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Topic starter
24/01/2022 2:06 pm
"Kaiser' may be kind of familiar, but "Frazer" has been forgotten by all but the die-hard old car folks. Here's a quick history.
A Brief History of the Kaiser/Frazer
In 1945 California industrialist Henry J. Kaiser partnered with automobile executive Joe Frazer to respond to the American consumer's postwar demand for cars, mounting the last real American challenge to Detroit's Big Three automakers. They produced cars like the 1949 Kaiser Vagabond, 1948 Frazer Manhattan, 1953 Kaiser Manhattan two-door sedan, the Dragon sedans, and Henry J compact coupes as well as some modified Henry J race cars. The Kaiser and Frazer Manhattan series were mainstays of the company lineup.
Kaiser and Frazer automobiles were manufactured at Kaiser's Willow Run, Michigan, factory from 1946 to 1955, when declining sales forced the closing of Kaiser's domestic operations. At that time production was moved to Argentina and Brazil, where the company turned out a series of sedans, trucks and Jeeps until the company was sold to a combine of Ford and Renault owners in the late 1960s.
From http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/Kaiser/
The first Kaiser/ Frazer models were introduced in 1947 as 1947 models, and with few changes remained in production until 1950. Separate makes, they shared the vast majority of their components except for some exterior chrome, primarily the grill, and interiors. They were sold by the same dealers.
The second styling was introduced as only the Kaiser in 1951, and with modifications it was produced into 1955. That version is well done, especially recently in its South American reincarnation. But the earlier Kaiser/ Frazer? I know of only one model in our chosen scale of 1/43, along with a single toy version that's close (but not very).
Highway Travelers made a couple of fine models of the 1951 Frazer, 4 door convertible and hardtop, but that was the last Frazer and it was rather drastically revamped for that model year to use up the few thousand old style bodies still available. A short-lived Toy Founders of Detroit made a clumsy plastic Kaiser convertible toy, much larger and less realistic than the Tootsietoy.
Is there anything else from this first period K-F?
David H 
This topic was modified 4 years ago by David H
25/01/2022 12:50 am
This was a fairly plain looking car but I do like it all the same. I have one Highway Travellers model which is really nice, but I would like a plain Jane Kaiser and Fraser in 1:43 scale.
25/01/2022 9:32 am
The early Kaiser and Fraser models are under-represented, but there are a few others available.
Here's the another shot of the one David featured, mine has black wall tires.
1947 Kaiser Special Sedan
I also have these two from 1949.
1949 Fraser Manhattan & 1949 Kaiser Virginian
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
25/01/2022 10:18 am
A fine overview of the Kaiser-Fraser brand. Certainly, more models of these fascinating automobiles would be welcome in all scales. The 1/43 versions look excellent and in 1/18, there are '53 Manhattans in several colors and '51 Henry J's, both done superbly by SunStar.
The earlier Kaisers and Frasers from 1946 -50 seem to be good candidates for new releases in 1/43.
25/01/2022 11:42 am
A fine overview of the Kaiser-Fraser brand. Certainly, more models of these fascinating automobiles would be welcome in all scales. The 1/43 versions look excellent and in 1/18, there are '53 Manhattans in several colors and '51 Henry J's, both done superbly by SunStar.
The earlier Kaisers and Frasers from 1946 -50 seem to be good candidates for new releases in 1/43.
I agree Mike they would be great candidates to be done in 1:43. I have the later '49 Virginian but like the grille on the 46-47 better.
04/02/2022 12:30 am
I was trying to post these members of the Kaiser -Frazer clan when picture posting stopped. Here are my contributions.
A Brooklin Henry Jay
A 1959 Nash Metropolitan by Vitesse
Models = Miracles in miniature = Holding History in ones hand
Cheers and Happy Collecting,
Steve
04/02/2022 8:17 am
Steve, what was the relationship of Nash with Kaiser?
Topic starter
04/02/2022 9:24 am
Bob, I'm sure my knowledge doesn't rival Steve's, but you ask something I know a little about. Kaiser was the new kid on the block in U.S. automobile production. Started by Henry J. Kaiser and long-time automobile industrialist Joe Frazer in 1946, Kaiser-Frazer produced very similar cars under both those names until Frazer withdrew in 1950. Three years later, Kaiser merged through purchase with Willys and in 1955 moved Kaiser production into a Willys plant. Soon after that, all Kaiser production was moved to Argentina and Willys continued under the Kaiser ownership. Nash was not involved with these activities, but at about the same time Nash was combined with the independent Hudson corporation to form American Motors.
There are many twists and turns in both the Kaiser and Nash stories, but I don't know of any particular relationship between these two companies.
David H
Topic starter
04/02/2022 9:37 am
Just because I haven't posted pictures recently, here are my two 1951 Frazers, both by Highway Travelers.
This post was modified 4 years ago 2 times by David H
05/02/2022 1:00 am
Bob,
The relationship is somewhat convoluted from the 1950's basically, when car companies, even Packard for instance, were struggling to stay in business. Mergers were being made left and right it seemed. Nash eventually merged with others to become AMC which pulled the Metropolitan into the pool. Saw a wonderful license plate with some of this history outlined on it if I remember correctly. The Rambler Ranch is also located just down the road from where I live and have visited it several times. See it here: https://www.ramblerranch.com/
Hope that helps.
PS. David H. Thanks for starting this thread, as it made me scratch my head and look at some over looked cars in my collection.
This post was modified 4 years ago by Steve Williams
Models = Miracles in miniature = Holding History in ones hand
Cheers and Happy Collecting,
Steve