New here with a 1951 4dr ????

[Lane714]

Hi, I am a noob so bear with me. I have a tow yard and have recently acquired a 1951 Kaiser 4 door hard top car. How do I tell what this is exactly.We have had LOTS of classic cars, but I have never seen one of these, so I know nothing about them.  I would like to keep this car (I am a girl BTW) and my hubby wants to do all manner of things to it. I, on the other hand, kinda like the old school cruiser look of it and think I would like it more stock. I dont see any emblems on it except on the back by the rt tail light, it says Darrin Styled. Any production info on this year? It has a 3speed tranny if that helps.
Thanks
Janet

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Hi,

Probably the first thing to do here is to run the numbers on the car to see just what you have there, Janet.  There are 2 or 3 tags significant to this. 

The first tag is the car serial number tag.  It is on the driver side front door frame, by the door hinges.  Depending on when the car was built you will have either 1 large tag, or 1 large and 1 small tag on the firewall (earlier production cars have just the large tag).  On the large tag, you will see all kinds of headers and numbers.  If you have the small tag, it has the body serial number; each of the 5 different model types (4-dr or 2-dr sedan, coupe, 4-dr or 2-dr Traveler hatchback) had different model #'s on this tag.

If you can e-mail me the info off the tags (please indicate what numbers come off what headers on the large body tag) I can translate.  Note that engine number on that serial number tag is little more than useless as no info exists tying into VINs.

My email address is kaiserfrazerlibrary@yahoo.com

Jack Mueller
Club Historian

[KWZ]

Welcome, you've definitely come to the right place.  What Mr. Mueller said^^^^^^^^^^  

[Fid]

The Model designation on the data plate tag (on the firewall) and the one on the inside door frame will tell exactly what it is.  There were two broad categories - K511 was a the lower-priced "Special" (pictured below) and K512 the higher end "Deluxe" model.  The 1951 Kaisers are very easy to restore back to original as far as drive-train / engine is concerned. Often people are intimidated by that but it's actually the easier route to go (verses customizing) in my opinion.  I appreciate both types but I myself stick to the originals for that reason - they're pretty easy to work on and maintain. 
The 1951 Kaisers are the most abundant as it was their longest production year. If I remember correctly, there were about 120,000 produced, about 15,000 of which were two doors so it's rare in that regard. They were quite a radical looking car when introduced in 1950.

Of course you will get a lot of help and support from people on this site.
Good luck

[Lane714]

OK, So I do know its the 512. I remember that much. I will be at the shop in a bit and will post some pics. The car is in REALLY good shape. I was told it was garage kept until last few yrs. And it is complete as far as I can tell. Thanks so far!

[Lane714]

http://picasaweb.google.com/JesterAlley/Kaiser?feat=directlink

ok folks heres the pics!

[KWZ]

That is a decent car.  Definitely a '51 deluxe.  I like that it's a stick. 

[montefrazer]

Welcome  Very solid car to start with. Just a quick note. It is a sedan, not a hard top. None of the 51 up new body style Kaisers were hard tops. There were hard tops made in 49-50 Kaiser and 49-51 Frazer which was the old body style. Very rare and not seen often.

[Fid]

The 1953 Dragons are often refered to as "hard tops" because they had a vinyl covered top and in 1953 that was pretty unusual. There is even some KF factory literature that lists them as "hard tops" but they have the door posts so in fact, they are sedans.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Hi,

This may not be a hardtop or a dragon, but it is a most unusual Kaiser....

What you have here, dear lady, is one of the last (possibly the last?) of the "early" 1951 Kaiser models built by the company.  Here's what I mean by early...

1.  Kaiser-Frazer Sales Corporation Confidential Bulletin #45, dated 5/5/50 indicates that Accessory Group 4 would go on all Deluxe models until "approximately June 15".  This group does NOT include electric windshield wipers or electric clock.

2.  The combination of 130 paint (Horizon Blue) and 2134 interior (Grey Stockholm cloth) are additional items that appear to be part of the "sampling" period.

3.  What is most interesting here is the SCHED, ITEM and serial numbers.  K-F normally started with 1001, so the car is the 24,747th Deluxe built, and the 22,412th 4-door sedan (balance at this point 2-door sedans and maybe a handful of Club Coupes).  The SCHED number (if I have worked everything out right) goes back to March 15, 1950 for SCHED 1 (the official start of the 1951 model year), so the number of 112 would suggest the body was started down the line on the 112th day of the model year.  Adjusting for holidays and weekends, I come up with a date in late July/Early August (some Saturdays were worked) a time past the cut point identified in the Confidential Bulletin.

[Fid]

It also appears to have the earlier style, GE 6 pushbutton radio. Later 1951 Kaisers had the Delco 5 button style, if they had one at all.

[mbflemingkf]

Lane716...Hi, I see you have a NC tag on the car.  I live in the Winston-Salem area.  Where are you located?  I'd be glad to help you with your car; I've been in the club for a while now.  My direct e-mail address is mbfleming@aol.com   Mike Fleming

[Lane714]

I live in Salisbury, NC. What would be a estimated start value for this car. We had it in our storage lot and got it for non payment of storage/tow bill.  I like it alot and will probally keep it.  You might just see it at a Cruise In near you. My hubby has a 1967 Merc Cougar, my 21 yr old son has a 1999 Trans Am with less than 20k miles and my 13 yr old son has a 1963 Ford f100 truck project going. He is hoping to get it done before he starts driving...LOL   My daughter and I dont have our own classic cars but we like them. I was raised around them my entire life and can remember going to the swap meets at Carlisle PA when I was 7 (early 70's). My dad had LOTS of old cars from a 1930 Model A Ford to stuff in the 60's. Thanks for your help so far. I do really like this car, and I like that no one knows exactly what it is. I kinda like being diffrent     Janet

[joefrazer]

Nice find...even if it was in your own lot! Any Kaiser is a conversation piece and like you, I also enjoy owning what's usually the only one at the local cruise in. Looking at the pictures, I see a car that needs a little around the edges...and what Kaiser doesn't...but it does look like a good solid car. Assuming that it'll run, it's gotta be worth somewhere in the $1500-2000 range.