What is this mysterious vehicle ??

[jake]

 

[Aeroman]

Steel body, so not a Darrin, but I'll bet it's from the same time period - early 1950's. I'll bet it's a home-built. Curious as to the running gear. Here's a shot of the front end.

[OLDNMKFR]

I can clearly see the KAI letters now and if you look at the speedometer carefully it looks to be a 1949-1950 round speedo with the chrome ring and Stewart Warner gauges.The radio cutout and ashtray look just like my old 48 Kaiser

[JFerriss]

From this picture it looks to me like much of the front is a clip from a first generation KF including windshield, hood and front fenders.

[boatingbill]

Looks very similar to a George Barris custom from the early 50's. The front end especially.

[Bobm90]

My vote is for a customized European car, due to center gauges, duel ash trays and duel glove boxes? Imports were equipped like that so they could easily be converted to left or right hand drive.

[Fid]

For some reason I missed this post back in April.   I knew of this car and always wondered what happened to it.  It was made/owned by a fellow in Iowa in a small town around Des Moines.  It's a '47/'48 Kaiser with a stock engine but converted to a two seater.  I don't remember all of the modifications but I remember the car and talking with the owner in 1977. A year later when I was looking for a car, dad and I were pursuing a lead on a '51 Frazer in Omaha.  That lead didn't pan out and dad suggested "Let's go see if that custom Kaiser hotrod is still there..." so we headed for the farm/location.  When we arrived, it was gone and the fellow informed us he had sold it.  Gaylord likely knew about it as it was in his territory.  When I saw it was in a farm yard, not where it is in these photos.  Was this an old picture of Gaylord's? 

[Fid]

OK. In any case, I remember it - those stacked headlights and modified '49 Kaiser bumper on the back. It's the same car I'm sure of it.