Original dealer known by serial number (#225)?

[ChrisBcritter]

Hi again,
Is there any record of which dealer a Kaiser Darrin was sold from, based on the serial? My friend is in process of purchasing one and wants to know if it passed through the hands of Howard Darrin's dealership (not likely, I know). Can't give much info now  but will say more when the deal is complete (this week I hope).

[Gordie]

Run the serial number by our Darrin Registry Manager here and he can see it the car has a history with the club.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Howard Darrin's K-F dealership in Santa Monica was closed before Darrin production began.  Edger Kaiser approved a bulk sale of remaining finished Darrin inventory to "Dutch" in late 1954; they were shipped to his custom car shop (the former dealership building, I believe, based on the pictures I've seen) and given Cadillac V-8 Engines and Hydra-Matics he bought from GM (or so the story I've heard goes).  There is conflicting tribal knowledge that the batch also received an additional ID tag put on by the shop to show it was done by the designer so I don't know if such a tag was ever attached, let alone managed to stay with the cars over time.

[Gordie]

Where was his dealership in Santa Monica?  I know he had one on Hollywood Blvd but that is the first I ever heard of one in Santa Monica although he did live there in his later years.  I once called on a newspaper ad for a '51 Kaiser club coupe for sale and was told that Dutch Darrin had just bought it. I lived in Santa Monica in the late fifties and early sixties and opened up my own used car dealership there in 1962 and never heard about his dealership,  We know that he put a Cadillac engine in at least one Darrin and it took a year to sell it and any others could be rumor.  Kaiser dealers were still selling Darrin's in 1955.  Your Darrin information is very interesting and should be documented and put into Darrin history,

[ChrisBcritter]

Update: The Darrin now has a new owner. Serial is 161-001225; is this a known car? It's white with red interior and top.

[ChrisBcritter]

Run the serial number by our Darrin Registry Manager here and he can see it the car has a history with the club.

Thanks - sent Lee Abrahams a message yesterday.
Finally got a shot of #225:

[joefrazer]

Looking at a copy of the Darrin registry and yes car #225 is known to the club.

[ChrisBcritter]

Another view of #225 with its Interlagos stablemate. Lee was able to track down its history through four previous owners.

[ChrisBcritter]

Update: The Tom Null collection has been divided up between the new owners, and they've decided to sell off several of the cars including Darrin #225. Will pass on more info when it becomes available so you guys can have a crack at it. I appreciate all your assistance!