1955 Kaiser Owner's Manual

[OLDNMKFR]

I am not sure where to post this but in looking through some old KF papers, I just found that I have an actual 1955 Kaiser Owner's manual complete with the two cards in the front. All through it the references say 1955 but I can't remember where I got it. It may have come from the K-W Kansas City Parts Warehouse when I helped Buchinger buy the remaining parts in the early 60's or D.B Pearson Motors who had been a Kaiser Dealer before going over to Studebaker. Does anyone know anything about these as this is clearly a factory issue with a copyright from Toledo. Were many printed since very few cars were actually made? I have never seen one advertised anywhere before and am just curious? Were they ever actually issued with the cars or just printed up before the decision to cease production was made?

[mbflemingkf]

Yes, I've had one before, Mint w/cards as well.  Ran it in the bulletin 3 months and also took to Gettysburg last year all without sale.  Sold it within the past year to a new '55K Owner.  I'd say there aren't many out there; am aware of another KF member who has one as he and I talked about them.  Inside the front cover there may be a notation about the number printed...can't recall.

Can't imagine there were that many originally, but yes, they are real and out there.  Mint '54K Owners Manuals w/cards also seem hard to come across these days...

Mike   

[1953manga]

I would be interested in buying a 1955 Kaiser owners manual to have with my car, please contact me if anyone is interested in selling one Thanks

[Gordie]

The 1955 manual looks much like the 1954 Manhattan manual and I am sure that they printed way more manuals than there were cars made.  There is no notation about the number printed inside the covers but only the notation "First Edition"  They are for sale often so don't worry about finding one as they do show up with literature dealers.  The scarce manuals are the Allstate. Carabela and Darrin issues.

[Dragon]

That surprises me Gordie.  I have only seen about 3 1955 Manuals and I have been in the club since 1967.  I have seen and owned more Darrin manuals than that.  I can only remember seeing 1 show up on ebay.  Another very hard book to find is the 54 Facts manual.

[Gordie]

The 1954 Facts Book seems to come in two variations.  They are the same except that the later issue includes a section on the Special that adds an additional 14 pages to the book so it has 136 numbered pages instead of the 122 pages plus index in the earlier edition.  There is also a green colored Features book issued for the '54's for use by salesmen and it also covers the Henry J and Darrin and has 21 unnumbered pages and dividers.  I am not aware of a Darrin only data book or one issued for 1950, 1952 or 1955 products.  All other years have their own data book including Frazer through 1951 and Henry J for for 1951 with two different kinds of bindings but the same otherwise. Henry J and the 1953 Kaiser were combined into one book. Even Allstate had a data book at least for 1952.