1952 Kaiser Traveler
The 1951-1953 Kaiser Traveler was the brainchild of entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser who, it was said, averaged about 100 ideas an hour and about one of them was good. The good ones, however, were worth pausing over. During World War II, one of these was Kaiser’s “cookie cutter” production line of Liberty and Victory ships, which broke the U-boat threat by sheer numbers; after the war, another idea emerged as the Kaiser Traveler: the first hatchback.
Improbable as it seems, the story really is true. Henry Kaiser conceived the 1951-1953 Kaiser Traveler by tracking the outlines of its double-opening hatches with his finger in the dust on a sedan in the Kaiser garage in Oakland. At that point, the idea was simplistic: cut out the entire deck and rear window area, hinge half of it to lift up and half to flop down, let them meet about halfway on the deck, and presto: a new kind of utility car.
The smooth vinyl of the 1951-1953 Kaiser Traveler was heated and fed into a machine with refrigerated plates in the die design. The die then “kissed” the vinyl and immediately caused the design to set through heat transfer. The stuff was called “Dragon” and “Dinosaur” vinyl, Spencer said, “so no one would mistake it for real alligator or real lizard.”
The following is quote from previous owner: “Produced in December 1951 by the Kaiser Frazer Corporation of Willow Run, Michigan. KF was the first to offer cars to the public after World War II and also unfortunately led the U.S. Independent manufacturers to cease operations in 1955.
This 1951 Virginian Deluxe Traveler 4-door sedan has a 226 CI six-cylinder engine with 115 horsepower, dual range 4-speed hydromantic transmission, and original dinosaur vinyl upholstered seat, door panels and padded dash. The car was repainted about 14 years ago. Estimated production was 400 with only 4 remaining in the KF registry. This car was commonly used for utility purposes as well as funeral home flower cars, farmer hay hauling and personal family sedan-campers.
Body styling is by Howard “Dutch” Darrin, one of the leading European coach builders before World War II.
Senior Nation First Price Winner #26D0647 AACA for 1997
Paint is original Kaiser color of turquoise blue over cerulean blue
2007 Kaiser Frazer Calendar car for the month of April”
If there happens to be another 52 Kaiser Traveler anywhere, odds are it’s not near as pristine Just an incredible restoration everywhere you look. Plus, a turnkey condition car meaning everything is operational, even including the working factory radio! Check out the 50+ pictures online which in our estimation does not do the car justice. Car is amazing.
Also included is a notebook that includes correspondence from Kaiser Frazer corporation, a number of confidential bulletins, a copy of a retail and wholesale invoice and more.