A nice vid! My late grandfather was a taxi driver. In 1952 he managed to get a Kaiser - don't know which model. It was his pride, and the envy of other drivers in Northern Finland. In those post-war times the importing of U.S. cars was strictly controlled by the state. He later switched to Mercedes Benz. In 1970 he came home to have lunch, and went to take a nap. He died in his sleep. A fine man who loved cats and cars.
The very talented Howard Dutch) Darrin was responsible for the attractive Kaiser and Frazer designs. The 1951 Frazer , the second generation Kaisers , and the Kaiser Darrin sports car were especially attractive. Darrin had worked with Packard right before the war, Thanks for producing this program.
Thanks for another fine video. Those Argentine and Brazilian models are very interesting. I was at a car show around 5 years ago and saw a 1951 Frazer convertible, with its 4 sedan type doors and a B pillar that went up to the soft top. And that Ford Maverick 4 door wagon is a really nice-looking car.
Came home from high school one day in 1970 to find a perfect original Kaiser Manhattan in front of our house. It was Mom's new Avon distributor. Her husband had made a barn find in Nebraska and did it look sexy!
The ‘50s and ‘60s saw the end or near end of many brands… not only automobile manufacturers, but also such things as breweries. Conglomerates were formed through huge investments in television marketing. In the auto industry, we ended up with the Big 3 plus AMC, and in the beer industry Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors. Excellent video, HCG. 👍👍👍
Scott from Cold War Motors has been driving around Alberta in a well-used Frazier for nine years. Wonderful trip down the rabbit hole! The South American chapter was very interesting. I especially liked the Maverick wagon, and it's too bad it didn't make it here! My mother thought the Henry J was soooo cute, so I get a big smile on my face every time I see one. Great episode!
Very informative, but you didn't include what made Kaiser a Kaiser, and how it stood out amongst the competition. Such as the exterior (windshields, human trait grills), interior designs (very unique patterns and materials as well as the "dragon skin") and the clever updates (Such as the unique use of taillights- headlights and grill changes in previous year models that didn't get sold).
Loved the '51 - '54 Kaisers, especially the final year grille, sad they never got a V8 to compete with the Detroit horsepower race. Interesting history
Good video. A couple of inaccuracies - One, and I know I'm being anal about this first one so I apologize in advance but it's pronounced "Fra-zer" not "Fray-zhur." Joseph Frazer was Scottish, not French. The six cylinder Henry J engine was 161 CID not 191. The Carolina model in '53 was not the higher end model, it was in fact the lowest end model. It has almost no trim and no chrome. The purpose of the Carolina was to get a low priced car in the show room to lure prospective buyers in and then talk them into purchasing the upscale Manhattan or Dragon model. The arrangement with Sears began in the 1952 model year with the first Allstate cars in stores in December 1951 and contrary to what is stated in other videos and even in some books, the Allstate could not be ordered through the Sears Catalog. It was listed in the catalog but you had to go into a Sears store (in a few selected cities in a few selected states) in order to purchase one. The Allstate was sold in 1952 and 1953 with only 2,300 sold. It's unfortunate that the car shown when the Carabella is first mentioned is actually a '54 Kaiser early Special as that model did not have the 3 piece wrap around rear windshield as the Carabella did. Love the Brazilian cars. You don't hear much about those. Overall, a very good video.
My parents bought a new Kaiser in 1948. My dad said few new cars were hard to get in 48. I remember it being a large car, the back seat had a lot of room for us as kids. Dad ran that car until 1955 and traded it for a Plymouth Savoy.
Interesting Kaiser did well abroad where fuel prices were higher. In the US the post WWII "prestige" thinking was it had to have a V8. You were a nobody if you drove a car without a V8. The mileage was terrible but gas was cheap. And most newer more fluid automatic transmissions were paired with a V8. A six cylinder was consider an economy car and either had a lesser automatic transmission or three on the tree. Unlike the Big Three Kaiser lacked co-development contracts to bring engine refreshes that kept it marketable. They were fine cars, they just could not stand up to competitive marketing which made them seem like old news. There is a story that Kaiser had one of the Manhattans converted to steam by Dobler. Would love to hear more about that.
Not being able to keep up with the big three was the curse most independents faced. A shame, and hard to imagine in todays market. A Doble Kaiser is an interesting concept..
A nice vid! My late grandfather was a taxi driver. In 1952 he managed to get a Kaiser - don't know which model. It was his pride, and the envy of other drivers in Northern Finland. In those post-war times the importing of U.S. cars was strictly controlled by the state. He later switched to Mercedes Benz. In 1970 he came home to have lunch, and went to take a nap. He died in his sleep. A fine man who loved cats and cars.
Sorry for your loss.
The very talented Howard Dutch) Darrin was responsible for the attractive Kaiser and Frazer designs. The 1951 Frazer , the second generation Kaisers , and the Kaiser Darrin sports car were especially attractive. Darrin had worked with Packard right before the war, Thanks for producing this program.
Thanks for another fine video. Those Argentine and Brazilian models are very interesting. I was at a car show around 5 years ago and saw a 1951 Frazer convertible, with its 4 sedan type doors and a B pillar that went up to the soft top. And that Ford Maverick 4 door wagon is a really nice-looking car.
The original Ford Maverick was a very handsome design.
Came home from high school one day in 1970 to find a perfect original Kaiser Manhattan in front of our house. It was Mom's new Avon distributor. Her husband had made a barn find in Nebraska and did it look sexy!
Nice.
Very well done - but waaaaay too short 😁.
Few actually know of Kaiser’s South American interests, beyond Willys.
Some of it I did not know.
COOL‼️
📻🙂
The ‘50s and ‘60s saw the end or near end of many brands… not only automobile manufacturers, but also such things as breweries. Conglomerates were formed through huge investments in television marketing. In the auto industry, we ended up with the Big 3 plus AMC, and in the beer industry Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors. Excellent video, HCG. 👍👍👍
Industry changed so much and there was an expansion of corporate lobbyists.
Scott from Cold War Motors has been driving around Alberta in a well-used Frazier for nine years. Wonderful trip down the rabbit hole! The South American chapter was very interesting. I especially liked the Maverick wagon, and it's too bad it didn't make it here! My mother thought the Henry J was soooo cute, so I get a big smile on my face every time I see one. Great episode!
Col War Motors has a lot of interesting cars.
Yes, Henry J's were very cute, right up there with the Nash Metropolitans
Excellent! I remember the Manhatten and Aero and Frazer from my young days.
Very informative, but you didn't include what made Kaiser a Kaiser, and how it stood out amongst the competition. Such as the exterior (windshields, human trait grills), interior designs (very unique patterns and materials as well as the "dragon skin") and the clever updates (Such as the unique use of taillights- headlights and grill changes in previous year models that didn't get sold).
They packed up the factory here and shipped everything to South America in early 1955.
Loved the '51 - '54 Kaisers, especially the final year grille, sad they never got a V8 to compete with the Detroit horsepower race. Interesting history
Good video. A couple of inaccuracies - One, and I know I'm being anal about this first one so I apologize in advance but it's pronounced "Fra-zer" not "Fray-zhur." Joseph Frazer was Scottish, not French. The six cylinder Henry J engine was 161 CID not 191. The Carolina model in '53 was not the higher end model, it was in fact the lowest end model. It has almost no trim and no chrome. The purpose of the Carolina was to get a low priced car in the show room to lure prospective buyers in and then talk them into purchasing the upscale Manhattan or Dragon model. The arrangement with Sears began in the 1952 model year with the first Allstate cars in stores in December 1951 and contrary to what is stated in other videos and even in some books, the Allstate could not be ordered through the Sears Catalog. It was listed in the catalog but you had to go into a Sears store (in a few selected cities in a few selected states) in order to purchase one. The Allstate was sold in 1952 and 1953 with only 2,300 sold. It's unfortunate that the car shown when the Carabella is first mentioned is actually a '54 Kaiser early Special as that model did not have the 3 piece wrap around rear windshield as the Carabella did. Love the Brazilian cars. You don't hear much about those. Overall, a very good video.
Always excellent content very much appreciated , thank you !
Thank you.
Extraordinary video! Congrats 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks.
Very interesting! Thanks. 👍🏼
The Manhatan was the biggest car ever produced in Argentina
I didn't realize that, but it isn't really surprising.
My parents bought a new Kaiser in 1948. My dad said few new cars were hard to get in 48. I remember it being a large car, the back seat had a lot of room for us as kids. Dad ran that car until 1955 and traded it for a Plymouth Savoy.
Interesting.
6:17 Never heard of a Maverick station wagon.
We didn't get one.
Only built in Brazil model, only sold in South America.
They were featured in the movie Steel Town starring Ann Sheridan set in Fontana California.
There was also one in Back to the Future. Not featured, but it was seen in a couple of scenes.
Interesting Kaiser did well abroad where fuel prices were higher. In the US the post WWII "prestige" thinking was it had to have a V8. You were a nobody if you drove a car without a V8. The mileage was terrible but gas was cheap. And most newer more fluid automatic transmissions were paired with a V8. A six cylinder was consider an economy car and either had a lesser automatic transmission or three on the tree. Unlike the Big Three Kaiser lacked co-development contracts to bring engine refreshes that kept it marketable. They were fine cars, they just could not stand up to competitive marketing which made them seem like old news. There is a story that Kaiser had one of the Manhattans converted to steam by Dobler. Would love to hear more about that.
Not being able to keep up with the big three was the curse most independents faced. A shame, and hard to imagine in todays market.
A Doble Kaiser is an interesting concept..
Great history of Kaiser
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
Brilliant again!
Rarely see one nowadays.
True.
Renault's takeover of IKA was one of the biggest tragedies of argentina's automotive history
I don't doubt it.
Nice cars!
Well done ❤
Thanks.
Some models look like made by Indian automotive industry.
Good stuff I subscribed!!!
Thanks.