The October 2009 issue of Collectible Automobile has a fascinating profile of carleton Spencer, who was in charge of interior colors and materials for Kaiser-Frazer from the company's beginnings in 1946 to its sad end in 1955. Spencer took exception to the drab, monotonous interiors of typical pre-war cars and with impeccable taste and judgement set entirely new standards for the industry. While I was reading the article I simultaneously received the weekly McLellans Automotive History online newsletter and being curious about Kaiser-Frazer, clicked on a link to available K-F literature. And there to my wondering eyes was revealed a catalog featuring a Frazer I never knew existed.
To my knowledge there were only two basic K-F body styles. The first was a slab-sided shape that looks unexciting today but in immediate post-war years seemed almost futuristic. The second edition, conceived by Dutch Darrin, is one of America's most beautiful mass-production sedans. But this catalog shows a Frazer 4-door sedan that I've never seen. Ever! Note the kicked-up rear fender and the character lines along the side. A secondary illustration reveals a grille that's remarkably similar to that of the Henry J. The catalog describes it as "The Handcrafted Frazer: The Pride of Willow Run."
So was this a limited production model, poised halfway between the first designs and Darrin's masterpiece? Or is it a car that Kaiser-Frazer advertised but never manufactured? If you have the answer, please inform me and our loyal readers via the Comments link below. Or if you don't know you could, for $50, purchase the 8-page, 9×12 folder from 1950 that opens to an 18×24 layout with four photo renderings of a Frazer Manhattan Convertible and Vagabond. I still find it hard to conceive that a huge auto manufacturing company could suddenly collapse but that's what they said about General Motors.
UPDATE: My good friend in Tokyo, Harley Ferguson, has commented, making us aware that this Frazer was, indeed, manufactured as a last-ditch attempt to save the brand with a styling update exclusive to that marque. Harley directs us to a Web site with photos and history. After seeing more of this car I'm not surprised that it failed to rescue the company. The grille and front end is a total turn-off. So sad.
http://www.automotivehistoryonline.com/Frazer1951.htm
Does this help?
July 29, 2009 @ 10:12 am