For Want of a Rocket 88... [PIC}

Kaiser became an orphan (only to be resurrected in Argentina as the Cabalero). The Kaiser Manhattan was a mid-level sedan in tudor or 4 door configuration. It offered many safety features including padded dash and pop out windscreen as well as a nicely appointed cabin and smart looking exterior trim. It survived the elimination of its more upper level Frazer which was discontinued in1951. Kaiser-Frazer had been operating on a shoe string budget since its debut in 1947 and its Achilles Heel was the lack of a V8. Its sole engine option was the 118 HP 226 cid flat head 6 which did not provide the power consumers expected at that time. As a last gasp in 1954, Kaiser offered an optional McColloch supercharger that was rated at an optimistic 140 HP that provided equal performance to the Chevy "Blue Flame 6" but at a higher pricepoint. Performance was enhanced by an optional 4 speed GM Hydromatic transmission. Unable to develop their own V8, they contracted with Oldsmobile to purchase their Rocket 88 V8, but the deal was squashed by the government due to the Korean War production needs. Also in 1954, Kaiser offered their fiberglass bodied Darren to compete with the Corvette, but again it was stuck with the flat head six. As a kid I loved all the orphan cars of the era for their unusual and futuristic designs and not knowing why, lamented their passings. While I really liked this '53 Manhattan's looks, I really dug the facelift it got for the '54 and '55 models with that cool baleen grill (last pics). Most of the pics are of the fully optioned model done in an optional tutone of Australian Beige over Copper Dust Poly. The other '53 is an entry level model in tutone blue.

Here's the 1954 Manhattan with the facelift which when I first saw it on the road I thought it was the coolest car ever.

With the supercharge 6: