1954 Kaiser Darrin

[Roadmaster49]

Jake
Yes, a follow up is in order.  data plate, VIN.  Build date and PHOTOS. 

[darrin502]

I have seen this before no picture of the engine or tag.
Maybe someone has a picture the myth persists.
I can tell you this mine is a blast to drive with the cady in it, as soon as I change the rear end gear I will get it on the freeway and see how it really goes. A Darrin deserves a V8 Dutch was right about that.

[DTort96646]

I set my cruise control at 75 mph and just go. 304 AMC/Jeep v8 fuel injection and electronic distributorless ignition,Chrysler automatic 3 speed and lockup torque convertor,3.08 rear axle ratio Dana 44 with posi. The front end gets light about 120 mph though.

[darrin502]

nice car I am using the stock 4.55 to 1 rear axle I am thinking of something in the 2.70's 8" ford.

[DTort96646]

Jake, the photo you have of the Kaiser Darrin rolled over is from an SCCA race that was held in March of 1955 at Palm Springs. This link will show the entry list of drivers. There are 2 Kaiser Darrins entered, 162 Maxine Elmer and 163 Ralph Sinatra. There is also a writeup of the race and an old video. It shows Sinatra rolling over and some other good shots before he rolls over. Maxine left the race with no brakes. Also notice some of the names of drivers entered like Phil Hill, Bob Estes, Ken Miles to name a few.
http://www.ferrariexperts.com/SCCA%20results%201955.htm#PAL

[51Deluxe]

When researching it's always best to go back to "primary sources" (learned that when doing historical research papers). After perusing some ancient KFOCF quarterlies, I think I've found the original source of the rumor- from Spring 1960:

"The son of the late Howard Darrin is reported to be producing these familiar automobiles in limited production in California at a cost of $5000. The only basic difference is the Cadillac "mill" in place of the basic Willys engine. "


Then there is the letter I found from Ted Dahlman, who visited with Dutch in 1964, asked him about the Cadillac Darrin and revealed the results to the club (see third paragraph):

[51Deluxe]

Here is the rest of the letter and a page from Motor Life magazine describing the Cadillac Darrin:

[51Deluxe]

The previous info leads me to believe that

1) 4 or 5 Darrins with the Caddy mill were actually produced

2) A real Cadillac Darrin might have originally come with a hardtop, flocked inside

The real question- did any of them survive? And if the hardtop is long gone, and with the likelihood of modifications over the years, how would you identify one if you found it?

[Terry T]

the hard-tops are still available from an earlier post

[Gordie]

Wouldn't any surviving Cad Darrin's have a very high serial number?  How many of the last known twenty or so Darrin's are unaccounted for?  I agree that Dutch probably never made more than one without having a large deposit as they would have been expensive and time consuming to modify.  I doubt that they automatically came with a hard top but that they were certainly available  for an additional cost.  I once had a Darin with an Olds V-8 installed but I have no idea who installed or when it was done.  It was probably over fifty years ago.  I sold that Darrin and two Glasspar roadsters to a collector in Denver who said that he had several Darrin's.  That was around twenty five years ago.  I sold the Darrin for $3,000 at that time.  That was after I sold my 1968 Shelby GT 500 convertible for $1,800.  At that time cars were not worth a lot of money and it was certainly long before Shelby's caught on and really started to bring a lot of money.  I did keep a few cars from the old days!

[Terry T]

as I understand, the cars that Dutch got were not part of the 435 that we mostly talk about
I do not believe that he got cars with serial numbers on them
additionally, most of the last 20 of the 435 are accounted for in the Registry

[Gordie]

I doubt that KW would sell cars without serial numbers as there would be no way to register them to a new owner.  They usually come with a certificate of origin and a bill of sale..  The story gets more and more interesting.  Good luck in unravelling the facts!

[darrin502]

Wow this has become a lively post, maybe we will get to the bottom of this story. If there truly were 3 or 4 it is hard to believe one would not have survived.
One story said he got some left over bodies that were left outside in the elements I do not think they would have had ID tags. I wonder if he had a license as a auto manufacturer if he did he could make his own tags. I am sure he would have had to have some kind of liability insurance to sell cars. Maybe with a small production you had no liability.
Anyway I hope someone has some real proof.

[darrin502]

May have found the wholly Grail check out these pics I will post more when I get mor info. The roomer may be true stay tuned.

[51Deluxe]

So are there any known Darrins with a mid 50's Cadillac V-8 in the engine bay (that wasn't installed recently) ? Or, any with a hardtop that matches the description?