An unknown car model to most people. Many people think it's a Chevrolet when they see one, or a German car brand when they hear the name.
Darrin Dip
The Kaiser has a design element that is easily recognizable. Note the crease in the middle of the windshield at the top. There is a similar crease at the top of the rear window, and also along the side windows. It was Howard "Dutch" Darrin who designed the cars with these characteristics that would later be called "Darrin Dip".
Model history
The model was produced from model year 1951 through 1954. The 1952 model got more chrome in the front and a full, curved windshield. In 1953 the cars got more chrome again. In 1954 they got a completely new front and even more chrome on the sides. This was the last edition before production was discontinued.
The cars had a 3.7 liter 6-cylinder flattop L-head engine from Willy's jeep – a company that had recently merged with Kaiser and became Kaiser Jeep. The standard transmission was a manual 3-speed on the steering wheel. One could order Borg-Warner exaggerate or GM Hydramatic machine.
Kaiser Manhattan
For a long time I thought that all 2nd generation Kaisers were called Manhattan – a model name that originally belonged to Frazer. But when Frazer ceased to be an independent car brand in 1951, Kaiser was allowed to use the same model name from the 1952 model year. "Dear child has many names", it is said. Kaiser went under many model names. From 1951 we also find model names such as Dragon, Custom, Special, Deluxe, Virginian, Carolina og Traveler – a very special combicoupe solution.
A seeming jumble of model names could well be interpreted as a sign that sales were not going as expected. In any case, Henry J. Kaiser sold his car brands in 1955 to concentrate on aluminum production. Car production was later established in Argentina as IKA (Industrias Kaiser Argentina).
The photos in this post were taken at Eight Amcars Club in Sørum. In their permanent exhibition hall you can find, among other things, the car that was used in the first film about the Olsen gang.
Kaiser was not an unknown brand in Norway in the 1950s. Eight Amcars Club (EAC) aims to preserve 8 American car brands that lost in the battle with the big ones. Kaiser is one of them. The club's premises contain several cars - also with Norwegian history.
In the vehicle register there are supposed to be 15 Kaisers of this type in Norway and several of them were registered here in the 1950s. There are probably people alive who have experienced these cars. They are truly worth preserving. A quick search in forums for owners shows that many parts can still be obtained. The engines were not only used in the cars, but also in tractors from Massey Ferguson and Massey Harris, as well as industrial engines. The brake parts were supplied by Ford. And the special windshields can be reproduced.
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