Detroit auto show 55 Manhattan

[Packardfrank]

Do any members have any information on this 55 Manhattan? I’m told it was given a custom leather interior for the 1955 Detroit auto show. Afterward it went to a corporate executive who had the car repainted. Would love some information on this vehicle. Car has power steering power brakes but no supercharger.Thanks

[Bob G]

Can't help you, but nice car.

[Packardfrank]

Thank You! I am interested in finding out about this cars history

[kfnut]

Where did these pictures come from ? It looks like a ZIP LOCK bag on the front seat . The cars around it look to be of different years .

[joefrazer]

Do you have the VIN? I have a list of factory exec cars - it’s not a complete list of all cars - but this one might be on it.

[Packardfrank]

Where did these pictures come from ? It looks like a ZIP LOCK bag on the front seat . The cars around it look to be of different years .

.    Congratulations! Your eyesight is functioning well ! It is a bag with the title and registration

[Packardfrank]

Where did these pictures come from ? It looks like a ZIP LOCK bag on the front seat . The cars around it look to be of different years .

.    Congratulations! Your eyesight is functioning well ! It IS a ziplock bag with the title and registration

[Packardfrank]

Do you have the VIN? I have a list of factory exec cars - it’s not a complete list of all cars - but this one might be on it.

Thanks Joe! I will get the vin to you soon I was at a sale of a private car collection. Many orphan cars. I bought the 55 but haven’t got it home yet

[Packardfrank]

The interior is Amazing

[Carpenter]

If I remember correctly you can google Kaiser cars or Kaiser car history where there are photos of this Executive car and a short history of its beginning, as well as owner when the photos were taken and history was written.

[joefrazer]

That's a Willys head on the engine - the head notes it as a Super Hurricane unit. When the car arrives, check the engine ID plate on the left side near the oil filler. It'll tell you what "brand" the engine is. Most probably, the car had some work done at the factory and they used what was available.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Long shot but what about this?  Between 1955 and 1957 3 additional Kaisers were produced from spare parts inventory.  They were used either at the Willys plant in Toledo or Oakland for UIP transport.  I know that at least one of these ended up in a private museum, and had provinence from Kaiser-Jeep that explained its history.

[Bob G]

Three additional cars produced between 55-57 is really neat to now know!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

It may also be interesting to know that one of the 22 export 1955 Kaiser Carebella's built in 1955 went to the Mayor of New Orleans as a gift from Henry J. Kaiser.  That man talked Kaiser into an exploritory South American trip in 1954 that led to the formation of Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) where the Kaiser Manhattan tooling went to for production of the Carebella until the trunk and door tooling finally wore out past abillity to refresh and use in 1963.  The facility is currently part of Renault's overseas holdings.  They bought out Kaiser-Jeep's share of the business (around 20% or so) in the late 1960's.

[Bob G]

Great to know the additional information too! Thanks