Kaiser and Frazer joined forces in 1945 to create Kaiser-Frazer Corp. The Kaiser side of the equation received a redesign in 1951, highlighted by the “sweetheart dip” or vee in the windshield. Two versions of a Manhattan 2-door sedan were offered, the Club Coupe and Business Coupe. The latter was a Club Coupe but without a back seat (popular with traveling salesmen and their wares). Estimates are that fewer than 1,200 copies of the Business Coupe were built in ’51, making the seller’s sharp copy a rare find. Located in Jefferson, Georgia, this low-mileage sedan is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $11,500.
Much of the design work on the 1951 Kaiser was done by “Dutch” Darrin, who worked on retainer. The end result was “Anatomic Styling” (sometimes called “Speed Styling”). The cars had two inches less in ground clearance, providing a low and leaner look. An L-head inline-6 continued to reside under the hood, displacing 226 cubic inches with an output of 115 hp. Fast, they were not. The last Kaiser-Frazer cars were built in 1955, ending another of the independent U.S. automakers.
Details are few about this attractive Business Coupe. We’re told it has less than 33,000 miles, but we don’t know how that came to be. Everything works as it should, including the “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. The burgundy paint looks sweet, and the brownish interior has either held up well or been redone.
We’re told the car has very little rust, and none of it jumps out in the photos provided. This comes across as a turn-key ride, which is backed up by a video the seller provides that shows the rare car moving around. If you have a modest budget to spend on a vintage car, would you give this Kaiser Manhattan a second look? BTW, thanks to “Santa” for the tip!
These cars deserve more attention. They just get edged by the ’53 Studebakers for looks in their time and place.
Kaiser had two distinct 2-door body styles. The 2-door sedan is identifiable by its longer roof and divided rear side windows. The 2-door club coupe has a shorter roofline and a single-pane rear side window. Both were available as Special and Manhattan models. Only the Special offered a business coupe, essentially a club coupe with no rear seat. That, and the lack of the thick, chrome side moldings, makes this a Special rather than a Manhattan.