The Kaiser-Frazer DKF-161 model was designed by the late Howard A. Darrin who was nationally known as the custom car builder and styling consultant for Kaiser-Frazer Corporation. Mr. Darrin once stated that the U.S. European sports car purchases had doubled during the early part of the 1950's and was growing steadily within the consumer market. Mr. Darrin previously stated, “American manufacturers are going to have to allocate more of their production capacity, sooner than they think to the manufacture of sports cars”.
The decision to go into volume production was based on market tests in multiple cities which indicated a tremendous growth of public interest in sports car models. The Kaiser Darrin sports car started its journey with experimental prototypes that were built in Los Angeles, CA. Partnership included the United States Rubber Company and the Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation.
In the late 1953, the Kaiser Darrin sports car went into production with higher fender designs and headlights to meet state requirements. The models also offered a light weight design with a body of reinforced plastic. For the first time used on any American production automobile, the model included sliding doors that the public thoroughly enjoyed. The model was a low model design with its top speed accelerating to over 100 miles per hour. The interior was top grade leather which covered both seats and included a floor tunnel to add comfort for both the driver and passenger.
Despite having a sleek looking sports car design, the automobiles sales volume was manufactured in very low numbers. At the time, Kaiser-Frazer was experiencing difficult times and only 435 models were produced for the consumer market. After its production, many new Kaiser Darrin models were leftover from previous sales and parked at the Willow Run Factory. Later on, the models were all shipped to California for other reasons to be sold. In 1954, Kaiser- Frazer discontinued the Kaiser Darrin sports car but has now become a collector vehicle. Today, the Kaiser Darrin sports car models have become a part of Automotive History. In 2011, at the RM Auctions sale in Arizona, a Kaiser Darrin sports car sold for $121,000 dollars.
A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for donating the story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. Photographs are courtesy of Bob Tate’s personal collection. (Bibliography: Lamm Michael & Holls Dave A Century Of Automotive Style 100 Years Of American Car Design. Lamm-Morada Publiching Co Inc. 1996-1997. Popular Science . May 1953. Ludvigsen Karl . Corvette America's Star-Spangled Sports Car The Complete History . Clark, Irwin & Company 1973. )
Please do not republish the story and/or photographs without permission of MotorCities National Heritage Area. For further information contact Robert Tate at btate@motorcities.org. If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a MotorCities Story of the Week, email Lisa Ambriez at lambriez@motorcities.org.