53 Manhattan

[Mr Manhattan]

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/cto/4884904917.html

A person could start a junk yard with all the Kaisers for sale ))

[Roadmaster49]

Yes, there are always KF's for sale and it has always amazed me that for just $10,000 (maximum) a person could stock up on 3, 4 or 5 KF projects that would run the gamut of the history of the marque.

Everyone on the forum has been good about posting the KF's for sale out there, most - I would say 70% - are in need of restoration and that is the issue. 

I don't know of many being restored. When the rubber meets the road as they say, and money and space and time are scarce or limited, most pass on restoring one.

It's not like a Mustang, a Camaro or a Corvette, where you can build one from a catalog.

This one seems to represent a good price for a solid project.  You can probably haul this one away for $1000 or less.  I think for KF fans, most of us want a 53 Manhattan in our collection.   I would want one, they seem to be the high water mark (along with 53 Dragons of course) of the 2nd generation Kaisers.

Some people like the 54-55 restyle, some don't but we all appreciate the 54-55's for being the last Kaisers.  But 1953's seem to be universally admired and enjoyed. 

[kaiserkid]

Looking at that 53 makes my 54 look very rough when I started. As you were saying, not many restore cars that are that far gone. I'm a little different and I am restoring  54. I have one more piece of sheet metal to weld in, a floor pan that I made, and then it's off to the paint shop. It will be totally stock, no customizing. 

[Roadmaster49]

That's awesome.  Restore away!  Wish there were more like you.  Part of the problem is that people think they have to compete with the over restored show car crowd and Barrett Jackson.  I would rather see 100 restored cars by owners at a KF meet then 20 'show cars'. 

You could even do this 53 Manhattan is stages and drive it while sections like body, interior etc are restored over non driving winter months.