The Oldsmobile engine plant didn't burn down; it was the General Motors Hydra-Matic plant in Livonia, Michigan that burned on August 12, 1953. It was the biggest industrial fire in history. GM bought the Willow Run, Michigan plant from Kaiser to replace the Livonia facility. Willow Run was soon to be surplus as Kaiser was consolidating production in Toledo, Ohio.
So the only difference between KAISER Carabela and KAISER Manhattan is Carabela was produced in Argentina or was there anything else? Maybe price? I have just learned about this model (since I'm from Europe) so pardon me for stupid question.... Anyway I like this car a lot :)
@loufalce The two-door Kaiser was a separate body from the four-door. The front doors on a two-door will not interchange with a four-door body as they are 9 inches longer from the hinge to the latch
The Kaiser Manhattan (4 doors) was produced in Argentina, like "Carabela" by Industrias Kaiser Argentina, the mos luxurious car of this moment, made in our Country. Jeeps, Gladiators and Estancieras (Station Wagon) completed the the offer.
I moved to Oakland, CA in 1962. Even though they shut down in '55, there was still a Kaiser dealership on E 13th St. The showroom featured 3 or 4 '55 Manhattans that no one wanted. They each had about 6 miles on the odometer, and the dealer was asking only $600 just to get rid of them.Too bad I was only 13 years old at the time.
Dang - the best thing about this vid were the two guys. They're really knowledgeable and the story about the Kaiser, the acquisition, etc. was really great. Great video to watch. Makes me want to buy a Kaiser (yeah right) but great looking car and very interesting comments. Thanks!
This was one of the biggest losses to the U.S. auto industry. Kaiser came out after WW2 and produced cars that were way ahead of their time. Unfortunately, the Big Three squeezed out most of the independents (Nash, Hudson, Packard, Studebaker, Willys and Kaiser), many of which built compact cars, so that when the imports started coming in in the late '50s and early '60s, Detroit had nothing to match them.
@philotimos923 -- I totally concur; WHY the big 3 HAD to have a monopoly when it stifled creativity, resourcefulness, innovation and competition leading to the import onslought of compacts and subcontacts ... Tragic.
What a rare car...glad to know it'll be preserved!
chargalant 3 weeks ago
WOW What a beautiful car !!
GoliathAngelus 2 months ago
The Oldsmobile engine plant didn't burn down; it was the General Motors Hydra-Matic plant in Livonia, Michigan that burned on August 12, 1953. It was the biggest industrial fire in history. GM bought the Willow Run, Michigan plant from Kaiser to replace the Livonia facility. Willow Run was soon to be surplus as Kaiser was consolidating production in Toledo, Ohio.
RK1955K 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
So the only difference between KAISER Carabela and KAISER Manhattan is Carabela was produced in Argentina or was there anything else? Maybe price? I have just learned about this model (since I'm from Europe) so pardon me for stupid question.... Anyway I like this car a lot :)
500mlBEERCAN 2 months ago
Looks like it was cobbled up from a 4 door, but a beauty anyway.
loufalce 4 months ago
@loufalce The two-door Kaiser was a separate body from the four-door. The front doors on a two-door will not interchange with a four-door body as they are 9 inches longer from the hinge to the latch
RK1955K 2 months ago
At the start he mentions he's from Poulsbo, WA. I used to live in Kingston, WA - but am originally from London. Anyone know who the old geezer is ?
jjjreilly 8 months ago
@jjjreilly - Ed Johnson is the owner of the car
teletim99 8 months ago
I remember them as a kid! Nice cars, as most of them were in those days!
450984 9 months ago
A friend of mine is selling his!!!!!!!!
TheRomo76 10 months ago
The Kaiser Manhattan (4 doors) was produced in Argentina, like "Carabela" by Industrias Kaiser Argentina, the mos luxurious car of this moment, made in our Country. Jeeps, Gladiators and Estancieras (Station Wagon) completed the the offer.
charlesnorte 11 months ago
I moved to Oakland, CA in 1962. Even though they shut down in '55, there was still a Kaiser dealership on E 13th St. The showroom featured 3 or 4 '55 Manhattans that no one wanted. They each had about 6 miles on the odometer, and the dealer was asking only $600 just to get rid of them.Too bad I was only 13 years old at the time.
beauwulff 11 months ago
Dang - the best thing about this vid were the two guys. They're really knowledgeable and the story about the Kaiser, the acquisition, etc. was really great. Great video to watch. Makes me want to buy a Kaiser (yeah right) but great looking car and very interesting comments. Thanks!
paultackler 11 months ago
This was one of the biggest losses to the U.S. auto industry. Kaiser came out after WW2 and produced cars that were way ahead of their time. Unfortunately, the Big Three squeezed out most of the independents (Nash, Hudson, Packard, Studebaker, Willys and Kaiser), many of which built compact cars, so that when the imports started coming in in the late '50s and early '60s, Detroit had nothing to match them.
philotimos923 1 year ago 2
@philotimos923 -- I totally concur; WHY the big 3 HAD to have a monopoly when it stifled creativity, resourcefulness, innovation and competition leading to the import onslought of compacts and subcontacts ... Tragic.
starmanskye 1 year ago
Such a shame that lots of the US brands don't exist anymore.....
spyker2011 1 year ago 2
Beautiful car, but why is that cheep thing wrapped around the wheel.
tomrdee 1 year ago
I am not aware of a fire of the
Oldsmobile V8 engine plant.
There was a fire of the Hydramatic
factory that destroyed it in 1953
barry3333 1 year ago