they're always a joy to behold.
Gorgeous lines on that car.
love the history! thanks! could watch these all day long!
More to come!
I've always wanted to see how those doors work so I can try to make something of my own. very cool car
Hi Leslie, Great car. Please start it next time. Thank you, Lou
Hi Lou !!! Your vidéos are much BETTER !!!!
Probably my favorite! And that interior is brilliant!!
Thanks for sharing running gear and engine shot. Nice looking car.
Thanks for that!
I rode in a Kaiser Darrin only once. A neighbor in Newark NJ had one, and it would pass me every morning as I walked to school. One day I stuck up my thumb to hitch a ride in this unusual car, and got a ride to school in it.
Interesting car today, but the only thing that impressed me as an 11 year old was the sliding doors. I had no problem getting in, but today a 6 foot+ 250 pound me wouldn't be able to do the contortions to get in.
Really enjoyed, great vid!!!!
Slick, slender sexy creation! Such a pioneering idea! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
The Kaiser story is crazy from Kaiser Steel to Kaiser cars to Kaiser Healthcare. Kaiser steel was a behemoth in the steel industry and had tens of thousands of employees and they offered them health insurance which became the Kaiser Healthcare that we know today. The part of the story that is often lost is the Kaiser automobile and it is a remarkable one.
Interesting that Darrin designed for Studebaker - there are certainly similarities.
Qq
Cool video!
It's always been my favorite car
There is a Kaiser Darrin at the Savoy Museum and Cartersville Georgia
What a car,has tail lights from 53 Kaiser Manhattan.
And the gauges came out of a 49 Frazier... Dutch Darrin designed both cars along with the Henry J so he stole parts from all of his previous designs
Great video :)
I like the presentation, but it is not completely factual. The prototype Darrins were built by Howard Darrin and shown in 1952 at shows like at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Henry Kaiser was show the prototype Darrin and hated it, but his wife loved it and suggested he build it. The Darrins were produced in 1953 but the actual release was delayed due to Kaiser's acquisition of Willys Motors in 1953. The Kaiser Darrin was on showroom floors in January of 1954. The first Corvettes available for the public were on showroom floors in February of 1954.
that L-head 6 ,is a power house . I have one of those Kaiser hub caps hanging in my garage . I always wondered how that Darrin radiator could cool with such a small grill intake .
Prettiest car to come out of the US in the entire 1950's
It's too bad you didn't SHOW us the difficulty of getting in and out. It seems to me that it would be easier than a "regular" car...
too much talk and no demo of any sort of your question, and no driving or motor running.
Angela Lansbury drives one in the movie A Life at Stake, which is available for free on RUclips. Also, the original grill did not look like this.
7:10 Thats what Halo cars do. They don't make the brand money directly through sales. Id argue putting Halo R&D and Production into the marketing budget. Thats what those products do. Its all marketing for the brand because they don't sell in volume or make money at all.
This is the most I’ve seen him struggle through one of these.
Thanks, interestingly, the short part about the “STORY behind this Kaiser DARRIN , LICENSED , GUAM, THE Original Owner” is fascinating , & then giving it away a short time Later !!!!!!!, (**?????)… Anyways, great tease, *& overview of rare *& nice looki;g Car, ………..ps: This is Great, wonderful History, etc. ( I am from Northern Indiana: Studebaker,Auburn, DUESENBERG,Cord Country originally)…could use more depth, close ups, engineering,restorations, Operating/Driving Vehicle, etc. ……
I was brought here by the Fallout show that has a KD in ep 6. . Sexy ride.
I saw this car, 1954 Kiser Daron at the Woodward cruise it was in the memorial park in Royal Oak I have pictures of this car . I was just wondering if that is the car I saw at the memorial park. Nice car same age as me.
That was me at Memorial Park for the past 12 years
I’m always surprised that that sliding doors weren’t pursued. I have a two door car with large doors and sliding doors would make it easier in any parking space and my garage.
Cars get into accidents. Besides being a nightmare to repair side impact damage, maybe the driver and/or passenger could be trapped in the vehicle… That’s bad enough, but if the vehicle catches fire, you’re toast!
no motor revving ????
What's with the fake film scratches and dirt superimposed on zoom shots of still photos? It's a distracting and completely unnecessary effect.
The women in marketing suggested it, same thing with the slow motion pan in and pan outs.
The engine actually came from Willys and not Kaiser. Kaiser bought Willys in 1953. The 161 F-head was common in the Willys Aero line of cars I had a '54 Willys Aero Lark with that engine. The engine had a flaw though where the block would crack between the cylinder and the exhaust valves. I don't think the F-head six ever made it to the Henry J but the flat head 161 did as well as the 4 cylinder Willys flat head.
🦉 Carl Sagan
But why didn't they use the supercharged 226 Kaiser six instead of the 161, 90 HP engine?
Why turn on the snow machine for EVERY single B/W photo? Who is your audience?
Great car that is often overlooked!
However, this video needs to be scripted better. Way too rambling.
Thanks for posting, though.
Yeah but I did learn a new word - imbue, he used it twice.
for a while Kaiser was on a roll ... but unfortunately they grew stale quickly
with some help from GM stirring up the unions against him
What a rye sense of humor you have😄
Looks like a hybrid T-Bird and Austin Healey. Too bad it never made it into production.
it did, the production line produced 435
Like the majority of mouse trap and cork screw variants, automotive designers just can't leave well enough alone. Seemingly compelled to come up with ridiculously awkward doors to pass through. If it ain't broke...
so many errors in this video. Firstly, the Kaiser Darrin was released to the public months before the Corvette. it was shown at the Los Angeles Motorama in Sept. 1952. Kaiser did not commission Dutch to make the car, Dutch did it on his own. He took an existing GlasPar G2 and re-glassed it into the Darrin, The G2 was one of the plethora of fiberglass kitcars that were to be mounted on a Henry J chassis.
additionally, Dutch did only 1 repowered Darrin with a Caddy V8
I like these videos but the camera spends 90 percent of the time on the left front fender. I want to see dash detail, in the trunk, under the hood, views from the drivers perspective.
Also, more photos of the historic references. Lots of interesting facts but they lose punch with a bland delivery staring at that fender.
Agree 100% there was a very quick view of the tach (7:27) ...top end 6,000 RPM...
Boa tarde congrats carro 1953 icon thrifimaster Tor of details parto, 1965 Chevrolet c-10 powered by 1100 Hp engine street rodder, icon BR 30 restored and modified 1974 branco Tesd drive vai amém bom
No wonder Darrin slipped into the automotive abyss... Probably was part of the reason Packard and Studebaker are gone too.
Don't you think General Motors and the other big three had something to do with a demise of the independents?
Too bad you didn't get in, start it, then drive it, then open the hood and trunk, put up the convertible top. Just talk....
Fallout
A "competitor" for the worst car ever called a Corvette. Boy, that's praise!