Frazer was one of the few genuinely new post World War II American cars , but managed only a short , somewhat unhappy life . The name honored Joseph Washington Frazer , the high - born aristocrat ( descended from the Virginia Washingtons ) who make out auto and became a super - salesman through stints at Packard , Pierce - Arrow , and General Motors . Frazer also knead with Walter P. Chrysler in the 1920s and resuscitated moribund Willys - Overland in the later ' 30 .
In the former ' 40s , Frazer was calculate to make a unexampled postwar car , an idea that also go on to Henry J. Kaiser , the West Coast metals and construction tycoon who ’d rick out wartime Liberty ship double - quick . Frazer and Kaiser met , reach it off , and formed Kaiser - Frazer Corporation in July 1945 , with Frazer as President of the United States , Kaiser as board chairperson . It seemed a equal made in self-propelled heaven : Joe ’s redoubtable sales acumen married to Henry J. ’s vast manufacture resources .
After considering several proposals ( including a radical front - drive designing ) , they settle on a conventional can - drive four - door sedan with modern efflorescence - fender styling by renowned custom - trunk room decorator Howard A. " Dutch " Darrin . The end intersection was n’t all Darrin ’s work – nor altogether to his satisfaction – but it was smooth and fairly stylish for the period , with the arguable exception of the high blunt hood .
Two versions were planned : a medium - price Kaiser and a sumptuousness Frazer . Henry J , call up big as usual , gear up for Kaisers by buy Ford ’s Brobdingnagian , wartime bomber industrial plant at Willow Run , Michigan . Frazers were to be build by Graham - Paige in Detroit , lately larn by Joe and his associate . But G - P was founder and sell out to K - F in 1947 , so all but the earliest Frazers were built alongside Kaisers .
Both make begin production in June 1946 ( for exemplar - year ' 47 ) . Each offer basic and upmarket model . Frazers were nameless " Standards " and Manhattans . There was only one engine : a long - stroke 226.2 - three-dimensional - inch flathead six , basically the Continental " Red Seal " design ameliorate upon and mostly ramp up by K - F. Frazer advertised it as the " Supersonic Six , " but with only 100/110 horsepower to tug over 3300 Irish pound , no K - F car acted jet - propelled .
At least the " Darrin - title " body propose particular rider way – including the industry ’s widest front seat – 64 inches – and the rugged boxful - section chassis bluster modern front - coil / rearward - leaf abatement .
Initially , K - F ramp up two Kaisers to each Frazer , reflecting the latter ’s gamey $ 2295 starting price – close to Cadillac territory . The Manhattan was some $ 400 more , but also elegantly upholstered in nylon and fine Bedford electric cord cloth keyed to exterior colors , which were typically two - tones . Full leather upholstery was also useable .
Unfortunately , this Cadillac price rival lack an automatic transmission of any variety , let alone one to match ultrasmooth Hydra - Matic : just a three - hurrying manual of arms or the same with optional Borg - Warner overdrive ( $ 80 ) .
Yet despite the besotted prices , lack of automatic , and no eight - cylinder railway locomotive in sight , K - F enjoy potent initial sales event to gain the press nickname of " postwar wonder company . " Still , some beholder doubted the dynamic managerial duet . Henry Kaiser , they enjoin , did n’t know an automobile from a motorboat , while Frazer had only sold machine , not built them .
Even so , K - F succeeded despite postwar materials shortfall , forming a crack team of expediters who foraged the country for everything from sheet steel to copper telegram . They usually beat what they wanted – though at a price , the principal reason the cars cost so much . Still , K - F rack up the highest output of any sovereign in 1947 - 48 , with full bulk sufficient for 9th shoes in the product race .
And why not ? Both the Kaiser and Frazer had the reward of being all - new gondola with no prewar links , and both were pronto uncommitted ( though competitors were fast returning to prewar production levels ) . They also reckon upright : very uncontaminating , with modest horizontal grille ( Frazer ’s was a snatch more flowery than Kaiser ’s ) and footling decorative chrome or sculptured sheetmetal , contemplate Darrin ’s invention nonsuch .
A long 123.5 - column inch wheelbase provided a smooth drive , and the six - piston chamber engine , though plod , delivered first-class fuel economy . But this was a wise age when buyers need all the functioning and chrome they could get . Though Frazer ultimately get around to optional hood ornaments and more- glittery DoI , the deficiency of eight - cylinder power would prove an increase sales liability for the price charged .
For more on defunct American cars, see:
1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951 Frazers
The Frazer never really go much beyond its original formula . Indeed , the ' 48 models changed only in item yet cost even more : $ 2483-$2746 . So though the postwar seller ’s market was still in full swing , Frazer loudness unload ominously for model - class ' 48 , from 68,775 to 48,071 .
Then , a gross miscalculation . recognize his house could field only facelifts against all - novel models from the Big Three and Nash , Joe Frazer recommended cutting 1949 product , then amount back with all - new designs for 1950 . But Henry Kaiser would n’t hear of it , declaring , " The Kaisers never retrench ! "
Predictably , Henry won . In dissent , Joe stepped down to the meaningless position of circuit board frailty - president , and Henry appointed his own son , Edgar , as President of the United States . K - F duly tooled for 200,000 car , but ended up betray just 58,000 for ' 49 . A long downhill slide had begun .
The ' 49 Frazers took on an eggcrate grille , salient rectangular parking lamps , and large two - lens erect taillamps . There was also a newfangled four - door Manhattan convertible security , but it was a makeshift job at well . take aim to do or die , mastermind John Widman and Ralph Isbrandt shear the top off a sedan chair , continue bacillus - pillar with little inset shabu pane , and purchased beefed - up X - penis frame at an excessive price . But at over $ 3000 , the four - door flop - top Frazer simply could n’t sell in workable numbers .
Nor could any ' 49 Frazer . As a solvent , some 5000 ' 49 remnant were reserialed for a abbreviated 1950 run that ended in the spring of that yr . yield for the two season follow to just under 25,000 unit , let in a mere 70 Manhattan convertibles . It ’s estimated that only 15 percent of the total were sell as 1950 modeling .
Frazer ’s 1951 was abbreviated , too , but the railcar look startlingly different , thanks to an effectual front and rear redo by Herb Weissinger of K - F Styling . The intention was to habituate up remaining 1949 - 50 bodyshells . Thus , leftover Kaiser Vagabond public utility company sedans ( with duple hatchback and folding rearward seat ) became received - passementerie ' 51 Frazer Vagabonds , while Kaiser Virginian four - door " hardtops " were made into 1951 Frazer Manhattans .
Pillared sedans were assign to Frazer ’s stock line , but trimmed like 1950 Manhattans . promote by the belated arriver of Hydra - Matic as a $ 159 pick , dealer ordered 55,000 of the ' 51 Frazers , but get only 10,214 . The Frazer was dead .
K - F stylists had created numerous renderings for succeeding Frazers based on Darrin ’s sleek and low 1951 " Anatomic " Kaiser . But these and other plan were render stillborn when Joe Frazer left the party in early ' 49 . Two years by and by , the Kaisers were busy with their new little elevator car , the Henry J – and leftover ' 51 Kaisers . In retrospect , they really should have listened to Joe .
