Door Handle Position

[pjkaiser]

This Pine Tint Darrin sold at Barrett-Jackson last Wed. for $187,000  (  http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1954-KAISER-DARRIN-CONVERTIBLE-178630  ).   Look at the position of the door handles???  Then look at the production Photo, the handles are positioned the same way facing down.   I know there is a lot of controversy over these positions and the Stock Darrin I saw in Sacramento had them straight back.   Can someone enlighten me about these discrepancies???   I have read the so-called "service bulletin" talking about the position of said door handles but the factory picture is hard to argue with.   I think this way looks better, follows the lines better and is easier to open the door from the inside.   Thoughts??

[DTort96646]

The last information I received was in 1998 when Dave Antram was the Darrin registry manager. I received a copy of revised 1954 Kaiser Darrin Standards dated December 15, 1997. It listed color finish combinations, thread type and color for top and upholstery, carpet color and type, and just about everything you need to know about what color and finish was on everything from firewall to wheels, what was chrome plated, what was cad plated, and what was acceptable. The fender medallions and door handle positions are also mentioned. There were 2 options. The medallions were used on each front fender and trunk lid of Darrins with full wheel covers. On Darrins with wire wheel covers, one medallion on the trunk and a medallion on each wire wheel cap. Under the section for optional equipment, chrome wire wheels were installed by some dealers. The door handles point forward in the owner's manual, but are pointed to the rear in other company literature. Either way will be accepted. The mixing formulas for the 4 exterior colors was also included. The formulas are for PPG acrylic lacquer. The original paint was nitrocellulose lacquer, very difficult to get, acrylic lacquer is available. Maybe Terry Trasatti the current Darrin registry manager could send out the latest revised standards?

[joefrazer]

Forward facing handles were used at the factory, however, as doors loosened in their tracks they tended to get "sloppy" and this allowed the handles to strike the leading edge of the front fender when the doors were opened. So, the thought was to turn them around and face the rear. Install them whichever way you like.

[Gordie]

I looked at 24 factory press photos and even the prototype car has them pointed both ways in different photos.  They look like they are touching the rear quarter panel when they are pointed back.  Pictures with the door open and the handle pointed down from the forward position exactly match the cut of the back of the door and the angle of the front of the quarter panel and look like that would be the proper way to install them. Another controversy has been chrome or body color gas cap on the Darrin.  You see them both ways and I have no factory photo of the rear showing the gas cap. The parts book lists only one cap so different caps in colors would not have been available for replacement unless you were supposed to paint the cap after purchase.

[Terry T]

Here is my argument for a forward facing handle:

I would want my car to look like the pics in the Owner's Manual sitting on the front seat...or

..the door mechanism blue-print that I used during restoration...or...

...the roof mechanism blue-print that I used during restoration.

All these are readily available on eBay for any new owner.  Not so for the 2 page letter touting rear facing handles.

Additionally, I think that  it is much easier to use ones left hand and push the handle down and forward than to use ones right hand across your chest to pull the handle upward and forward.

[DTort96646]

From what I am reading then it must be a matter of personal preference the way the door handles face. Mine face to the rear as they were when the car was delivered new. I find them easier to open when pushing the handle up and sliding the door forward. Even my wife can open her door on the passenger side easily when pushing up and forward. She's done it many times when going by the review stand at the Concours D'Elegance events when she gets the award handed to her. Here are copies of the Darrin newsletter with the Darrin standards and paint codes.