1954 Kaiser Darrin

[Terry T]

I saw one with Big Foot driving it.

[51Deluxe]

I assumed the "100 were purchased by Dutch Darrin" thing to be true as it is all over the internet and even in an earlier publication, the "Encyclopedia of Classic Cars", a 1998 hardback book. So all Darrins with Caddy engines were retrofitted later or by private owners?

[Aeroman]

Yeah, and Studebakers are still built in Canada.
In my 35 years in KFOC and hearing that story all those years, I have never even heard of a rumor of one in actual existence. Everybody talks about them but none have ever been found. I'm guessing that Dutch offered them thru his showroom and maybe made one and wanted to build more, but never got an order for one so never made any more. He was from the old school coach builders - get a commission and then build, don't build on speculation. As to the 50 that he bought, anyone found any documentation of that purchase?
I think it's just urban legend. And that's too bad, it would truly be cool if it were true.

[DTort96646]

The Palos Verdes Concours  D'Elegance 2011 had 6 Kaiser Darrins on display. The author for the online article and pictures is Art Evans. In his piece about Kaiser Darrins he speaks about the conversation he had with Howard " Dutch" Darrin. It seems "Dutch" had two Darrin cars entered in the Palm Springs Road Race, March 26-27 1955. The drivers were Laura Maxine Elmer( to be Mrs  Briggs Cunningham), and Ralph Sinatra.  So being the diligent one, I found the entry program for the March 26-27 1955 SCCA Palm Springs Road Race. Maxine Elmer with a Darrin-Cad 1955 and Ralph Sinatra with a Darrin listed as supercharged. Both are in the Modified class. Sinatra wrecked his and what ever happened to Maxine's car is a guess. In my previous post there is a link to Sinatra racing at Torrey Pines 1954-1955. I would agree that at least one Darrin was Cad powered and at least one other Darrin was supercharged, both by Howard Darrin. The question still remains, where are they today? Google Etceterini.com and go to the 50-60 SCCA racing section. Go to the 1955 Races and find Palm Springs. The list is about 1/2 way down under 8th race March 26-27 1955. It shows names and cars and class. Goggle Palos Verde Concours D'Elegance and read what author Art Evans has to say about his conversation with Howard Darrin and coments about the race.

[darrin502]

I have talked to a lot of people that know of one but none of them have ever seen one in person. I have seen the racing video but it does not show what engine is in it. Again if anyone has any documentation or a picture please post it.
Just because it is on the internet does not make it true not even close. I think if Dutch had really done this he would have been proud of the car and would have taken pictures and documented his creation. I have seen pictures of the most unusual one off cars but no picture of a Dutch Darrin with a cady? Very unlikely.

[51Deluxe]

After all I've read on the subject , I'm inclined to believe he built at least one, but due to racing casualties it (or they) no longer exist. I'm working on a K-F documentary film, maybe this would be a good thing to investigate?

[kfnut]

Some years ago , maybe late 70's or early 80's , Gerry Fendley and I were at a show in Montgomery , Al. with our Kaisers . A fellow stopped to talk with us that had a Darrin at home he was tinkering with that he said needed a supercharger and needed help finding one . Knowing Darrins didn't have superchargers , sparked our interest . We were invited to see it and sure enough there was a section formed in the engine compartment for it . The man was moving to Tennessee shortly so we never saw it again . I wish we had taken pictures .

[DTort96646]

I've been a member of KFOCI since 1970, and in all that time, I have NOT seen or heard of any of the Darrins that Howard Darrin supposedly obtained and sold from his Santa Monica showroom. Pictures exist of his showroom, and I'm sure he sold some Darrins. The Darrin registry over the years has kept an excellent account of factory produced Darrins with an over 80% plus survival. If Howard Darrin bought and sold the 50 or so that is rumored, where is at least one? These vehicles had to have some type of vehicle identification numbers to be sold and registered. Have all of those Darrins been destroyed or lost over the years? Those Darrins , in my opinion would be as interesting to see as one of the Cad Darrins . I'm sure the Darrins that were listed by SCCA did exist because, the SCCA records are official documents. SCCA records also indicate that 3 other races from 1955 to 1957 had Darrins entered. It does not show what engines were in the cars or anything else. I'm pretty certain that those Darrins were destroyed through accident and they were not meant to be saved. Just my opinion though. Doesn't everyone like myths and fairytales?

[Terry T]

Some Darrins did have superchargers.
Later serial numbers had factory modifications to allow easier installation of the supercharges

[Aeroman]

What if Dutch just sold those 50 Darrins he bought from the factory without modifying them? Just like a regular dealer. Then they would be included in the 435 total count, right?

[Terry T]

No

As I understand, the cars that Dutch got were those that were "in process", ie, not completed.  Therefore, they would not have had the serial number plate.

Although 435 is the highest number plate, there were actually 436 finished on the production line.  There are 2 ones numbered 275!!

[Fid]

I too have been in this hobby since the late sixties when I was a small kid and I've never heard of a genuine sighting of a one of these Cadillac V8 equipped Darrins. If there were 50, you would think there would be remnants or evidence somewhere but I've seen none.  No wait, a friend of mine's neighbor said his brother-in-law's  dad knew a fellow that once worked for a guy who said he had a coworker who once knew a guy who saw one.

[Terry T]

Jake,

Thanks for the detailed confirmation of our suspicions.

[51Deluxe]

I know one thing, if I do decide to focus the documentary on this, the interviews are going to look a lot like Bigfoot interviews. "See those huge tracks.... that proves it!"

[darrin502]

Jake
Get a picture otherwise it is just another fish story to add to the million other stories with no facts. Until then it is still a myth.