Evaluation: From the Charlie Thomas Estate collection. The 67th of 435 built. Body-off restored in the 1990s. Tidy engine bay and underbody. Good older paint and chrome, but the area behind the seats is a different shade of white from the rest of the body. Light cracks on the steering wheel rim. The Kaiser-Darrin’s signature pocket doors often get sticky and hard to operate, and this one is no exception. An honest older restoration on one of these quirky and cool early American sports cars.
Bottom Line: Before the Corvette became “America’s sports car” there were several home-grown two-seaters built during the 1950s, and the Kaiser-Darrin with its puckered grill and novel doors is one of the most memorable. This result is right in line with what others have sold for in recent years, and both parties should leave Indianapolis happy.
