2002.134.1

• television

This is a 1954 Kaiser Darrin 161convertible automobile with original California license plate MGH 793. The car is a light cream color with a black rag top. It has two doors with an innovative sliding mechanism. The convertible top can be placed in three positions: covering the entire top, covering 3/4 of the top and leaving the front exposed to the sky, or completely off. There is a lever in the trunk which releases the main part of the cover. There are snaps around to secure the tonneau cover. There were at one time curtain-like flaps that covered the windows on either side to keep rain out. The flaps deteriorated, as did the replacement set the donor replaced them with. The donor added a roll bar under the back portion of the cover in 1956. The donor has also replaced the engine with a six cylinder Willys, and had the car re-fiberglassed to repair cracks in the body caused by vibration of the engine. This was originally a company car used by the donor as a doctor at Kaiser Hospital. These cars were used by doctors to make house calls. In 1956 when Kaiser-Frazer stopped making cars, Dr. Schoen purchased the car from the company for $900. The original purchase price of the car was $3000. Dr. Schoen owned and drove the car until he donated it to the museum in 2002. Dr. Schoen retired from Kaiser Permanente in June of 2003.

Used: Dr. Edgar J. Schoen | Physician | Kaiser Permanente Hospital