The 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161, Howard "Dutch" Darrin's
dramatic sliding-door sports car, utilized a Willys F-head engine under a
fiberglass body laid over the Henry J chassis. Features included an unusual
"kiss me" grille, sliding doors, three-position "landau"
top, full instrumentation, and a floorshift (with overdrive a common option).
More a boulevardier than an outright sports car, the Darrin could nevertheless do 0-60 mph in about 13 seconds and approach the 100-mph mark. But at its steep price, few were sold. Darrin purchased about 100 leftovers and fitted some with Cadillac V-8 engines. The vast majority of Darrins are still around; most have been traced by enthusiasts.
Pluses of the 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161:
435
Specifications of the 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161:
Wheelbase, inches: 100.0
Length, inches: 184.1
Weight, pounds: 2175
Price, new: $3,668 (U.S.)
Engines for the 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161:
Want more information about classic cars? See:
More a boulevardier than an outright sports car, the Darrin could nevertheless do 0-60 mph in about 13 seconds and approach the 100-mph mark. But at its steep price, few were sold. Darrin purchased about 100 leftovers and fitted some with Cadillac V-8 engines. The vast majority of Darrins are still around; most have been traced by enthusiasts.
Pluses of the 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161:
- Swoopy styling
- Unique sliding doors
- Rare and hotly sought-after
- A guaranteed show-stopper
- Fiberglass bodywork subject to stress cracks
- Hardware and windshields extremely scarce
- Not cheap
- No performance
435
Specifications of the 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161:
Wheelbase, inches: 100.0
Length, inches: 184.1
Weight, pounds: 2175
Price, new: $3,668 (U.S.)
Engines for the 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161:
| Type | Size | Horsepower | Years |
| F I-6 | 161 | 90 | 1954 |
Want more information about classic cars? See:
- Classic Cars
- Muscle Cars
- Sports Cars
- Consumer Guide Auto
- Consumer Guide Auto Used Car Search