1951 Frazer data book by Chrysler Corp.

[Gordie]

I just received the above book from an eBay seller.  Chrysler Corp purchased a new '51 Frazer four door and had its engineering department compare its features with the 1950 De Soto and Chrysler six.  It contains nine large photos and 17 typed pages of description of what Frazer changed and up graded from the 1950 models to the new 1951 model.  It is a rare look at what the competition thought of the Kaiser Frazer Corp.  Because Kaiser announced the new Kaiser and Frazer  cars early in 1950 this book was prepared on April 17, 1950 and Chrysler's new 1951 models would not be announce for about six more months.  Other manufacturers did the same or similar things as I have images from Ford Motor Co. with detail photos of new Kaisers, Henry J's and Allstate cars.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Hi,

From the description, what you have is NOT a data book but the Chrysler Engineering Department's informational file item on the 1951 Frazer (I have a copy of the thing).  Photos were taken at the K-F dealership Chrysler had some involvement in (look at pictures in the 1953 Kaiser file' they're taken in the dealer's showroom!).   The thing was put together to give sales & marketing and other departments access to information for car comparisons as you noted.  I have copies of 1949 Kaiser & Frazer, 1951 Kaiser, Frazer and Henry J automobiles, 1952 Kaiser and HJ, 1953 Kaiser & HJ and 1954 Kaiser.  I also have 1953, 1954 and 1955 Willys Passenger Sedan/Hardtop items.  Missing is the 1947 Kaiser (and perhaps 1947 Frazer as separate items) and 1947 Frazer information and I think that's the set but can't be sure.  As far as I know Chrysler fell back on HJ reports with regard to the Allstate

[Gordie]

I called this a data book but the actual title says "'51 Frazer - Chrysler Corporation Engineering Division- Department of Technical Data and Information."  The photos don't look like a dealership but a very clean room with wood parquet floors and all of the pictures are of the car sitting on a small light duty hoist and raised about three inches from the floor. The car is a dark color with white wall tires but no radio or heater.  Is that what your book is?  If so they must have made books like this for all of the competition each year.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Chrysler made "books" on the competition for reference on actual specifications vs. published items.  The books also contained varying degrees of comments about the "Brand X" car compared to Chrysler products of similar price ranges.

As for the dealership thing, check this photo out.  It is from Chrysler's 1953 Kaiser book:

[Gordie]

That is definitely in a dealership but I don't think that the '51 Frazer was.  They are interesting books!

[Aeroman]

  I also have 1953, 1954 and 1955 Willys Passenger Sedan/Hardtop items.

Jack - any way to get copies of these? Or maybe you have duplicates or scans? I have never seen these.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

I have good photocopies of the following books:

1949 Kaiser & Frazer combined, includes reference to CUSTOM VIRGINIAN differences compared to regular VIRGINIAN
1951 Kaiser, Frazer & Henry J
1952 Kaiser and Henry J
1953 Aero Willys, Kaiser & Henry J
1954 Aero Willys & Kaiser
1955 Willys passenger cars

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

An update to the previous post

The collection of the Chrysler Corporation reports I have is part of the new materials in the next release of KFOCI HANDBOOK.

[Aeroman]

Wow. Thanx, Jack.