Kaiser Darrin For Sale? Car 423

[mikegrommet]

Hello Kaiser folks,
I'm hoping I can get some advice from you Kaiser folks.  I am the owner of Darrin number 423.  My father bought the car brand new in 1955 and was very proud of his baby.  I can remember as a child, huddled in the footwell of the passenger area trying to stay warm while we drove around.  I can remember Dad "decorating" the car at Christmas time, parking it on the front lawn as Santa's sleigh. 

It is with mixed emotions that I'm considering selling the car.  When my dad passed, I inherited the car.  He had been ill for a few years and the car sat in the garage.  (he never let me drive it, I don't blame him).   When I got the car, the brakes were not functioning well so I had them serviced by a guy that restores Darrins.   Since then, I have driven the car intermittently. 

The car is all original.  It has never been painted or modified to my knowledge.    The top is there and it appears that all the trim pieces are there.  Dad always had trouble with the doors and they are pretty much stuck closed.  It has the wire wheels.   Its yellow.  The body and paint is "checked" out, typical of old fiberglass vehicles.  It runs. 

Why am I selling?  I am not doing this car justice.  It has always been garaged and sits in my garage today.  I don't anticipate having the car redone appropriately due to the expense to do it right and I wouldn't do it half arsed.   It just doesn't seem right to have it sit in the garage for another 10 years until it goes to one of my boys..... where it will sit for another 20 years.   It will make my very sad to see it go but I thing Dad would approve based on my rationale. 

So, I'm coming here first to get some initial advice.   I'd much rather have it go to a "Kaiser guy" than some wealthy collector that will send his "representative" out to offer me an emotionless bottom dollar.   I don't need to sell it.  I don't need the money.  I would like to do what is right for the car.   I am not sure what it is worth which is why I'm coming to you folks.  While I'm not unrealistic on value, I wouldn't entertain low ball offers, I'd rather have it in my garage.  But,  I'd sell it for what its worth.    Ballpark..... what do you guys think I'm looking at in terms of value? 

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Mike Grom+et
916-747-8151 
camaselk@aol.com 

[KWZ]

Wow, that is a very intriguing car.  Can you post any photos?  I'm sure someone here would be thrilled to adopt it. 

[BigDave LM6174]

Need to see some photos posted to give you a ballpark idea.

[51Deluxe]

Mike,


I've always found Ebay to be a pretty good indicator of values of almost anything. The trick is to only look at completed auctions. A car with a Buy it Now of X dollars means nothing. The following Darrin is on Ebay now and ends in a couple of days:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Other-Makes-Kaiser-Darrin-1954-Kaiser-Darrin-white-with-red-interior-great-paint-Very-rare-same-/221466183602?forcerrptr=true&hash=item339069c7b2&item=221466183602&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Theoretically, when the auction ends, you could look at the selling price , deduct the costs of getting yours in the same condition and you would have a pretty good estimated value of your car.

NADA classic car price guide lists the Darrin as follows:
       
       Low retail   Average     High retail

   $47,800   $86,600   $126,000
   $47,800   $86,600   $126,000

To me, NADA values seem to be far above realistic values- but it's something to look at.


I Googled "Kaiser Darrin auction results" and this came up:

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/default.aspx?carID=1723&i=8

It's a chart that shows Darrin sales over a period of several years, with the lows and highs.

This rough Darrin was offered a few years ago for $24,500:

http://bringatrailer.com/2011/11/17/40-years-stored-1954-kaiser-darrin-project/


I'm sure there are many on the forum with more Darrin experience than me who can give you an idea of the value. What they would need, though, would be a lot of photos of the car including engine, underside, closeups, etc. , and a more detailed description. You'll find it easy to find a "Kaiser Guy" to take this off your hands - for a car collector, a one family car, always garaged and untouched, is the stuff dreams are made of. You just have to decide if you are willing to go that route rather than consign it with a major auctioneer (R + M, Mecum, etc.) who can get top value for the car, minus his fee. It's likely then to go to the wealthy investor instead of the Kaiser guy.
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« Last Edit: June 23, 2014, 02:05:24 PM by 51Deluxe »

[mikegrommet]

Thanks guys, I'll see if I can get some pics up.  The car is definitely worth more to me in sentimental terms than some of the figures I'm hearing.   May have to reevaluate my plans. 

[Roadmaster49]

The auction (ebay noted earlier) ended at $36,300 so reserve must not have been met if the same seller (Beverly Hills Motor Car Club) has it on Hemmings at $75,000.

There is a Darrin division / chapter of the KFOCI I think and there are Darrin owners that come on here, such as Terry T. 

Some folks don't like to hash out values on the forum.  I would personally seek out Wayne Carini of "Chasing Classic Cars" fame and see if he can do a show on your car and get it at an important auction.  That way you get to share your dad's story, move the car to a better home and get a good price for the car. 

To me, there is not a lot of Darrin level money in the club. Meaning most of us don't have the cash laying around to make a reasonable $35,000 to $60,000 offer for your car.  It sounds like even you would not be able to afford the car, if so inclined so that's not a slam, just a realistic reminder of the 1. the special rare air of a Darrin and 2. realities of most of our budgets.

From experience I can tell you that you should seek an auction result to put the car in the best place to be restored or stay in nice original condition because if the speculation market returns, and values for Darrins skyrocket, the buyer who buys it from you at less then market value for sentimental "club" reasons will at least consider quietly selling the car for the profit that would have been rightfully yours.    Also, most folks in the club that can afford a Darrin are elderly and using retirement funds and the Darrin might end up in the same state as you are now, in another 10 years.

So, probably not great news, but cars like the Darrin are rare artifacts that like rare paintings have tremendous value as hedges against inflation and keeping cash laying around.  I hope you find that rare KFOCI member that is young enough to own it for several years (20 +) has kids that will appreciate his old car collection and keep most intact, has the money to give you fair market value and will show the Darrin at National or Regional meets.  That's a rare person, if one even exists. 

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Without pictures it is impossible, repeat IMPOSSIBLE to come up with any idea on values.  Auction cars as a rule are pristine restorations (or even over restorations) so unless you know for certain that condition of your car matches one that you hear about, don't bother with auction results.

Remember also that Kaiser-Darrins are expensive to restore.  I know of a shop in Wisconsin that spent years trying to get what they put into it (if it was for one of their customers, that is) before it finally sold at below original asking price.