Email from Argentina about 55 Manhattan paint-trim codes

[Jim B PEI]

I received this as an email directly as the fellow isn't online to the Forum yet, although he is reading it. If someone could post the answers here, that would be very nice. Note that it is a 55 Manhattan according to him, which is interesting in itself. I definitely want to see the information from the cowl and door plates, and how this car was outfitted!

Hello Jim:

My name is Rubén Davicino. I am writing from Mendoza city in the west part of Argentina. I took your e-mail address for the KFOC forum. Excuse me for use it.

I have just bought a 1955 Kaiser Manhattan here in Argentina imported for the Toledo factory. I am very happy with the car and my idea is to restore it with original paint and TRIM. I  can see the plate that indicate an original external code paint 480 and the TRIM code 5340.

Do you know anything about those codes ?. or anything that would help me ?. I would like to recovery the original colour during the restoration. By the way I wrote to the KFOC days ago but no answer until now.

I would appreciate any info that you will let me know.

Thank you and Best Regards,

Rubén Davicino

[Jim B PEI]

I'm bump this--anyone got an answer for this question?

[Cortes121]

I can't seem to find any information on those codes in the handbook

1955 Kaiser Info :

http://circlekf.com/kfhandbook/kfoci%20handbook-pdf%20files/KFOCI%20HANDBOOK%20VERSION%204.0/Kaiser%20Cars/1955/1955%20K51367%201955%20Kaisers.pdf

[Jim B PEI]

I think I might have 'found' and answer. I looked on the Registry site and found this for 1955 export Manhattans, which would be a 51363
1955 Kaiser Manhattan 4dr Export
1   51363-010370               150 5340                      Tuzzolino  ARG           Provinci
2   51363-010839                                                    Null        CA  form. Rice
3   51363-N10580                                                   Borri       ARG     
4   51363-N10858               486 5343                      Monti       ARG     
5   51363-N11014                                                   Tilden      GA     
6   51363-N11015               480 5322                      Lash         OH  form. John logan,
7   51363-N11021               481 5322                      Hucker      IN  form John Logan, O
8   51363-           490          486 5343                                     ARG             

5340 was the trim on one of our Argentinian member's car, and 480 has been reported on another car. Neither the colour nor the trim is reported on the North American 55 Kaisers, either the 51367 4dr or 51467 2dr. I am thinking that the interior would have been leather, and the number code is for the dye colour?  That there were two 486 5343 indicates a pattern/colour matching, as all the others have different combinations. I recall that although there were ads showing two tones, all the Argentinian Kaisers were single tones, and the colour code might reflect this. Perhaps if he got in touch with Sr. Tuzzolina or the IKA club?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

I have received an email from the gentleman about actual paint and trim for his car.  As my information does not list either paint color or trim, I referred him to the Hucker's who've made a study of 1955 Kaisers and the export version.

I would also suggest (if it has not already been tried) to contact IKA itself down in Cordova.  They should have records on what was sold retail by the company over the years and should have had that information for use by dealers during the late 1950's and early 1960's to match the paint and trim in case of accident or need to repair.