1959 Raven

[84RabbitGTI]

I saw this first in Hemmings Motor News Mag from October 2009.  It is on the bottom of page 39 and is a small photo, but I instantly saw my Kaiser's lines.  The guts are custom and other cars, but the front clip, 1951 and 53 front bumpers, and 1953 rear bumpers, side stainless and rear fender line with the 'Darrin dip' is unmistakable. Of course, with Kaiser being a forgotten outcast of the automotive world, there is no mention of the Kaiser parts, which seems to make it more fun to point them out!   
http://www.motorheadextraordinaire.com/raven.php

[Weaz]

I just checked out the slide show.

http://www.motorheadextraordinaire.com/slideshow/raven/

Before I saw the rest of the pictures, I was thinking the bug-eyed toothy front end was a bit much. After seeing the rest, I'm not sure how to feel. He obviously did a lot of work to get that car the way he wanted it. Since he did that back in '59, I'd have to say good for him, but that car's got a face only a mother could love.

I guess if I ever saw someone do that to a Kaiser today, I'd kick them in the nuts.

 

[DRAGON WHISPERER]

yes it is nice  !!!!  but just a bit over the top, reminds me of the days when we would take out toy cars apart and reassemble them with mismached parts. the chevy hood on the trunk looks well STUPID  just my 2 cents

[84RabbitGTI]

Sorry, I missed where it mentioned the Kaiser parts in the story, duh.... 
I kinda like the head lights, and the extended side trim on the rocker panel, as if in practice you need more trim to hold the moisture and dirt to the steel, but it looks nice. Of course it is over the top.  Just look at what the factories were doing in 1958-59. 
I guess when I see a car modified like this today, ....or a hot rod, custom or what ever you want to call them.... I am hopeful that the doaner car was a wreck that otherwise would have been crushed, and gone forever.  If you don't restore a hopeless wreck, then better to keep some of the original's history and style to live on, even in caricature than to go extinct forever.
This is a debate that will go on, I suppose.

[joefrazer]

Aside from the spare tire sticking out of the trunk lid...which looks more like an afterthought...I like the car. You have to remember that the 50s was a time where most everyone into hot rods was trying to build a custom car. Many of them are best forgotten, but in my opinion, not this one. I posted a thread on the AACA site with a link to the slide show...we'll see if anyone knows what became of the car.
Here's a link to the thread -> http://forums.aaca.org/f169/50s-show-car-where-now-269676.html#post690128

[Orphanauto]

wow what talent, I thought he did a great job, there were a few things I didn't care for, such as the headlinghts seem to stick out without any chrome rings, and the tailights could have been better, small truck, hehe, and the dash could have been much better, such as the original Kaiser or a Studebaker hawk dash, but his talent to do that is great, yea the grille could have been better, but I love the cool slick looking convertible kasier look, kinda has the late 40's Lincoln style rear with the spare tire. I would love to have something like that, but I don't want to get kicked in the nuts for trying by weaz,  hahaha. I'll just admire this one, 

[84RabbitGTI]

It still exists, it was at a show featured in Hemmings last summer which is where I first saw it (in the magazine).  The web site details its restoration.  I'd like to see a side by side comparison to a '51 Kaiser, and I just happen to have a black one that would serve that purpose just fine!

[fatboy]

WOW ! WOW ! and WOW !   alot of very serious body work and design time   I LIKE IT !  the RAVEN looks like a Motorrama car built by the big three ! I am very impressed

[Terry T]

I was at 2009 Detroit Autorama showing my Darrin (took second place--did not have the top then).  The Raven was sitting across the aisle from me.  It is quite an impressive car up close--just like any Darrin!!  The signage that was at the Raven did give credit to the Kaiser panels used.  I know that most of us are purests, but I can give credit to anyone who can artfully meld metal into such a car.

[jmxkf1]

I like it and would love to cruise it around.   If it's a nice day I would leave the top by the side of the road and then pick it up on my return trip(?)