1951 Frazer Manhattan

Convertible Sedan
Chassis number: F516-001002

The Frazer automobile was built from 1946 through 1951 by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation of Willow Run Ypsilanti, Michigan. Along with Crosley, these were the first American car with a new envelope body and new postwar styling. The Frazer was named after the American automobile executive Joseph W. Frazer who was now president and general manager of Kaiser-Frazer. Styling was handled by Howard 'Dutch' Darrin along with help from other Kaiser-Frazer stylists.

For 1951, the Frazer models were dramatically restyled with body styles including a four-door convertible, a hardtop sedan, and the Frazer Vagabond (a unique hatchback sedan). All Frazers were essentially hand-built at the Kaiser-Frazer facility.

This Frazer, serial number 002, is the second example built after the new 1951 Kaiser-Frazer models debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1950. It is believed that it was owned and driven by Henry J. Kaiser during his time in Michigan and even accompanied him to Hawaii in 1955. The car was later acquired by an owner in Texas, where it resided until 1989 when it was sold to an individual in Maryland. The car has never been completely restored. The odometer currently shows 66,000 miles which is believed to be original.

Power is from a Continental-derived Supersonic six-cylinder engine offering 115 horsepower. There is a four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The power top is hydraulically operated, as are the windows, and there is a push-button radio, heater, dual windshield post spotlights, directional signals, and backup lights.

by Dan Vaughan

In 1945, Henry J. Kaiser and Joe Frazer formed the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation with the purpose of creating an economical, lightweight, and innovative vehicle.

When Henry J. Kaiser began production of the Manhattan, his goal was to produce a safe vehicle. This was accented by the vehicle's bumpers, low center of gravity, excellent field-of-view for the driver, and more. The design updates were courteous of the legendary designer, Howard 'Dutch' Darrin. The first Manhattan was actually created in 1947 as a Frazer and not a Kaiser. In 1951 the vehicle became the Kaiser Manhattan, the result of Frazer splitting his relationship with Kaiser.

Under the hood of the Manhattan sat a six-cylinder engine. This was unfortunate because the competition was offering high-output eight-cylinder variants that were more powerful and offered more performance.

In 1954 Kaiser offered the Manhattan with a McCulloch VS57 Supercharger. This raised the horsepower for the 226 cubic-inch engine from 118 to 140. The zero-to-sixty time when from nearly 18 seconds down to 15.

In 1953 a high-end version of the Manhattan was produced, dubbed the Kaiser Dragon. The exterior was given a reptilian theme trim package complete with 'dragon-skin' vinyl room. The interior continued this theme in its upholstery.

In 1953 Kaiser merged with Willys-Overland which proved to be a bad move for the Kaiser Company. Willys-Overland was being criticized by the public over its military contracts. As a result, negative press arose and ultimately accelerated the companies' demise in 1955. The Kaiser factories were closed and the production equipment was sent to Cordoba, Argentina in 1958 where the production of the Manhattan continued until 1962. During this 1958 through 1962 time period, around 8,025 non-supercharged Kaiser Carabela's were produced.

Much is left up to speculation about the fortunes of the company if an eight-cylinder engine would have been offered. The Manhattan was a stylish vehicle but its six-cylinder engine was not enough to keep the public interested.

by Dan Vaughan