Henry J. Kaiser was an astute entrepreneur whose firms built roads, dams and other civil projects and during World War II, perfected mass production in shipbuilding. At the end of the war, Kaiser saw the demand for new cars and founded Kaiser-Frazer to build cars in a former bomber factory in Willow Run, Michigan. A rare 1952 Kaiser Virginian is for sale on Hemmings Motor News in Lincoln, Nebraska for $1,200.
Kaiser aimed for the more well-heeled buyer, primarily due to higher profit margins cars in that price range brought. This Virginian model slotted beneath Kaiser’s flagship Manhattan, but it offered similar styling and interior features and also shared its 226 cubic inch straight six cylinder engine. The Virginian came with the in-vogue continental spare tire carrier to set it apart visually.
The seller of this Kaiser says that it was parked in 1974 and the photos show a car that has likely had a repaint at some point in its life since patches of white can be seen in the metallic blue-green paint. Speaking of patches, there are visible patches of rust-through on the rocker panels and at several spots high up on the front fenders. It looks like all of the chrome trim is present which would be exceedingly difficult to find replacements for.
The interior is in fairly good condition with the seat covers still in place but showing a lot of wear. The sales brochures for the ’52 Virginian show a similar patterned seating surface, so these may be original to the car. The padded dashboard was an early effort in adding crash safety for front seat passengers. It looks handsome against the acres of chrome plating that are directly beneath it. The door panels are also in reasonably nice shape, too.
The six cylinder engine was based on a Continental Motors design, but had modifications made by Kaiser. Kaiser actually built the engines used in their cars instead of buying complete units from Continental and the Kaiser “Supersonic “engine produced 115 HP in standard tune. Engine internal parts should be easy to find since the basic Continental unit was built in the tens of thousands.
A restoration for this car would have to be from a desire to save an unusual car, since the values for Kaisers aren’t exactly high. Hagerty lists the current value of the upscale 1952 Kaiser Manhattan model at less than $10,000. For a buy in of $1,200 what would you do with a rarity like this?
For those interested in preserving a bit of American automotive history, this could be a fun project.
Add a McCulloch supercharger for more go!
What a great find! If I lived closer (New Jersey is too far) this would come home with me. Go to a show and be the only one there in an ocean of 5,6,7 Chevys.
Those hubcaps are worth the price of admission, as is the graceful dip in the windshield and continental spare. I believe the dashes on these cars were covered with faux alligator hide. Somewhere I have a full page ad for one of these from the Saturday Evening Post. Great design and a good asking price!
Kaiser styling was so far advanced for the time. I remember as a young teen seeing my first brand new Kaiser Dragon. OMG, I was in love. I would still like to have a nice one of those!
Henry J. Kaiser is one of the the most under appreciated Americans of all time.
His contribution to the war effort (WW II) is unmatched by anyone. His cars, while very interesting, are but a footnote to his true legacy. Thank you Henry J.
Looks like this may have been a light shade of hand-lotion green originally, to go with that interior. The repaint looks like Jeep’s Spruce Tip Green which is a terrific late 60’s color. This car would appear 10x better with a simple wash.
Love the “Widows peak” at the windshield to roofline on these!
I’d clean it up, fix the rust, and drive it as-is for a while – adding a dual master of course.
Kaisers, Fraziers, and to a degree, Studebakers and 1950’s era Packards seem today to be owned by crusty old eccentrics and hoarders that like to go on an on about how (pick one of the above) was so far ahead of it’s time, it was doomed to failure. Don’t try to reason with them that the cars were UGLY with a capital UG and the flathead engines clearly well behind the times . . .
Oh Goodness sakes……….did we miss our nap today?
Well, you must have never been out to the old Packard Farm northwest of Salem, Oregon in the ’80s, or the field in Keizer, Oregon packed with Kaisers and Fraziers that were all slowly decaying back into the earth. Both old coots thought they had the market(s) cornered on what were surely the best cars ever built of all time, with the shotguns to back it up if you dared inquire as if anything should actually be for sale!
As far as kaiser’s go, the 51 Kaiser was regarded by most as a beautiful design, styled by Howard Darrin. I doubt that you’ll find any critic with credentials, that would say different. As far as flat head engines, the industry was only just starting to go OHV in 51, such as the Olds, Cad, Chrysler. Most of the rest of the industry still sold L-heads, such as Pontiac, Lincoln, Ford. L-head engines would be “behind the times” in the late 1950’s. At least the L-head engines had dependability to their credit, Ford’s first OHV had constant oiling problems to the heads, Chevy’s had to deal with cracked heads on the 6 cyl., and all of the early OHV engines burned oil because of primitive valve guide sealing at the time.
Very astute comment and right on the mark. While not one of my personal favorites, there’s no denying that the Darrin design of these Kaisers was excellent.
It’s always seemed strange to me that in addition to the lovers of all things automotive (and particularly the forlorn, rusty, oddball and forgotten), BarnFinds seems to attract a peculiar contingent of misanthropes who seem to find nearly every old find worthless, overpriced, ugly, or otherwise undesirable. I can’t fathom why they hang out here.
Oh Good On YOU CycleMikey……….Just what I have wanted to say for oh so LONG! Thank You. Thank You. Thank You Thank You!
“BarnFinds seems to attract a peculiar contingent of misanthropes who seem to find nearly every old find worthless, overpriced, ugly, or otherwise undesirable. I can’t fathom why they hang out here.”
Heaven forbid someone have a different opinion than yours, Mikey.
You wouldn’t have a Pontiac Aztek sitting in your driveway, would you? That UGLY was by design. And, as far as flathead engines, back then it was still utilized by several manufacturers. Look at Ford, both 6 and 8 cylinder flatheads. Studebaker came out with their V-8 OHV for the 1951 model year. Not many had one that year, but they were getting there.
I have an Aztec sitting in my driveway, and I love it.
Totally agree that there is a difference between “wow that accidentally came out ugly” and the Aztec’s “listen, we’re making this ugly on purpose” which in turn, to me, is what makes it attractive.
But then again, I like 58 Oldsmobiles, the 81-83 Imperials, and 61 Desotos, so what do I know?
I need this for cruising the Skyline Parkway… Nebraska is a bit far from Virginia though…
This is a rare find, even among K-F’s. The ’52 Kaiser Virginian was a leftover 1951 Kaiser reserialed at the Willow Run plant for ’52, with the continental kit and the Virginian nameplate (from the 1949-50 four-door “hardtop”) added for distinction. Otherwise, 1951 model year specs, features, fittings, etc. were retained. Its stablemate was the Henry J Vagabond, also with a continental spare and the Vagabond nameplate from the 1949-50 Kaiser “hatchback” utility sedans. The “real” 1952 Kaiser and Henry J followed the Virginian/Vagabond to K-F showrooms in early ’52.
This is a great car! Actually in pretty decent shape! It deserves to be rescued and put back original! It would be a show stopper in my opinion!
My Uncle Prentiss had two swanky Manhattans of similar vintage parked down the hill behind their house. I always lived the styling because much of it was unlike other cars of the day. I wonder if they are still there? I don’t know how long they were parked there. The first car of his I remember riding in was a ’52 Dodge. We had to tie the doors to the steering column to keep them closed. Later he bought a ’60 Chev-a-let as he called it. He was quite a character.
If a 3 D printer can make a functioning fun of any kind surely it could make a whole set of new chrome for this buggy
Clean slate and affordable..slip something with a little more Moxie in there?? Fun to run as is and cruise!!!
Good luck to the new owner.. we rarely see cars on here that Joe sixpack (me ) can afford!!!
Thanks for all the comments.. It is sold.. Motor is being rebuilt..This week..
It had a rare green steering wheel.. worth more than the car..