Kaisers are not common cars. Produced for only about a decade, there just aren’t that many around. Probably one of the better-known examples is the Kaiser Darrin, but Kaiser (also Kaiser-Frazer) produced a handful of attractive models over its run. One of those is this 1951 Kaiser Special 2-door, in surprisingly good original condition. It can be found here on Barn Finds Classifieds in Greenwood Arkansas, with an asking price of $7,495.
After World War 2, a pent-up need for new automobiles led to the introduction of several new car manufacturers. Henry J. Kaiser, a shipbuilder during the war, was one of those examples. He took on a partner- Joseph W. Frazer, who had experience in the auto industry by working at Packard, GM, DeSoto, Willys-Overland, and Graham-Paige. That’s quite the resume! The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation was formed in 1945 and the Special model was introduced for 1947.
According to press releases at the time, $10 million was spent to update the 1949 models to make them look longer, lower, and more modern, and this 1951 Special shows the results of that investment. It has had only 3 owners over the last 70 years, and with a claimed 46,748 original miles it appears to have been very well-kept. All the trim is bright and clean, including the original hubcaps. There’s a small crack in the driver door window, but otherwise the glass is good as well. The seller tells us that an amateur repaint was done, and there are a few areas of flaking paint and small areas of rust. That could mean more is lurking in other areas and simply painted over, so potential buyers will definitely want to investigate that.
The interior has aged surprisingly well, although the carpet is new. The driver’s seat, visor, and headliner are starting to fray in a few locations, but it’s not too severe yet. Perhaps they could be repaired instead of replaced. The two-tone black and white color combo definitely gives this interior an upscale feel, even though it’s fairly simple. I wouldn’t mind spending some time in here.
This Kaiser appears to be equipped with its original inline 6-cylinder engine and 3-speed manual transmissions. The seller says they both are in proper working order and should give no problems to the next owner. An extensive list of repairs and upgrades have been made recently including a rebuilt wiper control system and braking system, and the original six volt positive ground electrical wiring is functioning correctly, so be careful which cable you hook up to the battery! Overall, this car can be enjoyed immediately while small details are ironed out. In the meantime, you’ll probably be the only person with a Kaiser at the local Cars and Coffee!
2 doors Kaiser! I don’t think I ever seen one.
Correct me but it seems that the front door does not looks longer than if it would be a 4 doors? I mean, if I compare with any other US manufacturer.
I concur! My first immediate reaction was it looks like it was four doors with the rear doors covered. Every 2-door car of ANY model I have seen in my 85+ years was the back seat area was NOT as roomy as a 4-dr.
But then, I could be wrong.
I too, noticed that. However, if you look at the Studebaker Champion and the Fords of this era, they have the same thing going on. The Champion looked like the rear doors were welded shut.
What a great find. K-F was probably the most unappreciated car and ironically, one of the best. I read, Henry Kaiser was a remarkable man. He treated all his employees fairly, and felt a honored worker was a good worker. I’ve maintained that most of my working career. There were jobs I hated, but it was the kindness of the boss that kept me there. Trouble was, the Kaiser had dated styling and features, and I read, a deal with GM almost had Olds V8 motors, but the deal fell through during the Korean War. Funny thing about 2 doors then, they were merely 4 doors with the back doors welded shut. I all but guarantee, in this day, nobody will know what a Kaiser is.
The younger generation won’t know, but as an (almost) 79 year old, I remember, primarily because my father had 2 Kaisers, a ’47 and a ’53. The ’53 had a Continental tire on the rear-end. I went to Florida with my mom and dad over Christmas holidays in ’54 and somebody stole the Continental kit off the car when we stayed overnight in a tourist cabin near Fort Myers. Never did get it replaced, but Pop traded the car in ’57 for a Dodge Coronet with push button automatic.
Understandable; not everyone is a car-person, but those who are need no explanations.
You’re wrong about the Kaiser 2 doors being 4 doors with the back doors welded shut. While Kaiser did make a one-off ’47 tudor that used that method, and they also welded the rear door shut on the 1949-50 hatchbacks in order to stow the spare there, the 1951 and later tudors definitely used different bodies than the their 4 door counter parts. In 1951 there was a tudor sedan, which this one is, and a club coupe and business coupe. All had different bodies to accommodate the style.
I always thought that these had a feminine look to them.
I enjoyed my 3 years with a restored ’51 4 door. Mine tended to overheat, they were not up to interstate speeds so I kept it on the backroads most of the time. Rode like a dream.
“which cable you hook up to the battery!” Battery posts are different sizes.
Friend just bought a very nicely restored Model A, w/ a big National franchise new 6v battery installed incorrectly. I can just hear the guy installing it “Hey guys, can you believe this? Someone put the old battery in w/ the ground backwards!” The size of the terminal does not solely determine the ground mandated by the car maker. Back when, positive ground was somewhat common.
Most British cars operated with Positive ground until the mid sixties.
I bought a 1949 Nash Airflyte 600 Super last year cheaply last year with a bad engine, backfiring through the carb. Put the battery in correctly, rewired the wrongly wired distributor and it started on first click. So, yes you can put the battery in backwards.
This makes about three of these K-F over the last few weeks.
God bless America
Love the Kaiser, and the fact that, for a two door, they just welded shut the back doors.
Had a customer that was a Kaiser fanatic, and club member. Bought a new one in ’49? Maybe? First new car he ever sat in! Kept it til he passed. He said he quit touring with the club because they ran 100mph everywhere. He had a few including a Darrin.
My 1958 Ford Consul (English Ford sedan) is positive ground. It was quite common back then. I made a big label on my labelmaker and stuck it next to the radiator to remind myself, and anyone else who might get under the hood!
Correction, positive “earth”,,
When I saw this vehicle I knew it was close to Halloween. Strange design with that bullet proof 6.
The younger generation won’t know, but as an (almost) 79 year old, I remember, primarily because my father had 2 Kaisers, a ’47 and a ’53. The ’53 had a Continental tire on the rear-end. I went to Florida with my mom and dad over Christmas holidays in ’54 and somebody stole the Continental kit off the car when we stayed overnight in a tourist cabin near Fort Myers. Never did get it replaced, but Pop traded the car in ’57 for a Dodge Coronet with push button automatic.
all ways liked the double ‘widows peak’ these had (frnt/rear glass). Just wish the i6 was OHV. HEHEHE, then add x-flow, and, &….no, no just kiddin.
But ohv could be nice.