VERY RARE 1955 KAISER MANHATTAN

[jake]

 

[Roadmaster49]

OK - he needs to sell his collection but wants to make a 1000% profit.  I have no issue with being in the right place at the right time but if he found this in a field he probably paid $500 for it.  Enjoys it but doesn't improve it over many years.  Then wants to sell it to you for $30.000.   Reminds me of that "last Kaiser made car that has been for sale for decades at a high price with no interest at the asking price.

[Fid]

I see it has a '51 - '53 style radio in it. The '54 - '55 style has black pushbuttons. Is it possible Kaiser had left over early '51 - '53 radios and installed them in the last cars just to use them up?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

As far as I know, the older 51-53 chassis will not fit without cutting the hole in the dashboard for the dial.  There is no factory info that shows suitability for use in a 1954-55.

[Fid]

The two radios I'm referring to are exactly the same save for two differences:  The '54/'55 version has black push buttons and the small "Emergency Broadcast" symbols on the dial face glass. Other than that, they are the same.  Some of the early '51 Kaisers (including the early Special I have) used the six push button '49/'50 style radio and that one definitely required that the firewall be altered in order to fit. The later '51 Ks do not have this modification so the '49/'50 style radio can only be fitted in the early '51s.  Here's pictures of the '51 - '53 style and the '54 - '55 style. They are the same inside and outside dimensions are the same so they should be interchangeable. Perhaps a dealer did that?