It’s not often that a Frazer pops up for sale, especially one that’s described as complete and still wearing its original drivetrain. This 1951 Frazer, listed on craigslist near Madera and Fresno, California, is being offered for $3,800 and looks like an opportunity for someone who enjoys uncommon postwar American cars. The seller is upfront about its condition, explaining that it isn’t running but also providing a detailed history of what they know about the car. According to the seller, this is one of 10,214 Frazers built for the 1951 model year. They also note that only a couple hundred are believed to remain, making it an unusual sight today. While prospective buyers should do their own research, there’s no question that Kaiser-Frazer products don’t appear on the market nearly as often as many of their Detroit contemporaries. Thanks for the tip, Zappenduster!
The seller says the car retains its original 226 cubic-inch “Supersonic” inline-six engine backed by a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive. Although the engine is complete, they have not attempted to turn it over and are clear that the car is not currently running. In fact, they specifically ask buyers not to expect a demonstration, noting that they never reached the point of trying to start it. One interesting detail comes from the paperwork that accompanies the car. According to the seller, the odometer currently reads 8,891 miles, and documents they found indicate the engine was rebuilt at 6,073 miles. They explain that the previous owner apparently drove another 2,818 miles before something mechanical occurred. The listing also states the Frazer was last registered in 2017 before its owner passed away while working to get it back on the road.
The seller noticed several clues suggesting the project was already underway. They mention that the gas lines are disconnected, the ignition coil is sitting in the trunk, and the coil wires are hanging loose. After purchasing a new 6-volt battery, they discovered the Frazer uses a positive-ground electrical system and decided the project was beyond what they wanted to tackle. Beyond the mechanical work, the seller provides a balanced assessment of the rest of the car. They describe the body as straight and say the paint “is not bad.” Four new tires and a spare are included, along with newer brakes. They also note that the dash is in good shape and describe both the engine compartment and undercarriage as very clean.
The interior, however, will need attention. According to the listing, the seats are in poor condition, with the upholstery worn thin enough for the cotton padding to show through, and there is currently no headliner. The seller also mentions that while the doors and trunk close nicely, some of the door latches need work. To help the next owner, two shop manuals are included with the sale. The car also comes with a clean California title and is currently on non-operation status, so the seller says there are no back registration fees to worry about.
The seller seems genuinely hopeful that someone with more time and experience will continue where the previous owner left off. For enthusiasts who enjoy orphan brands and overlooked postwar classics, this 1951 Frazer could be a rewarding project that’s a little different from the usual fare.
I hope this gets revived. We see a fairly good share of Kaisers here, we don’t see many Frazer models. I’m sure its probably going to be tricky to get some parts for these but thankfully this one looks solid and complete. Clean it up, get it running and be ready to answer lots of questions wherever you go. Thanks Elizabeth, I enjoyed your write up. And of course Zappenduster, you’ve got a knack for finding great vehicles.
Thanks, Driveinstile, you’re spot on. I currently own a 1952 Kaiser Manhattan, and I used to own Citroen DS and CX. I’ve always been infatuated with oddball cars. Edsel, Hudson, Citroen, Kaiser, Frazer, Graham, Franklin, Dodge Brothers. Just finished a book about the Haynes-Apperson cars (and, after the split, the follow-up Haynes cars and Apperson cars). So many cars to study, so little time…
My father had a ’49 (I think) Frazer when I was very young. Didn’t seem like a bad car. He wasn’t inclined to spend much on wheels then, and the Frazer, like other K-F products, had so little resale value it suited him well.
He later traded it on a ’53 Kaiser, which ended up being the first of my three.
I, too, hope someone gets this back on the road, which doesn’t seem like too daunting a task. Whatever else these cars may have been, they were reliable and comfortable. This would be a labor of love rather than an investment, but that’s true of many cars I like.
Anyone who likes oddball cars would like to see this back on the road, but who’s willing to take this on with all the unknowns? It would probably have to be someone who has experience with one of these. I can imagine some parts would be hard to find.
By the time this Frazer was built, Joseph Frazer had left the company after clashing with Henry Kaiser over production volume. Frazer wanted to throttle back production, citing the age of the products and the competition catching up with postwar styling. Kaiser pressed onward for 1949, resulting in so many surplus bodies that they were reserialized and sold as 1950 models. The final 10,000 leftover bodies were modified and sold as 1951 Frazers. Had Kaiser-Frazer scaled back production for 1949 and invested in a V-8 instead of the Henry J, the company’s story could have been very different.
I read Frazer wanted his car to be a luxury car competing with Cadillac and Lincoln. But that was kind of hard to do with a flathead six and manual transmission. Even Ford knew better and sourced Hydramatics from G.M. to use in Lincolns. And by ’51 even though the auto. trans was an option on a Cadillac, if you wanted a 3-on-the-tree manual it was special order.
KF also used Hydramatics from GM.
(sigh) Had this been one of the ULTRA-RARE convertibles Frazer offered, in this same basic shape a seller could probably come out smelling like a rose sales-wise! I’ve only seen one in all my 65+ years!
It almost looks like you could use the front end on a ’50 Studebaker.
I never had a Frazer car but I did have a Frazer rototiller that I bought at a yard sale for $50. The thing was a monster; large, heavy, smoky, and noisy. It ran and worked great but was too large to use around my small yard and didn’t fit in my shed. I gave it to a friend to use on his farm and he loved it! Lots of info and parts on the web.
‘Though not an addicting body style, there are many pluses if you have some bucks, time, and energy. It apparently was never parked on salt slush streets -the chrome looks really decent – and interior refinements are available everywhere. And 6v positive ground? Just turn that new battery around. At a C&C, you’ll garner more glances than most anyone else there.
Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club International (KFOCI) is a good source for parts.
I don’t believe there are very many parts that AREN’T available.
Hardest component to source, IMHO, would the the Carleton Spencer designed specialty fabric combinations for this car’s upholstery, door panels, and headliner. If you want to go the factory-original route, the exact-match reproduction broadcloths and period-correct automotive textiles have to be custom-sourced or special-ordered through specialty vendors. I’m thinking of SMS Auto Fabrics or Legendary Auto Interiors.
This is the first one I’ve seen. My Uncle Duwain (my grandmother’s twin brother) was a Kaiser freak. I was quite young but I remember the goofy(IMHO) windshield “dip”. I’m sure they were nice cars but they never made any kind of impression on me. Just like older (early 50s) DeSotos. I’m more in into early (50s) Hudsons, Chevies, Plymouths and Oldsmobiles. Good luck to the buyer and purchaser. The current condition yells ” TAKE ME HOME AND MAKE ME BEAUTIFUL AGAIN!”
Interesting