1954 Kaiser Manhattan

The Kaiser Manhattan was the first post-war production car to offer supercharging and the 1951 Frazer Manhattan convertible was the last four-door American convertible until Lincoln introduced its version on the 1961 Continental. Production of the Manhattan was brief, lasting from 1953 to 1955, with only 4,109 examples built before the Kaiser-Frazer company was elbowed out of the market by the Big Three.

Kaiser-Frazer was a niche company introduced during the burgeoning post-war era, capitalizing on the demand for new automobiles as the pre-war monoliths were struggling to re-establish their brands. It was launched by two entrepreneurs, Henry Kaiser, an industrialist and shipbuilder with solid financial backing, and his partner George Frazer, who recognized this narrow window of opportunity. A vast but vacant auto plant was leased from Ford and the Kaiser automobile was born. The list of vehicles that followed includes the Custom, Deluxe, Carolina, Manhattan, and Virginian sedans, along with the Traveler 4-door hatchback utility sedan. The Kaiser Darrin was the first production fiberglass sports car in the United States, and the Henry J (named after the founder of the company) was a small economy car.

The vehicles were known as the Kaiser-Frazer from 1947 through 1951, and when Frazer left in 1951, the company was renamed Kaiser Motors Corporation and continued until 1955.

The styling of the 1954 Manhattan was similar to the 1954 Kaiser Special, but with a three-section wraparound rear window that would be used on the second series of 1954 Kaiser Specials. It had a jet-air scoop grille, Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, and tear-drop headlights. The interior was equally as elegant and futuristic, with aircraft-inspired treatments throughout. There was a full-width padded dashboard that was vertically pleated, and an inverted 'U' shaped speedometer with lever-type controls to the driver's left-hand side.

The sedan had a factory base price of $2,450, and the club coupe listed for $2,400. The sedan was more popular of the two, with 4,107 examples sold compared to 218 of the club coupe. Both of these are estimates. The Manhattan outsold the Kaiser Special for 1954, which had approximately 3,500 units built. The Kaiser Darin, priced at $3,650, had just (approximately) 435 sales for 1954.

The Kaiser Special, offered as a sedan and club sedan, was priced in the low $2,000 and came equipped with a 226.2 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine delivering 118 horsepower. It shared the same 118.5-inch wheelbase as the Manhattan, and was 18 inches longer than the Darrin (in the wheelbase). Its overall length, which it shared with the Manhattan, measured 211 inches. Both rested on 6.70 x 15 tires.

Optional equipment included power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, a heater, E-Z-Eye tinted glass, leather upholstery, two-tone paint, various rear axle gear ratios, and an overdrive transmission.

The Kaiser Manhattan was the only model marketed for 1955.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021