Kaiser Dragon Forum

[Jim B PEI]

Now I'm intrigued about "non-metal toppings" for the Kaiser-Frazer cars.

I had the idea that
1) All 53 Kaiser Dragons came with a vinyl roof, even if they were not a two-tone.
2) All 1949-(50) Kaiser Virginian hardtops came with a roof topping. Was is vinyl or muslin/poplin fabric?
3) All 51 Frazers including the hardtops came WITHOUT a roof topping.
4) All 51 Kaiser (Manhattan) Dragons came WITHOUT a roof topping

Other than that in 1 or 2, no metal roofed KF cars before 1954 had a vinyl or fabric covering as a regular factory feature...

Am I right?

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Now I'm intrigued about "non-metal toppings" for the Kaiser-Frazer cars.

I had the idea that
1) All 53 Kaiser Dragons came with a vinyl roof, even if they were not a two-tone.
2) All 1949-(50) Kaiser Virginian hardtops came with a roof topping. Was is vinyl or muslin/poplin fabric?
3) All 51 Frazers including the hardtops came WITHOUT a roof topping.
4) All 51 Kaiser (Manhattan) Dragons came WITHOUT a roof topping

Other than that in 1 or 2, no metal roofed KF cars before 1954 had a vinyl or fabric covering as a regular factory feature...

Am I right?

Jim,
Sorry, I was talking about the 51 Dragons... The Early Dragon package had Two Tone Paint but no Vinyl Top. Late had Tops Vinyl.
 The 1952 Year was a short Year in Production. Then late 1952 come the 1953 Kaiser Dragons.

All 1953 Dragons had a Vinyl Sport Top...  Bambu, Poplin - Calvary Grained Canvas, Rust Color Boucle on the Rare Turquoise Dragon. Remember Though if You have a Paint 999/Trim 888 it could be anything someone Special Ordered.

[Jim B PEI]

Ah...I had forgotten about the late 51 Dragons. I have seen several of the early 51 Dragons with different two tone paint schemes, and each time they looked somehow like a car that should have had a vinyl roof but somehow didn't. Hard to explain, I know, but they just seemed different somehow from the regular two-tone cars. seemed a slight letdown.

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Jim, You are correct on all the others on Sport Top.
Did You see a Member found again One of the Two Black 53 Dragons on the Dragon List ?
 Pictures in Auto for Sale here in K.F.O.C. Forum. I hope a Dragon Club Member restores the Black Dragon with it being so Rare...
It is Black with a Black Bambu Top. So Your correct this is Black on Black not a Two tone.
1.) ( All 53 Kaiser Dragons came with a vinyl roof, even if they were not a two-tone.)

Also Note: When I had the White Poplin Tops made with proper seams, 1 or 2  Club Members ordered a Top because We did not have Bambu. Died it the Color the Top should be.
       
We  now Thanks To: Richard Hansen & SMS have Bambu & other K.F. Vinyls reproduced with Perfect Color. Problem solved...

G.B.

[pnw_oldmags]

Here is how to clean your top from G.B.
http://circlekf.com/kflit/SB/KFSB417/KFSB417.pdf

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Jim Betts,
Thanks Looks Great...

One of Our Club members gave Me this Original Copy of Sport Top Service  Bulletin # 417 at a K.F. meet. This when I was getting the White Poplin Tops made for All Vinyl Dragons.

 I also found 3 more All Vinyl Dragons when they said this is the Top on My Dragon...

 Keep up the Wonderful work Your doing for the Club.

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Does anyone have the door gard factory chrome accessories installed on their all vinyl Dragon? i have a set and don't know if they detract or add visually to the car. I am reluctant to install them without some guidance, same as for the gas tank chrome guard.

Dusty, I have the Gas Guards on both of Mine. One come with & one I put on. This was because Our Original Dragon had it.

The Door Guard Factory Chrome accessories ? Is that the extra drip loop above the side Door glass? I thought about that. You can roll Your glass down some & water wont come in...

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Kaiser-Frazer offered the chrome strip door moldings starting in 1952 for Kaisers and then expanded to Henry J's in 1953.  I've attached broadsides showing the ventshades for windows and the door moldings.  Ventshade broadside is from 1949.

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Thanks kaiserfrazerlibrary, I thought this was what Dusty was talking about.

Door Gard We do a lot Today still. It does protect the Paint.
Vintshades is practical but did not have it on one of My Dragons Yet.
Dusty it is up to You.

I do like the Reverse lights on one of my Dragons. It also has fog lights on both. I have used them in fog.
I sometimes like to see 1953 Kaiser Product without Fog lights on the front. So wish one did not have them. Again Our original did not have them so that may make Me bias...

[Fid]

My '53 J had those door gaurds on it. I removed them when I had it painted back '01. I think they were after-market types but maybe I should install them again.

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Fid,
Thanks for all Your input to the forum. I just become a Jr. Member. So need to keep posting more to. wow look at You 1244.

[dusty]

Thank you for the pictures, the I was able to expand the pics and the parts that i have look exactly the same and have a p/n on them , this convinces me to go ahead and install them along with the door vents that are nos still in the box.

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Dusty asked before in this forum about the initials on the Dragon List Harold Hagen has on the registry list of Dragons.  Who had them and what state. there is a code as to the condition of the car ie. tbr to be restored--hb has been--J junked---gmr ??

I will to tell how the Dragon List got started as it was told to Me. I was lucky to My First  Dragon I got was owned before by The Man that started the Dragon List of Owners in the Club Tom Behnke. He said to Me He found out about a rare Dragon called an All Vinyl Dragon.
Frosted Holly Green metallic / White Poplin- Calvery Canvas Top  Paint 099, Interior Green Bambu with White Boucle Inserts Trim 5312. 
Richard Langworth The Last Onslaught on Detroit also was starting a list.
 
The club registry form I think did have condition things like Show,Driver, TBR, Parts, J. for Junked.
On the Dragon list it is  TBR = Tom Behnke Registry , HB = Richard Langworth Hand Book , & GMR = Gary Micauek Registry. 

The Club Member that sold My Dragon to Me said if I ever sold My Dragon I was to pass the list to the New Owner. So when I heard We would put the lists on the New thing called Web - internet, I passed the list on to Harold Hagen
http://www.eskimo.com/~hhagen/reg/reg.htm  .   

I work hard to keep the list current. Rare Dragons like the Onyx Dragon on Cars for sale We need to keep track of it. You can help to as a Club Member. Any Dragon You find is important to check the list. If You know it sells try to get them to Join Our Club if not already. Harold Hagen updates often. If it is not on the list You have found one We never had in the club. So see it Is Rare. 

It is Fun & We have been doing a Great Job. 1979 had 103 Dragons on the List, Now 172.

Many Club members have had People contact me if any questions about All Vinyl Dragons. If You have one & I know You , Please email & say Hi... Please Anyone has one also email Me so we may meet.
         Note: This also includes the Ivory /Green Bambu Top   Paint 106, Interior Green Bambu with Lt Green Boucle inserts Trim 5311.

Oh Yes, Everybody thought TBR was  ( To be Restored )

Best Regards G.B. Bonham ... email at: gbbonham2000@yahoo.com .....                     

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

I wanted everybody to Note : In the Cars for sale about a Rare Black Dragon ... I have emailed Club members as well ... 51 Frazer Manhattan has some wonderful Pictures as well...  Please have a look here :   http://kfclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,3630.0.html   

Note: The other 53 Onyx Dragon on the Club registry list was at the New Braunfels, TX National in 1992. It was Hirsch from AZ.
Club Members say He has passed. So looking for the New Owner Today to update the Dragon List. Does anyone know about this other Onyx Dragon on the list
http://circlekf.com/kfcars/k5301.htm

[Aeroman]

I wanted everybody to Note : In the Cars for sale about a Rare Black Dragon ... I have emailed Club members as well ... 51 Frazer Manhattan has some wonderful Pictures as well...  Please have a look here :   http://kfclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,3630.0.html   

Note: The other 53 Onyx Dragon on the Club registry list was at the New Braunfels, TX National in 1992. It was Hirsch from AZ.
Club Members say He has passed. So looking for the New Owner Today to update the Dragon List. Does anyone know about this other Onyx Dragon on the list
http://circlekf.com/kfcars/k5301.htm

Hmmm. I answered this yesterday and now my answer has disappeared. Phil Hirsch was a SoCal  member for many years. He bought his Onyx Dragon used in 1955. At some point, he repainted the black bamboo vinyl roof a creamy white because he thought it looked better. It kinda did look better, but that's opinion. Phil died in the early 1990's and I think Rock Brandt, another SoCal member. Rock moved to AZ and then he died. Maybe Bershauers own the car now. Steve Hermesch will probably know where it is now.

Phil and Rock were both active members back when SoCal had meets every month and high participation. Phil in his Dragon, Rock with his '52 2-door along with me in my Aero, Bob Metzel in his '47 Kaiser, John & June Parker in their '48 Brown Flash, Tom & Leona Hoffman in their '49 Academy Blue and the McManama family in their '53 Traveler all caravanned from SoCal to Ouray in 1985 for the National Meet. Quite a trip and quite a sight for hundreds of miles: 6 Kaisers and an Aero.