Hello there, fine folks!
Well, everyone makes a first post at some point, and this is mine. I have just joined the Kaiser world for the first time, having purchased a pair of 1953 Manhattans. In a nutshell, an older fellow who hoarded vehicles(among other things!) passed away, leaving behind at least a couple dozen vintage cars. Among them were these two Manhattans. I actually went to check out another vehicle they were selling from his estate, but that one didn't work out. These cars caught my attention however, and the price was right, so I jumped in!
As the story goes, the better condition of these two cars has been parked and hasn't run since 1970. It appears quite solid in terms of body, having no cancerous rust that I can find anywhere. Unfortunately it does have some key issues, namely needing a new windshield and taillights, which I know will not be easy to find for this car. The windshields, headlights and taillights were recently shot out by kids with BB guns(among many, many pieces of glass on the various other cars that were left behind as well). Obviously the car will need much more work than just those bits, but by my estimation, those will be the two most difficult things to find that will actually prevent me from safely and legally driving it once I get it roadworthy.
The good news is that I believe the engine will run again. The engine in the better of the two cars turned easily using just an 8" ratchet, so that is very encouraging. Another fellow who purchased several other cars from this estate has already gotten some of his cars running that were similarly stored, so that gives me encouragement that this one was also a runner when it was parked, and that the conditions were such that the cylinders and whatnot have not suffered much if any rust. So my first step will be to carefully go through the steps to resurrect the engine. I am a professional classic car mechanic by trade, and have revived many an old engine after decades-long slumber parties, so this is old hat for me. I have always loved bringing back old engines from the dead.
The better condition of the two cars is a three speed manual, but the other car(which I will refer to as a parts car, as it is indeed quite rough) has an automatic. I am not yet sure what fate will become of the second car, but it is likely too rough to be worth restoring, so odds are I will part it out. However, my goal for the better of the two cars is to see if I can get it running first, then sort out the brake hydraulics and whatnot to make it safely mobile, then tires, with the hope of eventually putting it on the road.
I have already perused your forum extensively in the last few weeks, and will surely have many questions, parts requests and more info about my cars as I delve into the world of the Kaiser for the first time. I've had more than 50 cars previous to these, primarily pre-smog full size cars from the Big Three, so it will be interesting to dig into something decidedly different and unique for a change.
I'm excited, especially considering there appears to be a thriving enthusiast community for these cars. Wish me luck!
