1948 K481 For Sale Mount Vernon Washington

[robertg]

She starts up pretty well (cold seems to give her a bit more headache).  Brakes don't work, guessing will need master & individual wheel cylinders rebuilt.  It's yellow now but was a beautiful light green with olive interior.  The owner painted it the current yellow and a copper interior.  Lights, heater and such work.  Has the interior but door panels are mostly taken off.  Will need to fix the liner and all.

One thing I like is the buffalo on the front hood which is great shape.

Looking for reasonable offers or even opinions on what to list her for.  I know I paid too much so figure I'm losing no matter what.

I tried posting but the pictures won't 'stick'.

I loaded a bunch on my flikr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57356156@N02/sets/72157625654906300/with/5283612579/

Here is a video of the car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9TUM5NDVNA

Thank you for taking the time and any comments would be welcome.
Robert

[Jim B PEI]

First of all, its not a 49/50, its a 47/48. The smaller taillights, the 'ribbon' dash gauges instead of round dials, and the vertical/horizontal grill units confirm it. Is this car in the Registry? Does it have overdrive? If you look at and post the serial# and the info on the cowl plates we can sort out what it is and what it was.  I don't have any idea of the value so I'll let someone else do that.

[Gordie]

It appears to have 1948 emblems on the hood and trunk and is a nice looking car.

[Fid]

It is indeed a 1948 Kaiser. There were two models in 1948, the K481 (standard or Special) and the K482 (Custom). The 1948 Customs are super rare and seldom seen. The car in the photos is a 1948 Kaiser Special.  Although overdrive was available on 1948 Kaisers (not on '47s), very few of them had it. I don't see an overdrive relay or kickdown switch mounted on the firewall so it appears it is not equipped with overdrive. Sounds like it runs nice.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

1947 and 1948 Kaiser Specials were NOT available from the factory with overdrive;  the only Customs available with overdrive were those 1948 model year cars that were factory equipped with the dual manifold 6; overdrive was a required (must order) extra cost option with these vehicles.

1949 Kaiser Deluxe models came with overdrive as a required option (except by special order).  1949 Kaiser Travelers got overdrive as an option in May 1949 with Sedans getting access to the item about a month or so later.

Overdrive was extended to all models with the 1951 Kaiser (again, o/d was a required option on the Deluxe/Manhattans).

[Gordie]

I hope some one gives this seller an offer as it is a nice looking car with no rust showing.  That after market buffalo hood ornament is worth a few hundred bucks by itself.  Lets help get another one on the road!

[robertg]

Wow, you guys know your stuff.  Thanks for the comments. Here is what I have:

1948 K481
Manufacturers number: K-481-045159 
Motor ID# F6226-8-105211
First registered on  June 15th, 1948 in Colorado
body no.5, 43414
Paint:122
Trim:121

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

It is definitely a 1948 Special.  It was built in the last half of the model year. 

[robertg]

Any thoughts on a value?