1953 Kaiser Manhattan

On Ebay for $1800 but I am sure ti will not stay there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-KAISER-MANHATTAN-Collectible-/140480048601?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item20b5436dd9

I have never see or heard of one of these. For some reason I so want it. It just has that "look". IT could be for restoration, low rider, add LSX power put a C5 drive train under it.

Must resist the urge to press the orange button... . .

So what is this thing? Are they worth anything. Is this one over priced?

Same company that made the Henry J (one of my favorite cars) which were popular dragsters back in the gasser era:

back on topic (i.e. what is a Manhattan worth?)
http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2005/01/01/hmn_feature3.html

Hemmings Motor News said: WHAT TO PAY 1953 Low Average High Two-door Club Sedan $5,000 $8,000 $12,000 Four-door Sedan $4,000 $7,000 $11,000

Those figures are from 2005. Good article to read if you're seriously considering the purchase

Funny I saw a nicely restored one of these at the grocery store two weeks ago. It was a nice driver and not a garage queen. I thought the lines were quite nice.

The last one of these I saw was a 2 tone blue...I can't remember if it was "in person" (along the side of the road) or a picture. This appears to be a low line/plain jane model, tho I don't know enough about them to be sure or to say if this is a "deal" or a heartbreaker.

IF, you have A LOT more than $1,800 to sink into this car, I'd do as 1 or 2 others have suggested if you buy it, and that is "update" the chassis and drivetrain. Keep the body looking like it is, for now, for that really mysterious car/"what is it" look.

I love the shape.

And it has a great name...Kaiser Manhattan. That's cool .

When I was in high school (late 60s), a friend of mine bought one and I drove it several times. It drove like any other old Chevy or whatever, but it was a stand-out in terms of styling! One time we actually considered driving it to Manhatten, but the 70 mile distance was deemed "too far". I think he bought it for about $200.

Later on the same friend replaced the Kaiser with an early 50s Plymouth Savoy.....a kind of similar-looking car.

Personally, I liked this "pillow styling". In the late 50s, Virgil Exner came in and ruined it all (in my opinion).

I've seen a couple of Kaiser Dragons at car shows. As I recall, they have a Houndstooth roof covering. I don't love them, but they are interesting.

Cool car but that one looks rough. A lot of work there.

One of my favorite ugly cars... I'd love to see one with the LSX!

Love the widow's peak at the leading edge of the roofline. And the Hoffmeister-ish kink in the C-pillar. Some really subtle great lines on that thing.

PS122 wrote: One of my favorite ugly cars...

Well put.

Some came with a McCulloch (sp) supercharger, on the 226" flat head six.

Saw this one at a local car show a few years back, and lo and behold it has the super charged six. It was a very low mile car from what I remember but he drove it in.

I zoomed in on the picture, this is a 55' Kaiser Manhattan.

Not sure what model it was, but one of the Kaisers had a thick green glass sun visor over the windshield. Find one and you've got gold.

Dan

I watched this being created on the HAMB a few years ago. Its awesome.

dean1484 wrote: On Ebay for $1800 but I am sure ti will not stay there. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-KAISER-MANHATTAN-Collectible-/140480048601?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item20b5436dd9

No bids wow.

my dad had one in the late 50's. it had been rolled and totalled before he bought it, so he and a buddy built a Carson top for it, leaded in a different grille and headlights, installed bumpers off of something else, split the rear quarters and leaded in lincoln taillights. i have photos of it in a box somewhere. i'll scan 'em and add 'em to this thread when I find 'em.

Just this morning I was watching a "Lassie" from the early '50s. The vet drove a Kaiser, though you only got to see the front 2/3rds of the car (very small set). One of the few times I've seen an "independent" on a tv show. On this particular "Lassie" series, Gramps drives a beater of a '40 Ford pickup.

alex wrote: Love the widow's peak at the leading edge of the roofline. And the Hoffmeister-ish kink in the C-pillar. Some really subtle great lines on that thing.

I agree. The car looks like the inspiration for Disney's CARS- it's already got the essence of the personalities they put in.

I think you're thinking of the character Doc

who was a hudson hornet

No, I understand it's not a Hudson Hornet.

I'm saying it's almost got the face already that Disney put on all the CARS.

BTW, the Hornet is VERY cool. One of the winningest cars EVER in NASCAR. 27 out of 34 Grand National wins in 1952, 22 of 37 in 1953, and 22 of 37 wins in 1954. In a time when everything was going to V-8's, the Hornet dominated EVERYTHING with a straight 6 cyl flathead (even though it was a luxury car). The difference was the chassis- It was a unibody. Actually, it was also channeled direct from the factory!

Here is your low priced challenge starter Kaiser

http://eugene.craigslist.org/pts/2083430290.html