We’ve all heard people say how all modern cars look alike, and often we dismiss these statements as the ramblings of somebody who is either old and longing for better times or who is uninformed. However, there is some truth to this statement. It all comes down to the question of styling trends, and they aren’t merely restricted to today’s offerings. If we cast our minds back to the late 1950s, almost every American manufacturer jumped on the tailfins bandwagon. In the 1980s, most cars looked like they had been designed with a pencil and ruler, with hardly a curve to be seen anywhere. That raises the question of how low-volume manufacturers like Kaiser could compete against “The Big Three.” Their answer was to provide some unusual and distinctive trim features to entice people to spend money in their showrooms. There is probably no better example than the 1953 Kaiser Dragon. The company produced this model for a single year, and only 1,277 examples rolled off the production line. They don’t appear on the market very often, so our feature car is a rare treat. It has recently emerged from storage and is mechanically healthy and roadworthy. The owner has decided that it needs to go to a new home, so he has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in North Phoenix, Arizona, and can be yours for a mere $9,900. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for once again showing that he can spot some unusual classics for us.

At first, there appears to be nothing radical about the styling of the Dragon. However, when you look at the finer details, you realize that this car is unique. It is features like the “sweetheart” dip on the top of the windshield and rear window stand it apart from its competitors. Our feature car wears its original Stardust Ivory paint, and while it isn’t in as-new condition, it presents acceptably for an original survivor. There are flaws and defects in the paint, which will leave potential buyers with a choice to make. They will need to decide whether to retain the car in its current guise or treat it to a light cosmetic refresh. Contrasting the Ivory paint is a padded bamboo vinyl top. It appears to be in good condition, with no evidence of rips or bubbling to suggest anything nasty happening to the steel beneath. The panels are pretty straight for a vehicle of this type, with no significant dents and no evidence of rust. The owner mentions no issues below decks, and if this car has spent its life in the dry climes of Arizona, it may be rust-free. In keeping with many offerings from the period, the exterior features lashings of chrome and polished stainless. However, the Dragon stands out from the crowd by featuring 14-karat gold plating on the fender badges, trunk and hood badges, and the hood ornament. That was the company’s attempt to add a touch of class and exclusivity to this model. These features are intact and in good condition for a vehicle of this age.

While the exterior may have hinted that the Dragon was anything but average, the interior sealed the deal. Kaiser incorporated unique bamboo-pattern cloth and vinyl trim throughout the interior, leaving occupants no doubt what car they were in. Unfortunately, a previous owner has replaced the seat covers, so we’ve lost the bamboo pattern from that aspect of the interior. However, it is intact on the door trims and in the padding on the dash. I performed a brief online search and could not locate supplies of material in the original pattern. That means that there is little hope of returning the seats to their unique appearance. It isn’t all bad news because the upholstered surfaces are in good condition. There’s no evidence of wear or significant damage, while the dash and pad are immaculate. The wheel has avoided the cracking that can plague cars from this era, and the plated dash components shine beautifully. The vehicle is equipped with its standard clock and push-button radio, and Kaiser went out of its way to make the Dragon feel as luxurious as possible. This included fitting over 200lbs of insulation to isolate occupants from drivetrain noise and the outside world. It may have contributed to comfort, but it didn’t help the car’s outright performance.

One area where Kaiser struggled against the competition was on the subject of drivetrain combinations. For the 1953 Dragon, the 226ci “Supersonic” flathead six-cylinder engine was the sole offering. It produced 118hp, which found its way to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydramatic transmission. Considered underpowered when compared to the V8’s offered by the competition, the Kaiser would take 21.8 seconds to cover the ¼ mile. Our feature car has only recently emerged from storage. It has been hiding for many years, but the owner has returned it to a roadworthy state. He says that it runs and drives extremely well, suggesting that it has no mechanical needs or problems. He further indicates that it has 43,000 original miles on the clock, but he doesn’t mention whether he holds verifying evidence. It seems that this Kaiser is a turnkey proposition for its new owner.

The relative rarity of the 1953 Kaiser Dragon makes it worthy of a closer look. We know that only 1,277 examples were produced, but how many survive today isn’t clear. Our feature car could continue functioning as an original survivor, and nobody would question that. It appears that it needs little more than a light cosmetic refresh to have it shining at its best once again. The seat upholstery was one of this model’s most distinguishing features, and the loss of that on this car will affect its ultimate value. Even so, a fresh coat of paint should see this car capable of commanding a value close to $20,000. When you look at it that way, the sale price looks like it could be pretty respectable. Have you ever come across a Dragon in your travels? If so, were you impressed by its unique trim and material?