1951 Frazer Manhattan convertible one of just 139 ever built
David Krumboltz’s regular column is on hiatus until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, we’re running some of dave’s favorite past columns. This one originally ran in October 2015.
Not many of us own a car from a brand that shares our surname, but Lafayette resident Peter Frazier does. While the spelling is slightly different, Frazier explained that “It’s the same Scottish clan.”
Joseph Frazer of the Kaiser-Frazer automobile company was president of Graham-Paige Motors Corp., which closed down for World War II but planned on bringing back the Graham after the war.
“Graham wasn’t a real strong brand,” Frazier said. “It was comparable to Hudson, Studebaker, Willys and Packard in size. Henry Kaiser made a lot of money in World War II, and he wanted to get into the automobile business.”
Kaiser knew he would need a good automobile executive. He and Frazer met, and on July 25, 1945, the Kaiser-Frazer automobile company was born. Their first year, 1946, was tough. They produced only 11,000 cars and lost $19 million. The next year, K-F produced 100,000 cars and made $19 million. The country had been without any new cars for about five years, and the economy was strong.
K-F sales and profits began to slip, so Frazer recommended cutting 1949 production until there was a new design in 1950. Kaiser disagreed. Frazer stepped down and soon left the company. Kaiser appointed his son, Edgar, as president and geared up for a 200,000-unit production year. Unfortunately, only 58,000 were sold.
“The 1947-to-1950 K-F models were basically the same car with minor facelifts,” Frazier explained. “In 1951, Kaiser came out with a new style, but Frazer didn’t.”
A major problem was how to get rid of outdated parts for the 200,000-unit production plan. They needed a strategy and turned to Howard “Dutch” Darrin, a well-respected designer. He styled new front and rear ends for the 1951 Frazer, including this edition’s car, one of only 139 Frazer Manhattan convertibles built for the 1951 model year.
It’s no surprise that Frazier, a collector, would have an interest in the Frazer automobile. On a visit to the Reno Auto Museum with his wife, she said, “There’s a Frazer convertible, and I’m surprised, with our name, that you don’t have one.”
Frazier contacted the president of the K-F Automobile Club and learned of a man in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with two identical Frazer convertibles. In 1995, Frazier bought his 60,000-mile model for $6,500.
“I found a guy in San Diego who specializes in restoring Kaisers and Frazers,” the owner said. “It was there for about six months.”
The engine and transmission were rebuilt and new wiring installed, as well as a new top and new leather upholstery.
“He pleaded with me to never touch the paint because, to the best of his knowledge, it was the only 1951 left that still had the original paint. The car is totally restored exactly as it came off the assembly line,” Frazier said.
The restoration cost about $16,000. For about 10 years, the “don’t touch the paint request” was honored.
“Finally, I decided that (the condition of the paint) takes away from the fun and charm of the car, and I had it painted the factory forest-green color.”
The Frazer, more luxurious than the Kaiser, was powered by a Continental 226.2-cubic-inch straightsix engine rated at 115 horsepower. There are no power brakes or steering, but it does have a hydraulic top and windows.
The list price for this four-door convertible was a little over $3,000 (about $28,180 in 2015 dollars) plus $159 ($1,493 in 2015) for GM’s optional HydraMatic transmission.
The current market value is estimated at about $80,000.
In 1951, dealers loved the new Frazer with the face-lift, plus optional Hydra-Matic.
They ordered 55,000, but K-F had only enough leftover parts to build 10,214 Frazers. Joseph Frazer was gone from the company, and so was his car.