1951 KAISER DELUXE 4DR SEDAN
Designer: Howard “Dutch” Darrin
Estimate: $22,000 - $30,000
Chassis Number: 512017015
Decoded: 51=1951; 2=Deluxe Series; 017015=17,015th 51 Kaiser scheduled for assembly
Engine: 226 cid L-head inline 6-cylinder
2-barrel Carburetor / 115 bhp
3-Speed manual Transmission
Four Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
Mileage: 37,824
● Rare and Dramatic Styling
● Beautifully Restored and Presented
● Stands Out From the Crowd
The Model: In the immediate postwar year American car buyers were buying anything with wheels. Henry J Kaiser’s industries had helped win WWII, so he felt with his production successes, he’d tried his hand building cars. Kaiser’s first offerings were aimed at the medium priced field and even with strong competition, did well as his automobiles were modern and combined with the fact they were new and available. As the American car buyers soon found new cars from established makes, Kaiser knew a redesign was needed. The talented Howard “Dutch” Darrin, who had designed the first Kaisers was called in to redesign the entire Kaiser line. His work was outstanding, creating cars that looked modern and combined with interiors that were simply the best, Kaiser managed to hang on for a few more years. What really hurt was the lack of a V8 under the hood, something many other medium priced cars of the day would soon have.
The Car: Henry Kaiser received a very handsome car for 1951 that featured design elements such as the “Darrin Dip” on the beltline plus the center dip for both windshield and rear backlight. Color was important to Kaiser and this example is finished in the vibrant shade of Ceramic Green. The interior had been done in fabrics that remind one of luxury seating at a hotel or lounge. Chrome was king on the dashboard, and this example is lacking nothing with factory radio, heater/defroster and clock all in place. Under the hood is neat and tidy with the engine ready to awaken at the touch of a button. About the only thing on this car that was a departure from most Kaisers are the handsome chrome wire wheels. When new it was billed as America’s Most Beautiful Car, it’s not a bad looker even in today’s world either.
