Author Topic: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2  (Read 7202 times)

hojo3rd

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1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« on: June 10, 2013, 11:26:25 AM »
Hello looking for information on 1951 Manhattan convertible VIN number 2 I recently purchased the car from hey family who owned it for over 30 years it came with quite a bit of history and documentation just looking to see what else may be out there and confirm some details

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2013, 11:28:47 AM »
.

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2013, 12:23:31 PM »
Dr door jamb

kaiserfrazerlibrary

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2013, 01:44:06 PM »
it would be helpful if you indicated just what you had (so we don't invent the wheel) with the car and what questions you still have about it. 

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2013, 02:00:45 PM »
I have earlier history dating from 1958 until now I have a letter from one of the owners stating that it is to their beliefs that the vehicle was built for the Chicago Auto Show pre-production and then it was then stored and ship to Hawaii by frazer himself for use just trying to put the beginning of the car's history together with what I haveI also can't seem to the decode the data plate

joefrazer

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2013, 03:00:14 PM »
Trim tag breakdown:

Model - 516 = Frazer 1951
Body - = Convertible
Paint - 360 = Arena Yellow
Trim - 888 = Special Order (can you tell us what's there now?)
TR - 4 = Overdrive transmission
AG - 5 = Accessory group 5 - windshield washer,  tailpipe extension, wheel discs, rear cigar lighter, day/nite mirror
SPEC-FO = This is the special order number that was placed to build the car to the customer's specification.
SCHED and ITEM - Used to note when the car was built (day and order for that day)

joefrazer

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2013, 03:01:59 PM »
At one time, I owned 51F convertible #129 of 131 built. Here's what it looked like when I found it in an open field in Cleveland, Ohio...

http://www.kaiserfrazercars.com/today.JPG

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2013, 03:03:10 PM »
black leather appears to be original

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2013, 03:06:12 PM »
Dash

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2013, 03:09:59 PM »
Dside

kaiserfrazerlibrary

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2013, 05:47:03 PM »
Here is a bit more about the early history of the car....

The body started down the line on March 22, 1950 (1951 model year production for regular F515 series standards began March 15, 1950).  SCHED 7 identifies this date.

According to minutes of Advertising Advisory Staff Meeting on January 20, 1950, the convertible went to the Chicago Auto Show and was equipped with non-standard leather upholstery (the 888 trim number).   The minutes of the meeting identified the 3 cars going as the "White Convertible" (white=Frazer), "Blue DeLuxe 4-door Sedan" (blue=Kaiser) and the "Red Car" (red=Henry J).   I have no information on the car going to Hawaii.  If it did go there, it would have been for Henry Kaiser's use, not Joseph Frazer. 

The car was one of a handful of convertibles built with overdrive instead of Hydra-Matic, and put together at Willow Run rather than the hand crafting line at the Jackson MI parts warehouse.

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2013, 06:14:39 PM »
What is this?

hojo3rd

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2013, 06:52:05 PM »
what's this car worth in number 2 condition ?

joefrazer

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2013, 08:01:44 PM »
The red switch in the photo is marked Unity so it's for foglights.

131 1951 Frazer Manhattan convertibles were produced. Your car is #2, mine is #129...at opposite ends but the same color combination!

The story on my car...it was sold new in El Paso TX to a serviceman. He brought the car to Cleveland, OH after he left the army in 1953 and had it until 1960 when he saw the then all new Corvair in a showroom a C.Miller Chevrolet at the corner of Superior and Euclid in East Cleveland, Ohio. He swapped the Frazer and $800 for the Corvair as Charlie Miller was a convertible nut and the Frazer was in very good condition. Charlie parked the car in the showroom for about 2 years and then sold it to a William Ronny. He drove the car into the 80s and had the engine rebuilt at Cadillac dealer in Cleveland. They also had a commercial business rebuilding forklifts and had the right equipment since many also used the 226 engine. After the engine was rebuilt, he drove the car for a few more years and then parked it in a garage that eventually deteriorated around it. That's where I found the car in 1996.

I met the serviceman who bought the car new. He tracked me down after a friend saw the car at my house. He stopped to buy some Nash parts I had advertised and knew of the car way back in the day. Needless to say, they were surprised the car still existed.

Here's a picture of the car in 1953.

http://www.kaiserfrazercars.com/51fconv.JPG

kaiserfrazerlibrary

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Re: 1951 Manhattan convertible vin # 2
« Reply #14 on: June 10, 2013, 08:03:30 PM »
Sorry I don't do prices.