‘53 Kaiser (via email from David Knight)

I was even happier when they did the '54.....

and ecstatic when they did the Darrin....

Great looking Kaisers ! I think it's perfect subject matter in any scale and here it is done beautifully by Brooklin in 1/43.

Love my Kaiser and Fraser models. Collecting model cars is a terrific way to experience all different types of cars that I would not other wise be able to enjoy. Thanks to David, Karl and Rich for the great pictures. Oh and Rich, I too love that grill on the 54. The 54 Manhatten's with their super charged Continental motors were quite the performers in their day.

They are all outstanding models, I am very pleased to have all the Kaisers shown & mentioned and a few more. Having the opportunity to add these unique models to my collection was a thrill. 

Very happy to hear from David Knight, is he still unable to join the forum?

Posted by: @jcarnutz

Very happy to hear from David Knight, is he still unable to join the forum?

Yes, he has not joined, but not sure how much he is trying anymore...

@karl

Sorry to see that-he was an important part of the Forum-I know I miss his posts as I am sure others do as well.

More from David:

Here is another Brooklin Kaiser. I still hope to join the Forum. Haven’t given up.

The Cerulean Blue ‘53 Kaiser

@bob-jackman If it wasn't for the Korean War Kaiser had a contract in the works with Oldsmobile for their V8 engine. Perhaps then Kaiser wouldn't have had to set up shop in Argentina.

Rich, I wasn't aware of that. Things might had turned out quite differently if that had happened.

By 1955, Kaiser was pretty much out of the car building business in the United States. Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) was born on Jan. 19, 1955, in Santa Isabel, Argentina. With a partnership between Henry J. Kaiser and the Argentine government it was agreed to start producing fine vehicles in Argentina. In 1958, production of the Kaiser Carabela started. It was basically the same as the 1955 Kaiser Manhattan. Incidentally, 1,021 of the 1,231 Manhattans built in the U.S. were shipped to Argentina.

I have two 1:43 models of the Carabela that I keep alongside my Brooklin Kaisers and others.  Of recent Argentine/ China production, this one is available from many sources at this time:

The second is an older, solid model of Argentine origin and production.  I attempted for several years to find one and recently was successful.

IKA produced many vehicles over the years, but found one of the most popular was the Carabela. Production of the Carabela ceased in 1961. Industrias Kaiser Argentina built the very last Kaiser Carabela in November 1961. That particular Carabela was shipped to Toledo, Ohio, to have air conditioning installed. Then it was shipped to Hawaii with its pink aluminum wheels and pink and white striped interior. The proud new owner was none other than Henry J. Kaiser himself. There are two plaques on the car: One bearing the signature of Mr. Kaiser and the other with the inscription “Manufactured for Henry J. Kaiser, Industrias Kaiser Argentina.”  (Most of this information was found in a favorite source,

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/news/natmus-has-ultra-rare-kaiser-carabela-on-display

  That last Carbela so nicely described is, according to this article, on display at a museum. See the article for details.)

PS-  Please forgive me if I have posted these pictures and information earlier, as I've been on the North Carolina coast for the last couple of weeks, basking my head in beautiful beaches.  Good to be back here on the forum. David H

I just found this picture of Henry J. Kaiser's Carabela, which shows off the pink wheels, and I'm looking for more details:

See natmus.org for their web site, and for museum information, see:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/national-automotive-and-truck-museum-of-the-united-states-auburn

n 1962 the Carabela, the “Gran coche argentino” (the Great Argentine Car), ended production with 8,126 cars assembled providing elegant transportation for the doctors, bankers and other notables in Argentina.  Unlike the U.S. operations, the IKA also built Carabela limousines while independent body shops converted Carabelas into elongated chassis funeral flower cars and hearses.

@d-m-holcombe

Thanks David for the info on the Carabela. I had completely forgotten about the last production Carabela being on display at NATMUS. It was a thrill to see it, and at that point I was not aware that the Carabela had ever been produced. When I saw it in 2014, I was a little bewildered about its existence, but when I returned home I looked up some info and discovered many things I did not know about the Kaiser operation in Argentina.

Here's the photos I took of the car when I visited the museum.

Here's a couple of documents that were posted on a board with the car

Many thanks for all this good information, John.   It's really great to see your fine pictures, and by enlarging them, I could read the good information you included.  All this makes me like my models even more!   Enjoy!   David H  

More from David K:
I hope to be on board as soon as as I can!  I can’t use my new knee as an excuse!
Brooklin model is the Rotterdam version. Actual car is a ‘51 model. The black Brooklin is sharp looking!