The First Fiberglass Car in the World!
Henry J. Kaiser, a United States industrialist, and Joseph W. Frazer, president of the Graham-Paige Corporation, started making automobiles with the brand names Kaiser and Frazer after World War II. Kaiser-Frazer also built a small car called the Henry J, named for Henry Kaiser. A slightly re-designed version of the Henry J was sold by selected Sears Auto Centers during 1952 and 1953 under the brand name Allstate. This car was tagged as a product of Sears-Roebuck. While listed for information purposes in the Sears 'wish books' the Kaiser Motors operation at Will Run, Michigan was closed down and moved to the Willys-Overland Corporation facility in Toledo, Ohio. Kaiser car production in the USA ended in 1955.
The Kaiser Darrin, designed by Howard 'Dutch' Darrin, was the first production fiberglass sports car in the USA and the world, beating the Corvette to market by one month. The fiberglass body by Glaspar weighs only 300 pounds! A three-position landau top and innovative doors that slide into the front fenders complimented the trademark Darrin 'dip' at the front of the rear fenders. This design detail gave the famous Packard Darrin roadsters of the early 1940's a stunning look. The Kaiser Darrin was one of Dutch's last design achievements, and many say the crowning jewel of his career. Gail Manz first drove an identical Kaiser Darrin in 1954, and has loved the design ever since. | |
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