Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: RLJ on January 13, 2018, 11:53:04 AM

Title: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: RLJ on January 13, 2018, 11:53:04 AM

Thanks Webmaster Chris for approving my request to join this forum. I've been doing some research on the shipyards and came across a photo taken in front of the Vancouver Kaiser Shipyard General office building with a car I cannot identify. All of the people I know keep saying Kaiser but I think the name on the building pushes them to that conclusion. I've researched what I could find for prototypes, found the fiberglass cars and info on the FWD model but nothing showing any pictures of anything quite like the one in this photo. It's really odd as it looks like the wing windows are part of the body not attached to the door. Does anyone know for sure what this car is? 
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=B043FA8C-1DD8-B71B-0B2DCFD04D1A22E2

Thanks,
Dick 

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: WYO George on January 13, 2018, 02:10:36 PM

That is indeed a strange car, not one that I'm familiar with. Kaiser was into cars, ships and hospitals so being in front of a kaiser building doesn't make it a kasier car. Maybe some of the more well versed members here can help out.

Thanks for sharing the pic, whatever it is!

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: Gordie on January 13, 2018, 03:13:49 PM

Henry Kaiser was indeed experimenting with cars and had several designed.  This is obviously a one off experimental car probably made by Kaiser.  I do not remember other pictures of this one.

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: Corsairdeluxe on January 13, 2018, 03:39:56 PM

Bess and ole HJ in yet another car!

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: dogwalkfinds on January 13, 2018, 04:22:21 PM

1939 Crosley - Imagine if KF had partnered up with Crosley instead of developing the Henry J on his own...

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: Carpenter on January 13, 2018, 05:54:08 PM

Yes, Otto, and had spent all of that money on a...V8 MOTOR.  Kaisers might still be on the road .  They definitely had the styling edge.

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: njpatera on January 13, 2018, 08:29:19 PM

Wouldn’t it be interesting if someone (obviously a lot of legality and $$$ to go through) made limited runs of Kaisers today...like Checker and some others do...

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: kaiserfrazerlibrary on January 22, 2018, 12:48:19 PM

During World War II, Henry J. Kaiser set up an engineering team known as the "Hobby Lobby" (no relation to the popular radio program of that time period) section at the Richmond CA shipyard.  The goal of the group was to come up with viable consumer products that the organization could make after the war.  Cars were at the top of Mr. Kaiser's "Wish List" and the team had tight paramaters to work with.  As a result, the cars were small (Crosley sized in most cases) and powered by small gas engines.  One even had a body made from plaster of Paris.  None of the prototypes made were considered seriously viable for production. 

I've included photos of some vehicles made during the Hobby Lobby period.  4.JPG is another picture of the car Mr. Lee took the picture of. The team even produced a prototype intended to compete with the Willys-Overland developed MA and MB Military Jeeps (which were built by Willys and Ford during the war).

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: Jerry Wilbeck on January 23, 2018, 11:58:55 AM

Does anyone out there have an explanation regarding the front "fender skirts" on the photo and the inability to make any kind of turn without cutting the tread off the tires?

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: kaiserfrazerlibrary on January 23, 2018, 03:08:54 PM

It works the same way the 1952-54 full-size Nashes do.  The car has limited turning ability and as a result a bigger turning circle than anything else of similar dimensions. 

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: Gordie on January 23, 2018, 04:38:08 PM

They were more interested in the supposed streamline look of the car than the ability to have a short turning radius.  The old Nash's were hard to turn around on a narrow road because of their inability to turn sharply and it was no help either not having power steering.  The Nash's were not very popular with used car dealers.

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: RLJ on January 29, 2018, 02:06:09 PM

Quote from: kaiserfrazerlibrary on January 22, 2018, 12:48:19 PM

I've included photos of some vehicles made during the Hobby Lobby period.  4.JPG is another picture of the car Mr. Lee took the picture of.

Thank you! Now I'm just curious whether the picture was actually taken in Vancouver, WA. If so was it driven there on a road test?

Thanks,
Dick

Title: Re: Kaiser Shipyard Picture
Post by: Bob L. on January 29, 2018, 10:51:41 PM

saw flattops (carriers) in photos.... looked like jump carriers...read 2 hull numbers, one name..

further:

hull 307 is Manila Bay, CVE61
hull 308 is Natoma Bay, CVE 62
hull 309 is Midway, CVE 63  later renamed to St. Louis.  Kamikaze hit/sank in 30 mins. at Layte.

All built in about 6 months.  Others also hit by kamikazes, but survived war...retired, then scrapped...

Photographer, Lee, appears to be Asian (Chinese American?).....interesting at that time in history, to see in shipyard with camera....

Bob L.