- Seller: Joe P (Contact)
- Location: Perkins, Oklahoma
- Mileage: 44,575 Shown
- Chassis #: 5124-1640
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 226cui Flathead 6-Cylinder
- Transmission: 3-Speed Manual W/Overdrive
Isn’t it a shame that a car this pretty has been largely neglected by the collector car community? Designed by the famous Howard “Dutch” Darrin, the 1951 Kaiser, seen here in “DeLuxe” guise, must have seemed like a styling revelation when it was introduced. Low and sleek, with Darrin’s “sweetheart dip” windshield, the Kaiser feels like a missed opportunity, its fans bemoaning the fact that it would have certainly been a best seller with one of General Motors’ nameplates on the fender. Still, Kaiser wasn’t doing too badly in 1951, and its rugged and simple mechanical bits make it an easy car to maintain and enjoy. This example was once in the collection of a now-closed Kaiser museum near Perkins, Oklahoma, where it’s now being offered as a Barn Finds Auction.
The body tag confirms that this is a Model 512 DeLuxe, one of 8,888 two-door sedans built for the 1951 model year. The four-door sedan was far more popular, with 56,723 produced, but even so, our featured car was the third most popular Kaiser offered that year. The paint code is 130, which is “Horizon Blue,” a beautiful color. The paint itself is fading and peeling in spots (see the pictures posted below), so the car is certainly a candidate for a Comet wash and perhaps even a wipe-on clear coat to preserve what’s there.
The Kaiser’s engine is a straightforward Continental designed 226-cubic-inch flathead six, which produces 115 horsepower. Being that V8 engines were becoming more common in cars that cost roughly the same as the DeLuxe’s $2,275 base price (namely the Oldsmobile), it becomes clear why Kaiser-Frazer eventually ran into trouble; however, from today’s perspective, anyone wanting to enjoy an early 1950s independent is probably not too concerned with a missing 20 or 30 horsepower. This one runs and drives (the seller has posted this video), but it will need brake work, like most cars that have been sitting around for a protracted period. An outfit called Willow Run KF Parts can supply new shoes (see here) and all hydraulic parts necessary for a brake rebuild.
The Kaiser’s interior is not exactly in mint condition, with a carpet that could use replacement and a front seat that could most likely use reupholstering; however, a new temporary seat cover and floor mat might look just fine until the new owner is ready to commit the funds for replacement.
The steering wheel too has succumbed to many decades of handling and storage. Notice the third pedal on the floor: Although GM’s Hydra-Matic was an option, this car has the three-speed manual with overdrive, the overdrive being a required option on DeLuxe models with a manual.
The 1951 Kaiser is certainly a niche car in a world where all 1950s models are (sadly) suffering from lagging interest, but that means that those of us who still love them can find some pretty good deals. If you’re a booster of 1950s cars, of independents, or of both, bid now!
I do so love a good orphan story, and this looks like a decent place for a new enthusiast to start. Question for those in the know – was this the four-door where the rear doors were welded into place, and new larger front doors were cut into the sides?
It’s the story of car collectors from each passing decade, their nostalgic memories, and their beloved cars, a dying breed waiting for its turn to enter obscurity.
Old car museums are places where aging enthusiasts go to relive their past and show their grandchildren the world they grew up in.