1952 DeLuxe Traveler

[joefrazer]

On craigslist near Cincinnati. Needs a good cleaning but doesn't look rusty.

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1952-kaiser-traveler/6704107001.html

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

No surprise; it's a 1953 Kaiser deLuxe.  There were NO 1952 later series Kaiser deLuxe types produced (but there were 11 1952 Kaiser Manhattan Travelers built in the spring of 1952 to fill special dealer/distributor orders).  Check out the KFOCI HANDBOOK CD for more information on 1952 and 1953 travelers.

[Roadmaster49]

Sure looks like a 52.  Not having the headlight trim though, makes it deceiving to me. I'm no expert.

I'm sure you guys are tired of my price comments, so I'll focus on desirability and cool factor.

1st, I trust Jack, so it must be a 53. Doesn't that make it pretty rare?  I think I have only seen one other 53 Traveler and it was just a parts car.  2nd, dual range hydramatic makes it pretty desirable. This was a well sorted car when new, would make a nice car restored. 

[Fid]

Rear fender top trim, black gauge cluster and black horn button all indicate '53.  The fact that there were no '52 hatchbacks (as pointed out by kaiserfrazerlibrary listing the rare exceptions) also indicate it's a '53.

[Mr Manhattan]

 Nice log cabin in back round .

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Because K-F changed how they recorded production after August 1952 I don't have an exact count on 1953 deLuxe Travelers, but I do know that:

 1.  They were all 4-door and had the wood slats that prior year high-end Travelers had.

 2.  It seems safe to say that somewhere around 1,100 or less were produced

 3.  There was at least 1 1953 Kaiser Manhattan 4-door Traveler was produced as a show car and had leather upholstery.It stayed with the company long enough to be sold as surplus to an employee after being upgraded to include 1954 front sheet metal, a supercharged 226 and 1954 tail lights and quarter panel crowns like a 1954 Early Special (and the 1953 show dragon converted a similar way that my father owned at the time of his death).