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1954 Kaiser Special 2 Door Maroon

This car has been extensively updated, as you can see. It has an Olds V8, the engine it should have had when it was new. It also has a modern automatic transmission, ditching the Hydramatic that was original. The seats are updated power Lincoln. If only Kaiser had had a V8…it might have survived at least a few more years. After Kaiser cars’ demise, Kaiser Motors was left with Willys cars which would fold, and the Jeep, which of course, still lives.

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Posted on February 3rd, 2012 under willys cars. Tags: , , , , , , , . RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.

25 Responses to “1954 Kaiser Special 2 Door Maroon”

  1. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @gojoe283 Hey, Joe …
    @gojoe283 Hey, Joe! I think you are correct…Kaiser lacked a diversity of body styles…a hardtop was pretty much becoming a necessity…and a convertible would have helped too.
    Darrin’s styling was great, but there was no money to really significantly freshen it ever couple years as was the custom of the time. I once saw a Carabela at a K-F show in Lakeland, FL! Thanks! :) Jack

  2. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @cheddyrod Hey, …
    @cheddyrod Hey, Chester! The car now looks and performs much better than it would if it was presented as originally equipped! I’m all for change that makes cars better..and in effect, saves some from neglect or perhaps the scrap yard! Thanks! :) Jack

  3. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @JesseAndMike  Hey …
    @JesseAndMike  Hey, guys! This is one rare car here..glad you like! Thanks! :) Jack

  4. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @Taranau Now …
    @Taranau Now that’s the kind of store and diner I like! Adds some color to the place! There’s a bar/restaurant in Sharon, PA with an old car up on the hydraulic rack…another planted horizontally on the wall! That’s what I call “atmosphere”! :D LOL I assure you it was “sit”! :D Thanks! :D Jack

  5. gojoe283 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    I agree Jack, a V8 …
    I agree Jack, a V8 might have extended Kaiser’s life, but a hardtop would have also helped, only sedans were available. In any case Kaiser moved to Argentina and continued to build this car (it was renamed the Carabela) until 1962!…Bill H.

  6. SuperJohnnychingas Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @raconter1 ok, no …
    @raconter1 ok, no problem i saw you answer..thanks..

  7. cheddyrod Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    This gorgeous …
    This gorgeous Darren sedan never looked better. The gray Lincoln seats look great in this beauty.

  8. JesseAndMike Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    Looks good! :)  …
    Looks good! :)  Like the color too! Liked!

  9. Taranau Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    (1) There’s an …
    (1) There’s an electronics store, here in the LA area, called Fry’s. The front of the store looks like a UFO has crashed into it. And, in the back is a diner, where you sit inside a car to eat. One of them is a Kaiser. It is the only place I have seen one “in person”. (2) because of this, my wife is not so sure we would want to get an originally equipped Kaiser, as would most likely be quite difficult to find parts. and (3) it sounded like that man asked you if you wanted to sh#t in his car!!!

  10. Seattlecarnut Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @raconter1 I can’t …
    @raconter1 I can’t argue with you there. Why the car wasn’t offered with a V8 engine, or a bigger six engine is beyond me.

  11. TheFred1952 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @raconter1 the …
    @raconter1 the headlight embelishments look lie they were from a Buick also

  12. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @TheFred1952 Hey, …
    @TheFred1952 Hey, Fred! I agree. it is very well styled! I do believe the attempt was to mimic the Cadillac tailights…it sure was a symbol of an upper class car! Even the Henry J had a Cadillac look alike tailight on some of its models. Thanks! :) Jack

  13. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @Seattlecarnut Hey …
    @Seattlecarnut Hey, Jason! As ever, the original is preferable to me to actually show how these cars appeared back in the day..how they drove, steered, stopped, accelerated! But in a way, this owner has done this car a favor, and bypassed the engine weakness it had with the six..even supercharged, they were no speedster! Thanks! :) Jack

  14. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @SuperJohnnychingas …
    @SuperJohnnychingas Hey, SuperJohnny! Yeah, the last I got was about Cantinflas, and I responded to that…but I checked my replies, and the reply wasn’t there! I’ll reply again!
    Thanks! :) Jack

  15. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @BRENTHENRY1989 …
    @BRENTHENRY1989 Hey, Brent! These are indeed scarce. That’s the “Darrin Dip” you’re referring to..and mirrored to in the side trim at the top of the rear quarter panel. I think when you look over automotive history, the prize goes to those who are flexible and adapt to changing economic times and fashion. Rigidity in management with lack of response to what the dealers at the front lines are saying probably has brought down many a car company! Thanks! :) Jack

  16. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @ncautoman57 I …
    @ncautoman57 I agree..in many respects it was ahead of its time..in styling and safety features. Its vulnerable point was the powerplant. Thanks! :) Jack

  17. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am

    @HoschtonBoy Hey, …
    @HoschtonBoy Hey, Charlie! I agree..I love this deep maroon color! Thanks! :) Jack

  18. raconter1 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    @46619TAB Cool! I …
    @46619TAB Cool! I wasn’t aware of that difference.  I checked and official assembly ended in November 1954, but some were branded as 1955. It was literally chaos at the factory as Kaiser slid into oblivion. Thanks! :) Jack

  19. TheFred1952 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    the tail lights …
    the tail lights almost look like caddy lights

  20. TheFred1952 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    very very nice
    very very nice

  21. 46619TAB Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    That beauty would …
    That beauty would look so good in my garage!!! I noticed the hood ornament and as I understand it’s unique to the 1955 as the only difference between the 1954/1955 model years.

  22. HoschtonBoy Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    Love the color.
    Love the color.

  23. ncautoman57 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    A car that was way …
    A car that was way ahead of it’s time. I love the old Kaisers..Thanks for sharing.

  24. BRENTHENRY1989 Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    Pretty Cool, you …
    Pretty Cool, you don’t see these often at all even in 4-door form, out of some 3,000+ cars at our annual big car show, you might see 1 maybe 2 Kaisers if that, I like the front end and its unique details, and the way the front windshield and rear window is shaped at the top, very Cool, this is sort of a “what if” car in some way with that Olds V8, as always Thanks for sharing Jack,

  25. SuperJohnnychingas Says:
    February 3rd, 2012 at 7:21 am

    SO NICE.RACONTER1.. …
    SO NICE.RACONTER1..DID YOU RECIVE MY MESSAGES?..

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