Hollywood Classics Kaiser-Darrin.
Hollywood Classics Kaiser-Darrin February 10, 2001 0:00 0 Comments | Viewed 234 font size Print
Few would dare svetotatstvat adapting the huge Packard, so that it becomes a hot roadster. However, there is an American designer who has done this. His family name is Darin, and his vocation is to create extravagant cars. In his rich career, Darin design has created many custom models for rich French aristocrats and Hollywood stars. He will remain in history as a creation which is considered the peak of his career - sports masterpiece Kaiser-Darrin.
Rise of the few Hollywood studio Darin began after World War II. Until then design studio no orders, but after 1945 the situation changed radically. Darin received orders for production of bodies even from Cadillac and Lincoln. A
year later prospective constructor was offered by Lehman Brothers (rich
bankers) to construct entirely his own car with their money. The purpose of brothers Darin is to create a model that is inexpensive and is sold in supermarkets.
Originally Darin not taken seriously the idea, but eventually accepts. His
project never came to light, but while working at Lehman Brothers met
with Joseph Fraser, who was then a partner of Henry Kaiser - owner of
the largest enterprise Kaiser Industries. So Darin started practicing with Henry Kaiser, what gives him most - the construction of custom cars. That there appears masterpiece Kaiser-Darrin.
The car is model number 161, a figure corresponding to the cubic capacity in cubic inches. The project car is born in the studio in Hollywood. True to its principles continue to use glass instead of metal. This time, lightweight material fits perfectly with the sporting stance of the car. The panels are made entirely of fiberglass, but the way the doors remains a trademark of Darin. Two-seat
roadster is naturally two-door, but neither lifted up nor attached to
the middle column, and enter slightly in sliding forward and concealed
under the front fender.
In 1954 began series production of Kaiser-Darrin. Several months later the engine was replaced. The new engine is a product of the company Willys and is more powerful than originally fitted with 20 hp This bike, however, also proved to be weak for sports roadster since it develops only car 160 km / h For comparison, the corresponding Chevrolet Corvette, is producing at the same time unit is equipped with 150 hp and reaches a top speed of 230 km / h On top Chevrolet-but it is cheaper by about $ 150, quite a significant amount of 60s.
Despite some shortcomings, Kaiser-Darrin looks great and is considered a classic. Today
maniacal car is extremely rare and its price is quite high as a result
of ruthless competition Kaiser-Darrin was quickly dropped. The car is made in only 455 copies, then there is only memory. Thus ends the story of a beautiful sports car that just was not "born" at the right time and maybe the right place. Due to the short life, however, now rare antique is valuable and belongs only to rich collectors.