Kaiser -- Cars That Challenged Detroit

When auto production started up after the cessation of World War II hostilities, major manufacturers simply picked up where they left off after Pearl Harbor introducing 1942 lines as 46s. Nobody was fooled but it didnt matter as demand far outstripped supply. Henry J. Kaiser, steel and ship building magnate, entered the fray with an advantage: a clean slate. Kaisers were truly all new when introduced as 47s and sales soared: Kaiser (with sister marque Frazer) outsold such established names as Studebaker, Nash, Hudson, Mercury and Chrysler.

Today, Kaisers are rarely seen and thats part of their appeal. Kaiser is a remnant of a time when it seemed that, having vanquished that eras Axis of Evil, Americans could do anything, including start a car company from scratch.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Kaiser
• Henry Kaiser
• Kaiser-Frazer
• Howard Dutch Darrin
• Kaiser Manhattan

[jjjreilly]

That ain't Sean Connery narrating you fool, it's not even close. In case you didn't know, Sean Connery is from Scotland and he definitely has a Scottish accent. Yes Connery played James Bond, but he was acting ... he doesn't usually sound "English". Your ears - when did you last clean the spuds out ?

[mrpitv]

@jjjreilly A lot of people confuse our narrator, Reg Abbis, with Sean Connery. He got that all the time -- even when he was a correspondent for the BBC. They both have wonderful voices.

[KaiserHudson67]

I'd like to know what program that was from: That is the unmistakable voice of Sean Connery narrating!!

[mrpitv]

It's from our series Great Cars which is narrated by former BBC correspondent, Reg Abbiss. His mom always told him he reminded her of Sean Connery.

[gav240z]

Never seen a Kaiser Darrin before, absolutely stunning.

[MrRJDB1969]

I have a 1947 Frazer and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The only problem that I've had with it in the last twenty years , is the clutch.

[chargalant]

My Parents married in 1945 and bought a "new" Kaiser, then later bought a new '51 and drove it to LA from Pgh, PA.

My Dad later moved onto Mopars but he felt the Kaisers were the freshest thing coming from Detriot in those days.

[legomanv16]

my Grampa owns a 1953 kaiser henry j

[Featureman]

Kaisers and Frasers looked great right aftr the war. The new look in 1951 for Kaiser and I believe there was a somewhat new Fraser in 1950 had beautiful designing. The 1951 Kaiser also has a padded dash and pop out windshield. The 1954 Kaiser stole the grill and headlight design Buick was planning to use in 1955. The 1955 Buick had an odd looking quickly designed grill. Great video.

[Kalkas53]

ah the 50's days of when cars were made of chrome and steel not plastics

[fuzter2007]

Later, in Argentina, Kaiser develop and sold a lot of cars with great succesful in sales, design, in racing competitions... The most important models were the Rambler (derived from AMC brand) and the Torino, a local develop of a car based on Rambler American Rouge.

[fuzter2007]

Kaiser went to Argentina to develop and build car, and the IKA (the name of Kaiser Industries of Argentina) was a very succesful company until 1974, when it was sold to Renault.