Kaiser Special
| Emperor | |
|---|---|
 Kaiser DeLuxe Virginian Convertible (1949) - 4-door convertible
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| Special / Custom / DeLuxe / Carolina / Dragon / Manhattan / Manhattan Supercharged / Virginian | |
| Production period: | 1946-1955 |
| Class : | upper middle class |
| Body versions : | Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible |
| Engines: |
Gasoline engines : 3.7 liters (74-103 kW) |
| Length: | |
| Width: | |
| Height: | |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | |
The Kaiser Special was a passenger car that the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation in Willow Run, Michigan , USA, brought out in August 1946 as the "Model 1947". It was a 4-door sedan with one of the first pontoon bodies to be built in the United States. The Kaiser Special had four front-hinged doors with opening windows and a split front window.
The six-cylinder in-line engine, installed lengthways at the front, with side-mounted valves, had a displacement of 3707 cm³ and an output of 100 hp (74 kW) at 3,600 rpm. The engine power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a single-disc dry clutch, a manually shifted, synchronized three-speed gearbox with a gearshift lever on the steering column and a split cardan shaft. An overdrive was available on request. The rear axle was rigid and suspended from leaf springs. The front wheels were individually attached to double wishbones with coil springs and a stabilizer. There was also a roller steering system and hydraulically operated drum brakes and telescopic shock absorbers on all wheels. The chassis was a box frame.
Almost the same car with slightly better equipment had already appeared in June 1946 (also as "Model 1947") under the name Frazer Standard .
Models year after year
Model year 1947
The first series - called Special K 100 - was simply equipped as a basic model, but already had equipment details such as hydraulic brakes, radio and bumper horns.
From September 1947 a better equipped model was available under the name Kaiser Custom . The Custom K 101 series also had, for example, whitewall tires , a little more chrome trim outside and inside, a different dashboard and better seats.
Model year 1948
The 1948 model year began (as is usual in the USA) after the 1947 factory break and showed the new basic model - now called the Special K 481 series - little changed. Minor changes to the radiator grille and the bumpers, a slightly higher compression of the engine (without affecting the engine performance) and slightly wider tires were the differences to the previous year's model. The better equipped variant, now Custom K 482 , took over the changes from the Special.
From the middle of the year, in addition to the simple engine with one carburetor, a more powerful machine with double carburetor and 112 hp (82 kW) was available for both models at an additional cost.
Model year 1949
The most noticeable changes to the new models were the two wide chrome strips that replaced the radiator grille, which previously consisted of small horizontal and vertical bars. New was the Special K 491 , a version for craftsmen “Traveler Utility Sedan”. Its left rear door was welded shut, the rear seat backrest could be folded down and the spare wheel was mounted behind the driver's seat. The trunk lid was split; the upper part with the rear window swiveled upwards and the lower part downwards. Plastic seat covers and stronger springs and shock absorbers completed the van. This stronger chassis was also used for the taxi version, which - otherwise built like the normal limousine - offered space for the driver and up to seven passengers.
The better equipped model was now called DeLuxe K 492 and was equipped with the more powerful engine as standard. The luxury equipment now also included carpets for the two front seats. In addition to the sedan, there was a four-door hardtop model (without a B-pillar, with a color-contrasting roof and panels for the rear wheels) with the name “Virginian”. There was also the "Virginian Convertible", a 4-door convertible, with the same equipment.
Model year 1950
The facelift that was planned for the 1950s models was not completed in time, so it was decided to postpone it for a year. All models appeared without changes compared to the previous year. The Special K 491 became the Special K 501 , the DeLuxe K 492 the DeLuxe K 502 . The Virginian models were also adopted. The only change compared to the previous year: The “Traveler Utility Sedan” was now also available in a DeLuxe version under the name Vagabond.
Model year 1951
The major facelift planned for the previous year was finally finished. The vehicles were now flatter and longer overall and, despite the slightly shortened wheelbase, offered more space in the interior. The windshield no longer had a center strut, but the roof had a slightly V-shaped point at the front and center back. This gave the front and rear windows a slight wing shape and was henceforth the hallmark of Kaiser automobiles. The C-pillar had a counter-curve, as it later became known in BMW automobiles as the “ Hofmeister kink ”. One of the two chrome-plated cross bars of the radiator grille was led around the corners of the vehicle and thus contributed to the wide, flat appearance of the vehicles. A hood ornament in a fashionable rocket shape was enthroned on the bonnet.
The engine now had a double carburetor in all models, which gave it 115 hp (84.5 kW) with the same displacement.
There was an abundance of new body styles. The Special K 511 was still available as a 4-door sedan and as a 4-door Traveler Utility Sedan. The taxi version was dropped. There was a 2-door sedan, a 2-door Traveler Utility Sedan and a 2-door coupé without rear seats that offered space for three passengers.
With the DeLuxe K 512 , the hardtop model "Virginian" was no longer available, as was the convertible. Instead, the same superstructures were offered as with the Special, although the "Club Coupé" was equipped with a rear bench seat and offered space for six people. As a further equipment line there was from February 1951 the luxurious Kaiser Dragon , which also offered thicker upholstery and an automatic transmission.
Model year 1952
In December 1951, the vehicles of the 1952 model year appeared, but without any major changes. The name Virginian, abandoned in 1951, was placed in front of each of the previous year's models, which were otherwise also available with the bodies of the previous year: the Virginian Special K 521 , the Virginian DeLuxe K 522 and the Virginian DeLuxe Dragon K 522 .
The actual 1952 models appeared on March 14, 1952. The basic model Special was no longer available, instead there was the DeLuxe K 521 . The body types remained the same, as did the 115 hp engine. (The coupé again only had one bench and three seats). A radiator grille, which consisted only of a cross bar, and a modernized trunk lid in conjunction with even larger taillights made the vehicles look even bigger and wider.
The luxury model Kaiser Manhattan was new . The Manhattan K 522 took over the role of the earlier DeLuxe. It was better equipped than the current DeLuxe basic version, in particular it now had carpets in all footwells. The two “Traveler Utility Sedans” were still in the price lists, but presumably only prototypes of these versions were built by the Manhattan line.
Model year 1953
Business for the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation was no longer so good, and so in the 1953 model year they were satisfied with small changes compared to the previous year: here and there a different chrome strip and larger brakes.
With the De Luxe K 531 and the Manhattan K 532 , the body types Coupé and 2-door Traveler Utility Sedan were omitted, although - as in the previous year - it is unclear whether a 4-door Traveler Utility Sedan was ever built in the Manhattan equipment.
New this year was the Kaiser Dragon as an independent model Dragon K 530 . It was presented on October 31, 1952 - on Halloween (how fitting!). The most luxurious model had an automatic transmission, tinted windows, a radio with four loudspeakers, whitewall tires, windscreen washer, air conditioning, vinyl roof and gold-colored nameplates as standard. The Dragon was only available as a 4-door sedan.
The Kaiser Carolina savings model was also new . The Carolina K 538 was supplied as a 4-door sedan or 2-door club sedan without any chrome trim in the simplest of equipment. However, the success left a lot to be desired: (almost) nobody wanted such an “ugly” car.
In the 1953 model year there was an even more powerful engine. With the same displacement, it now developed 118 hp (87 kW).
Model year 1954
Another major facelift was due. First of all, the vehicles that were left over from 1953 had to be sold off. They all received the designation Special K 545 . The new models, on the other hand, had an oval radiator grille with vertical bars (like the Buick models of the same year), headlights with parking lights attached below, a three-part Parorama rear window , a padded dashboard, once again larger taillights and modified bumpers at the front and rear. After the Traveler Utility Sedan was completely discontinued, there was only a 4-door sedan and a 2-door club sedan. The Special continued to have the 118 hp engine.
The supercharged Manhattan K 542 was also new this year . It had the same styling as the new Special (of course, with better equipment, as before), but an engine with 140 hp (103 kW) with the same displacement. Contrary to the name, however, this was again a naturally aspirated engine without a turbocharger or compressor.
Model year 1955
There were no more significant changes in the last year of production. The special was dropped, only the Manhattan continued to be built as the Supercharged Manhattan K 516 , but only 1,231 times. 1,021 pieces of this production went to Argentina to fulfill a major order . The remaining 230 vehicles were sold in the US along with 270 leftover vehicles from the previous year, all with the 140-horsepower engine.
After that, the Kaiser-Willys Corporation, as it was now called, gave up building cars and sold all of its systems to Industrias Kaiser Argentina .
Production numbers
| Type | Construction year | L-4 | L-2 | H-4 | Cb-4 | Cp-2 | U-4 | U-2 | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special K 100 | 1947 | 65,602 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65,602 |
| Custom K 101 | 1947 | 5,412 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,412 |
| Special K 481 | 1948 | 90,588 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90,588 |
| Custom K 482 | 1948 | 1,263 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,263 |
| Special K 491 | 1949 | * | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | 0 | * |
| DeLuxe K 492 | 1949 | * | 0 | * | * | 0 | * | 0 | * |
| Special K 501 | 1950 | 32,429 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22,246 | 0 | 54,675 |
| DeLuxe K 502 | 1950 | 37,756 | 0 | 986 | 42 | 0 | 4,507 | 0 | 43.291 |
| Special K 511 | 1951 | 39,078 | 8,166 | 0 | 0 | 746 | 1,829 | 915 | 50,734 |
| DeLuxe K 512 | 1951 | 56,723 | 8,888 | 0 | 0 | 4,606 | 984 | 367 | 71,568 |
| DeLuxe K 521 | 1952 | 4,801 | 1,487 | 0 | 0 | N / A | N / A | N / A | 6,288 ** |
| Manhattan K 522 | 1952 | 15,839 | 1,315 | 0 | 0 | 263 | N / A | N / A | 17,417 |
| Dragon K 530 | 1953 | 1,277 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,277 |
| DeLuxe K 531 | 1953 | 5,069 | 1,227 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 946 | 0 | 7,242 |
| Manhattan K 532 | 1953 | 18.603 | 2,342 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,945 |
| Carolina K 538 | 1953 | 1,136 | 308 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,444 |
| Supercharged Manhattan K 542 | 1954 | 4,107 | 218 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,325 |
| Special K 545 | 1954 | 749 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 929 |
| Supercharged Manhattan K 516 | 1955 | *** | *** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,231 |
L-4 = 4-türige Limousine L-2 = 2-türige Limousine H-4 = 4-türige Hardtop-Limousine Cb-4 = 4-türiges Cabriolet Cp-2 = 2-türiges Coupé U-4 = 4-türiger "Traveller Utility Sedan" U-2 = 2-türiger "Traveller Utility Sedan" * = Die Produktionszahlen für 1950 enthalten die für 1949 ** = ohne die Zahlen der Modelle, für die keine Werte bekannt sind (N/A). *** = keine Werte für einzelne Modelle bekannt.
swell
- Gunnell, John (editor): Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 , 4th Edition, Krause Publications Inc., Iola (Wisconsin) (2002), ISBN 0-87349-461-X .