Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum

General Category => Cars For Sale & Wanted => Topic started by: Fid on September 10, 2013, 08:41:00 AM

Title: Is this '54 Manhattan ad true?
Post by: Fid on September 10, 2013, 08:41:00 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-Kaiser-Manhatten-chrome-and-stainless-1954-kaiser-manhatten-/261283760054?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3cd5b9c7b6&vxp=mtr

Read the reason stated for why the windshield was heart shaped.  Didn't Darrin design that? Ad says Kaiser did. I heard the same thing stated as to why Darrin designed it but never any proof.  Has anyone else heard this?
It still amazes me how many sellers cannot spell 'Manhattan' right despite the fact that it is written right on the fender of the car.

Title: Re: Is this '54 Manhattan ad true?
Post by: porsche1914 on September 10, 2013, 09:03:14 AM

I had always heard it was Dutch, never heard the story about it being Henry J himself.
Don

Title: Re: Is this '54 Manhattan ad true?
Post by: kaiserfrazerlibrary on September 10, 2013, 10:42:09 AM

The "dip" on the windshield shape was a Howard Darrin design feature that was first seen in the 1951 Kaisers (check the window line at the top; the dip is at the center bar area of the 2-piece windshield).  Henry's wife Bess died in early calendar 1951 and he married Ale soon afterwards (Ale was one of Bess' nurses in her last weeks).  Henry had nothing to do with it other than he was one of the Executive Committee members who approved the design for production in 1948 when the styling competition for the 1950 models (which were pushed out to become early release 1951 model year cars) took place.

However, you can thank Ale for the Kaiser-Darrin.  Henry was pitched the car by Darrin.  He wasn't that keen on putting resources into a sports car, but Ale Henry she would like to have one and that others probably would want one too.   

Title: Re: Is this '54 Manhattan ad true?
Post by: Terry T on September 10, 2013, 10:56:48 AM

I emailed the seller and stated that his ad was "cute" but not based upon facts that indeed heart shaped items were a signature of Dutch.

Title: Re: Is this '54 Manhattan ad true?
Post by: boatingbill on September 16, 2013, 10:38:47 PM

Ah, I noticed the trusty brick in front of the tire in case the parking brake wasn't adjusted
correctly. Those were the days.

Title: Re: Is this '54 Manhattan ad true?
Post by: Aeroman on September 17, 2013, 09:34:01 AM

Poor guy with this ad - All us anal Kaiser nuts gave him a what for on his incorrect story.