Author Topic: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian  (Read 5097 times)

KWZ

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vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« on: January 20, 2015, 04:16:07 PM »
'48 Kaiser Special
'49 Kaiser Virginian
'51 Frazer Manhattan convertible

Gordie

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2015, 06:05:03 PM »
The first car in the lineup is a 1950 Chevy.
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51Deluxe

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2015, 07:47:05 PM »
3rd car from the front is a '37 Packard. Looks like the Virginian on the next block.

joefrazer

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2015, 04:05:19 PM »
Speaking of vintage photos...here's one of a prototype front wheel drive Kaiser. Apparently, the problem of doors rubbing on the body was an issue way back then...and is today...

Gordie

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2015, 04:41:02 PM »
Fortunately there are a few pictures of the FWD prototype that have survived and this one is fairly new.  There are many photos from the Waldorf-Astoria showing but few of the actual building of the car.  I have one with the front end removed and no drive train showing an unusual fire wall.  Another view shows the entire car with hood open and eight workers in, out, and under the car during a rushed assembly.  One picture of the finished car at the Waldorf-Astoria shows Henry Kaiser looking under the hood at a very flat oil bath air cleaner and the battery mounted on the right side of the firewall.  The hood looked like it may have been made in three pieces.  The delivery of the first production Kaiser car was celebrated with several photos of the Kaiser and Frazer families at the Detroit train station where the car was delivered to pick them up. It has the Frazer like bumpers that were not actually used in production.
« Last Edit: February 14, 2015, 04:43:45 PM by Gordie »
Member #3151 Since June 1974
Vice President K.F.O.C.I. 2013-2017  President 2018-2019
'47 Graham Paige Frazer                                   
'51 Kaiser Deluxe club coupe       
'51 Kaiser customized convertible 
'52 Allstate serial#39
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'54 Aero Eagle Custom

joefrazer

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2015, 05:02:33 PM »
Here's the firewall shot. Note the frame paint overspray and the holes cut in the door supports for access.

Gordie

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2015, 09:14:21 PM »
Thanks for the interesting photo.  Note that the holes drilled into the door supports are not equal nor even the same number.  Tom McCahill's drive report in Popular Mechanics said that it was very noisy and hard to steer.  Kaiser's dream of producing a front wheel drive car didn't happen because the design of the FWD system would have cost about $1,000,000 and the new company could not afford it and the technology was just not there at that time. It's too bad that it ended up in a junk yard but it was not a very good car with the FWD system.  I doubt if any of the parts would have interchanged with a production Kaiser.
Member #3151 Since June 1974
Vice President K.F.O.C.I. 2013-2017  President 2018-2019
'47 Graham Paige Frazer                                   
'51 Kaiser Deluxe club coupe       
'51 Kaiser customized convertible 
'52 Allstate serial#39
'53 Aero Eagle
'54 Aero Eagle Custom

Logan

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2015, 09:56:54 PM »
I don't see the Virginian in the photo.  Where is it?

Logan

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2015, 10:43:17 AM »
Okay, the second one back in the top picture?  Good eyes whoever found that!

Gordie

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2015, 04:08:35 PM »
The second car back is a thirties GM looking car.  Maybe in the next row of cars there could be a Kaiser but it is doubtful.  You just can not see enough.  I think that the poster had thought the '50 Chevrolet might be a Kaiser.
Member #3151 Since June 1974
Vice President K.F.O.C.I. 2013-2017  President 2018-2019
'47 Graham Paige Frazer                                   
'51 Kaiser Deluxe club coupe       
'51 Kaiser customized convertible 
'52 Allstate serial#39
'53 Aero Eagle
'54 Aero Eagle Custom

KWZ

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Re: vintage photo w/ '49 or '50 Virginian
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2015, 08:02:18 PM »
Gordie,

If you blow up the photograph really large the fourth car is very clearly a 49-50 Virginian with a padded top and skirts.
'48 Kaiser Special
'49 Kaiser Virginian
'51 Frazer Manhattan convertible