My dad and my "uncle" (dad's best friend) BOTH had Kaisers AND Fraziers. EVERY time they would see one, they would try to buy it. At one time "we" collectively had over TWENTY of them. This all happened between 1959 and 1962. My dad had a Frazier Vagabond, while my uncle had a Kaiser Traveler. Great days - FUN memories. Thank you for sharing...
Wow! They sure appreciated the uniqueness of Kaiser and Frazer! Kaiser had a lot of original ideas like the hatchback style and the unique styling of Darrin. That's quite a collection they had...I'd have loved to have had at least one of them! My personal favorite was the Kaiser Dragon. Thanks! :) Jack
👍👌👏 Oh WOW, simply fantastic! One of my favourite cars ever ist the Coldwarmotors channel gorgeous daily driver Frazer. And not only because it has green exterior and interior (I love nearly everything that is green). Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health.
Frazer was really meant to be the premium model. Their interiors were probably the best and most luxurious for their time. I'm glad you like! The best of luck and health to you too! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Gary! This is the last stand for Frazer....started as a higher cost vehicle than Kaiser, but with beautiful interiors. Originally Kaiser was supposed to be a front engine, front wheel drive vehicle, but problems dictated the front engine, rear drive layout that Frazer shared. Frazer made a four door convertible, too. Prices were the equivalent of Cadillac, so not many buyers ensued. Thanks! :) Jack
I'm pretty sure i've never seen one of these! A hatchback in '51 is quite something! Very good looking and luxurious - mostly, too. That sure is a strange place to put a spare, all the more so in a luxury car!
Frazer really splurged on their interiors. These Frazers were dead ending here....so what you see is engineering on the run. I'm sure the modus operandi was to get rid of the inventory, and there was no time to engineer details like spare tire storage in a model that soon would be obsolete. Their major accomplishment was the hatch, which continued with the Kaiser, only with proper under the floor storage in that case. Thanks! :) Jack
Not only does a 1951 Frazier is a 4 door business sedan for businessman, but also have a "baseball cap" windshield visor. The businessman could be interested of taking his friend to a baseball game for a discount price. It features 3 on a tree transmission.
Hey, David! This sure was a unique style...the precursor to our modern day hatchbacks. This last year of Frazer, it offered Hydramatic besides the three speed manual. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Kiel! Together with grilles, steering wheels were very important in vehicle style and identification! From the late 30's through the 50's, manufacturers spared no expense! Thanks! :) Jack
My father had a 1949 Kaiser Traveler... the tail gate and hatch opening made it into a wagon/pickup because retooling a station wagon was not affordable ... the rear seat bottom flipped up and seat back folded forward to create a hauling area ... The spare tire placement was for a more storage under the truck area and access to the spare tire was easy when seat bottom was flipped forward ... The car was so wide the tire didn't take up much seating area about eight inches. Four kids in the backseat ...
Hey, Norman! I sure appreciate your description of that novel tail gate and hatch...in this case, Kaiser and Frazer were way ahead of the automotive field! DeSoto had a four door model at this time with a folding rear seatback but there was no hatch...just a regular rear decklid. However, it did provide a big loadfloor when the seatback was down. It was marketed to farmers who wanted room for produce or supplies. But Kaiser clearly had the superior design...even better when the '51 Kaiser put the spare in a depression of the trunk floor. Thanks! :) Jack
That would have been a very adaptive way to deal with that spare tire! As it was, it was very ungainly to try to dismount it from its position, spread eagled across the back seat of the car! The Kaiser version in 1951 placed it in a depression of the trunk floor. Thanks! :) Jack
I must admit that's a first for me that spare tyre arrangement As mentioned it would have been great if the door was operable and tyre could be easily accessed.But I don't think I would like to ride with a tyre beside me.I don't think it would pass safety issues A beautiful car otherwise
Hey, Arthur! Frazer is an intersting study. The original Kaisers and Frazers, 1947, differed only slightly....Frazer was the deluxe car, offering premium interiors, advanced for their time but both were conventional front engine, rear drive layouts. The grilles were slightly different, but mechnically, they were identical. Kaiser was supposed to be a front engine, front wheel drive car, but that never made it to production because they had serious problems transfering power to the front wheels. Kaiser had a stunning remake in 1951 that formed the basis for their fashion up to the end of production...but Frazer had to be content with an update in styling of the left over 1950 Frazer bodies...a very interesting one that you see in this car, but it spelled the end for Frazer production. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Terry! The styling was not for everyone, for sure...Kaiser had moved to the sleek Darrin design...Frazer was left with warmed over styling for the '51 models. Thanks! :) Jack
When I first heard about this spare tire arrangement (not long ago), my first thought was make door structure and hinges support the tire, thus enabling the door handle?
Hey, T'airn'KA! That surely makes sense, but the Frazer was operating on a tight budget, essentially using Kaiser components that were a bit modified to give a different look to the car. Thanks! :) Jack
@@coolrides Unfortunately, there's so many ideas that couldn't be used for budget reasons, but some companies (not just automotive) that have come up with solutions, despite lack of funds.
Hey, Joe! I appreciate the stats! I think very few Frazers of any model survive. I remember the owner of a body shop down the road had a four door convertible version, 1951 model, dark green. She was the sister of the owener of the Kaiser-Frazer dealership in town. Thanks! :) Jack
The Frazer would not have been produced at all for 1951 were it not for the glut of leftover 1949 Kaiser and Frazer bodies. The 1949 Kaiser and Frazer were facelifted 1948 models while the "big three" were introducing all new models. Joe Frazer was a man with extensive experience in the auto industry and correctly predicted sales would slump for the company. Henry J Kaiser disagreed proclaiming "Kaiser never retrenches" and ordered a boost in production. Frazer left and the company lost a ton of money. By the way, I once owned a 1954 Kaiser "Special" which was a leftover 1953 Manhattan that had the entire front clip and "safety glow" tail lights of the true 1954 models installed.
Hey, George! You are absolutely right about the fortunes of Kaiser and Frazer. Everyone was selling cars as fast as they could make them in 1947...and Kaiser had the advantage here. However, there were extensive blunders...the Kaiser was supposed to be front engine, front wheel drive, but they never ironed out the wrinkles on that, so Kaiser turned out to be a conventional sedan and Frazer a fraternal twin with upgraded interior. The neighbor down the road had a '51 Frazer, dark green, I believe it was a Vagabond. The only reason she had it is she was the sister of the K-F dealer! Ranking right up there with your "Special" our '52 Henry J Vagabond was a reserialized unsold '51 which the shipped back to Willow Run for a new VIN and then back to the showroom where my dad bought it for $1200. No decklid,, 4 cylinder, no glovebox, no radio, no vents (extra cost)...the very incarnation of the "stripper"! Thanks! :) Jack
You must have read, 'Last onslaught on Detroit" - great story of the KF saga. Oh, with the Vagabond you got a continental kit! My father bought a brand new 1950 Chevrolet Deluxe Fleetline fastback. Said it was about a hundred buck CHEAPER than a 4 cylinder Henry J. Someone with Kaiser said the car was cheapened to the point of absurdity. Darrin had a much better idea for a small Kaiser. But maybe they should have used the money spent on the j to build a V 8 for the big car. and you're welcome. thank you
Hey, George! Yes, I certainly did read "Last Onslaught on Detroit"! New entrants into the automobile business consistently seemed to underestimate the complexity of the business, and the money required to keep it going! Our Henry J Vagabond unfortunately did not have the continental kit, although I do remember some Henry J's having them. Ours was truly a bargain basement model! Supposedly there was an agreement that Kaiser had to offer a very cheap car to allow him the use of the surplus property at Willow Run. But Ford and Chevy could sell cars below cost just to keep the newbies on edge of bankruptcy. The auto business was not for the faint of heart...and certainly not for someone who was not really in to cars! Thanks! :) Jack
So true...poor Frazer was not given the benefit of Darrin restyling in 1951..if so, I wonder if they might have survived for a few more years? The hallmark of Frazer was those upscale interiors. That's one thing about Henry J. Kaiser...he wasn't afraid to be different! Thanks! :) Jack
What did Kaiser take credit for ? He invented the hatchback. On a dirty sedan Kaiser made a line with his finger that is where the crack between the hatch ( the trunklid and rear window and its frame.) and the rest of the car is. When the hatch was open you could get something VERY large in the car. Frazer is famous for beating Muhamed Ali.
Yes, in effect, he applied the same technology to the Kaiser Traveler as you would a station wagon. Early models had the non functional fourth door but later models fixed that with the spare imbedded in the trunk floor. Thanks! :) Jack
that flathead 6 was a continental engine from the company that provided the similar engine for aircraft, almost bulletproof. our family drove these and hudsons and studebakers during my entire childhood and well up into my teens. my dad said you could run these things wide open for as long as you liked with out a failure. one of the things you don't see much of is the industry didn't kill these cars, henry j kaiser did it to himself, frazier told him about the mistakes he was going to make that would ruin the company and he refused to listen, so joe resigned and the rest is history.
Hey, Jimmie! Yes, the Continental engine was used by many makes back in the day, including airplanes and tanks! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Motors_Company You are absolutely right about the problems of the leadership of Henry J. Kaiser in building cars. He was a genius in other areas, but apparently his ego got in the way of car manufacturing. Frazer was a car guy, and knew the ins and outs of manufacturing, including how to match available cars to demand. Kaiser refused to do that, and flooded the market, and foresee the importance of the V8. I guess you can't be great in everything! Thanks! :) Jack
My dad and my "uncle" (dad's best friend) BOTH had Kaisers AND Fraziers. EVERY time they would see one, they would try to buy it. At one time "we" collectively had over TWENTY of them. This all happened between 1959 and 1962. My dad had a Frazier Vagabond, while my uncle had a Kaiser Traveler. Great days - FUN memories.
Thank you for sharing...
Wow! They sure appreciated the uniqueness of Kaiser and Frazer! Kaiser had a lot of original ideas like the hatchback style and the unique styling of Darrin. That's quite a collection they had...I'd have loved to have had at least one of them! My personal favorite was the Kaiser Dragon. Thanks! :) Jack
👍👌👏 Oh WOW, simply fantastic! One of my favourite cars ever ist the Coldwarmotors channel gorgeous daily driver Frazer. And not only because it has green exterior and interior (I love nearly everything that is green). Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck and health.
Frazer was really meant to be the premium model. Their interiors were probably the best and most luxurious for their time. I'm glad you like! The best of luck and health to you too! Thanks! :) Jack
Never seen one of these vehicles totally different. Thanks.
Hey, Gary! This is the last stand for Frazer....started as a higher cost vehicle than Kaiser, but with beautiful interiors. Originally Kaiser was supposed to be a front engine, front wheel drive vehicle, but problems dictated the front engine, rear drive layout that Frazer shared. Frazer made a four door convertible, too. Prices were the equivalent of Cadillac, so not many buyers ensued. Thanks! :) Jack
I'm pretty sure i've never seen one of these! A hatchback in '51 is quite something! Very good looking and luxurious - mostly, too. That sure is a strange place to put a spare, all the more so in a luxury car!
Frazer really splurged on their interiors. These Frazers were dead ending here....so what you see is engineering on the run. I'm sure the modus operandi was to get rid of the inventory, and there was no time to engineer details like spare tire storage in a model that soon would be obsolete. Their major accomplishment was the hatch, which continued with the Kaiser, only with proper under the floor storage in that case. Thanks! :) Jack
Th e Kaiser and Frazer hatchbacks, Traveler and Vagabond respectively, first appeared as 1949 models.
Beautiful..I can imagine my Dad riding in one of these in 51 or 52 when he worked at the dealership..Thanks for sharing.
Not only does a 1951 Frazier is a 4 door business sedan for businessman, but also have a "baseball cap" windshield visor. The businessman could be interested of taking his friend to a baseball game for a discount price. It features 3 on a tree transmission.
Hey, David! This sure was a unique style...the precursor to our modern day hatchbacks. This last year of Frazer, it offered Hydramatic besides the three speed manual. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Kiel! Together with grilles, steering wheels were very important in vehicle style and identification! From the late 30's through the 50's, manufacturers spared no expense! Thanks! :) Jack
The ivory-colored steering wheels certainly dressed up the cars that had them.
My father had a 1949 Kaiser Traveler... the tail gate and hatch opening made it into a wagon/pickup because retooling a station wagon was not affordable ... the rear seat bottom flipped up and seat back folded forward to create a hauling area ... The spare tire placement was for a more storage under the truck area and access to the spare tire was easy when seat bottom was flipped forward ... The car was so wide the tire didn't take up much seating area about eight inches. Four kids in the backseat ...
Hey, Norman! I sure appreciate your description of that novel tail gate and hatch...in this case, Kaiser and Frazer were way ahead of the automotive field! DeSoto had a four door model at this time with a folding rear seatback but there was no hatch...just a regular rear decklid. However, it did provide a big loadfloor when the seatback was down. It was marketed to farmers who wanted room for produce or supplies. But Kaiser clearly had the superior design...even better when the '51 Kaiser put the spare in a depression of the trunk floor. Thanks! :) Jack
Just love the unusual cars! They should have made it so the rear door with the spare opened so you could have easy access to the spare.
That would have been a very adaptive way to deal with that spare tire! As it was, it was very ungainly to try to dismount it from its position, spread eagled across the back seat of the car! The Kaiser version in 1951 placed it in a depression of the trunk floor. Thanks! :) Jack
I must admit that's a first for me that spare tyre arrangement As mentioned it would have been great if the door was operable and tyre could be easily accessed.But I don't think I would like to ride with a tyre beside me.I don't think it would pass safety issues A beautiful car otherwise
Beautiful!!! Too bad this style Frazer came so late!!! They really had great styling.
Hey, Arthur! Frazer is an intersting study. The original Kaisers and Frazers, 1947, differed only slightly....Frazer was the deluxe car, offering premium interiors, advanced for their time but both were conventional front engine, rear drive layouts. The grilles were slightly different, but mechnically, they were identical. Kaiser was supposed to be a front engine, front wheel drive car, but that never made it to production because they had serious problems transfering power to the front wheels. Kaiser had a stunning remake in 1951 that formed the basis for their fashion up to the end of production...but Frazer had to be content with an update in styling of the left over 1950 Frazer bodies...a very interesting one that you see in this car, but it spelled the end for Frazer production. Thanks! :) Jack
This car has been totally restored .
I agree! Glad you like! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Rich! I'm glad I found this memento for you! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Terry! The styling was not for everyone, for sure...Kaiser had moved to the sleek Darrin design...Frazer was left with warmed over styling for the '51 models. Thanks! :) Jack
When I first heard about this spare tire arrangement (not long ago), my first thought was make door structure and hinges support the tire, thus enabling the door handle?
Hey, T'airn'KA! That surely makes sense, but the Frazer was operating on a tight budget, essentially using Kaiser components that were a bit modified to give a different look to the car. Thanks! :) Jack
@@coolrides Unfortunately, there's so many ideas that couldn't be used for budget reasons, but some companies (not just automotive) that have come up with solutions, despite lack of funds.
I know this car. Or one just like it!
This one was in the central Florida area of Longwood in 2013. There can't be too many of them around! Thanks! :) Jack
Quite a luxurious interior. Quite a novel idea.
Hey, Chester! Very luxurious indeed! It shared this "hatchback" idea with Kaiser. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Joe! I appreciate the stats! I think very few Frazers of any model survive. I remember the owner of a body shop down the road had a four door convertible version, 1951 model, dark green. She was the sister of the owener of the Kaiser-Frazer dealership in town. Thanks! :) Jack
The Frazer would not have been produced at all for 1951 were it not for the glut of leftover 1949 Kaiser and Frazer bodies. The 1949 Kaiser and Frazer were facelifted 1948 models while the "big three" were introducing all new models. Joe Frazer was a man with extensive experience in the auto industry and correctly predicted sales would slump for the company. Henry J Kaiser disagreed proclaiming "Kaiser never retrenches" and ordered a boost in production. Frazer left and the company lost a ton of money. By the way, I once owned a 1954 Kaiser "Special" which was a leftover 1953 Manhattan that had the entire front clip and "safety glow" tail lights of the true 1954 models installed.
Hey, George! You are absolutely right about the fortunes of Kaiser and Frazer. Everyone was selling cars as fast as they could make them in 1947...and Kaiser had the advantage here. However, there were extensive blunders...the Kaiser was supposed to be front engine, front wheel drive, but they never ironed out the wrinkles on that, so Kaiser turned out to be a conventional sedan and Frazer a fraternal twin with upgraded interior. The neighbor down the road had a '51 Frazer, dark green, I believe it was a Vagabond. The only reason she had it is she was the sister of the K-F dealer! Ranking right up there with your "Special" our '52 Henry J Vagabond was a reserialized unsold '51 which the shipped back to Willow Run for a new VIN and then back to the showroom where my dad bought it for $1200. No decklid,, 4 cylinder, no glovebox, no radio, no vents (extra cost)...the very incarnation of the "stripper"! Thanks! :) Jack
You must have read, 'Last onslaught on Detroit" - great story of the KF saga. Oh, with the Vagabond you got a continental kit!
My father bought a brand new 1950 Chevrolet Deluxe Fleetline fastback. Said it was about a hundred buck CHEAPER than a 4 cylinder Henry J. Someone with Kaiser said the car was cheapened to the point of absurdity. Darrin had a much better idea for a small Kaiser. But maybe they should have used the money spent on the j to build a V 8 for the big car.
and you're welcome. thank you
Hey, George! Yes, I certainly did read "Last Onslaught on Detroit"! New entrants into the automobile business consistently seemed to underestimate the complexity of the business, and the money required to keep it going! Our Henry J Vagabond unfortunately did not have the continental kit, although I do remember some Henry J's having them. Ours was truly a bargain basement model! Supposedly there was an agreement that Kaiser had to offer a very cheap car to allow him the use of the surplus property at Willow Run. But Ford and Chevy could sell cars below cost just to keep the newbies on edge of bankruptcy. The auto business was not for the faint of heart...and certainly not for someone who was not really in to cars! Thanks! :) Jack
Not all the rear drivers side doors were welded shut. Some were just locked.
Hey, Nick! That is news to me....you'd wonder why they would go to the expense of latches when the door would never open. Thanks! :) Jack
So true...poor Frazer was not given the benefit of Darrin restyling in 1951..if so, I wonder if they might have survived for a few more years? The hallmark of Frazer was those upscale interiors. That's one thing about Henry J. Kaiser...he wasn't afraid to be different! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Ron! Glad you like! Thanks! :) Jack
Jack, Thanks thumbs up! Ron
Hey, Gene! You don't see one of these every day! :D Thanks! :D Jack
What did Kaiser take credit for ?
He invented the hatchback.
On a dirty sedan Kaiser made a line with his finger that is where the crack between the hatch ( the trunklid and rear window and its frame.) and the rest of the car is.
When the hatch was open you could get something VERY large in the car.
Frazer is famous for beating Muhamed Ali.
Yes, in effect, he applied the same technology to the Kaiser Traveler as you would a station wagon. Early models had the non functional fourth door but later models fixed that with the spare imbedded in the trunk floor. Thanks! :) Jack
that flathead 6 was a continental engine from the company that provided the similar engine for aircraft, almost bulletproof. our family drove these and hudsons and studebakers during my entire childhood and well up into my teens. my dad said you could run these things wide open for as long as you liked with out a failure. one of the things you don't see much of is the industry didn't kill these cars, henry j kaiser did it to himself, frazier told him about the mistakes he was going to make that would ruin the company and he refused to listen, so joe resigned and the rest is history.
Hey, Jimmie! Yes, the Continental engine was used by many makes back in the day, including airplanes and tanks! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Motors_Company
You are absolutely right about the problems of the leadership of Henry J. Kaiser in building cars. He was a genius in other areas, but apparently his ego got in the way of car manufacturing. Frazer was a car guy, and knew the ins and outs of manufacturing, including how to match available cars to demand. Kaiser refused to do that, and flooded the market, and foresee the importance of the V8. I guess you can't be great in everything! Thanks! :) Jack
How about a picture of a Kaiser-Darrin with the doors slid open?
I have several on my channel....here's one: ua-cam.com/video/0cc2Fhrb7dA/v-deo.html Thanks! :) Jack
AMAZING Jack!
Charlie McCarthy got in the rear seat when the window was rolled down. Edgar Bergen lifted him and dropped him on the seat.
I sure wish I had seen that commercial! That's a real attention getter! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Nick! Glad you like! Thanks! :) Jack