30K-Miles: 1951 Kaiser DeLuxe W/ Original Paint
This 1951 Kaiser Deluxe two-door sedan is still wearing its original paint, according to the seller. That’s amazing after over seven decades, but even more so, they also say that the interior is original after 71 years! They have it posted here on craigslist in Harpswell, Maine and they’re asking $7,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
Kaiser Motors reportedly made 12,500 of the DeLuxe two-door sedans for the 1951 model year and according to AllPar, the company sold 137,000 cars that were licensed as 1951 models. This is a unique design since they didn’t appear to lengthen the doors as most other two-door cars have when there is a similar four-door body style available. There was also a two-door Club Coupe, which was a little sleeker. It’s hard to argue with a black car, especially in reality-tv-car-show-heavy 2022 – insert grinding guitar music here and guys throwing wrenches at each other and laughing, all while somehow totally restoring a rusted-out heap in three days and just barely making the self-imposed deadline! The drama!
1951 through 1955 Kaisers were updated and were a little more stylish overall and very stylish in having the famous Dutch Darren touches such as the widow’s peak windshield and rear window. They also added safety features and the second-most-powerful six-cylinder engine after Hudson. This generation of Kaisers would be the company’s last as they got out of the car business after the 1955 model year. at least in the U.S.
The seller says that this car has just 30,000 miles on it and it’s all original, or at least the paint and interior are original. The company had some really interesting cars in this era, including the Henry J, which would also be badged as a Sears Allstate, as well as the Traveler, a hatchback version of the Kaiser with a huge storage space inside. There was also the fiberglass-body Kaiser Darrin.
Sadly, the seller hasn’t provided any engine photos but this one should have a Continental L-head 226 cubic-inch inline-six with 115 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. It’s said to run and drive as it should and has new brakes and a new fuel pump. This is basically it for interior photos, too. You’ll have to get in touch with the seller to get more photos and more info. Any thoughts on this one?
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Comments
Kaiser remained in the car business, broadly speaking, selling their Jeeps, Jeep wagons, pickups, FCs and Jeepsters until the late ’60’s.
I think it’s neat and fairly priced if the ad is true. But it’s not a car I’d want to be seen driving. Eewww.
But I’d bet you have no problem being seen in a Pinto or a Vega. Or a Matador. lol
Didn’t have a prayer, and that’s a shame. I’m surprised they sold this many, as most people just didn’t think of Kaiser as a car. The Jeep stole all the thunder. Still, like most of the “smaller” car companies, they used all of the best parts. Continental, best in the biz, war proven, Borg-Warner, I think one of those “T” levers to the left of the steering wheel, is an O/D, most all had them. It’s an unbelievable find, I’ve never seen one, I bet you can still get parts for the motor, they were used in towmotors for years. The O/D will help some, not to go blistering down the highway, but reduced rpms at 55, it’s original intent. 1st thing I’d do is get rid of that depressing color,,,
These will run all day at 80 MPH
Grossly unpowered by today’s standards, but the “safety windshield ” was designed to pop out onto the hood before your head went through it in the event of a crash. Although sports cars had seatbelts, they were not common in US cars until the late 1950’s.
My father must have liked the Kaiser, he had 2. The 1st was a ’47 4 door. On a trip to Florida, it gave him some kind of mechanical problems and traded it on a ’53 Kaiser 4 door, almost the exact body style as this ’51, but was a 2 tone black and white. It had no heater (being a Florida car) and he had to have one installed when he got back to South Jersey that February. It did come with a Continental tire on the rear and was stolen on another Florida trip 2 years later when the car was parked overnight outside a “tourist cabin” near Ft. Myers. The Continental kit was never replaced and Pop got rid of the car in ’57 for a new Dodge Coronet.
I love the “orphan cars. Kaiser made very few two door sedans compared to the four door versions. If Maine wasn’t all the way on the other side of the country I’d be at the seller’s house with the cash!
Amazing the paint is still in pretty good shape after 71 years. Interior/dash looks good too. Just watched a Broderick Crawford movie last nite, where he was a G-man….and this car would have fit right in. Truly a blast from the past.