1951 Kaiser Special Sedan

Notes from the sale of this car:

From the first year of a dramatic restyling that would endure for the rest of Kaiser’s automaking history, this 1951 Kaiser Special is one of 38,078 four-door sedans produced that year in the entry-level model range. This Special is described as having been in the same family since new, with paint that is believed to be original, and having never been smoked in and garaged most of its life, when not in use. The car still bears access stickers from the Air Force base where the seller’s father served as an officer.

226 cubic-inch straight 6-cylinder engine

115 horsepower

3-speed manual transmission

118-inch wheelbase

Base price of $2,212

POWERTRAIN

This Special is powered by the Continental-designed Kaiser 226-cu.in. L-head straight-six. With a Carter WGD two-barrel carburetor and a compression ratio of 7.3:1, the engine was rated by the manufacturer at 115 horsepower when new. The engine in this Special is said to be original to the car, with no known rebuild history, but the water pump was recently replaced. It’s said to start at once following two pumps of the accelerator. The seller reports that the three-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly, and he notes weeps around the oil pan and fuel tank drain plug. The engine bay presents as being stock and acceptably clean, in the provided photographs.

EXTERIOR

The seller believes this Kaiser’s paint to be original, with some scratches, chips, and two small dents noted, but he adds that it has been successfully cleaned of oxidation and waxed. The body seals are said to be original and to allow slight leaks. The seller reports no rust on the body, stating that corrosion is limited to the undercarriage with no structural issues or rust-throughs. The car is being offered with additional pieces of trim, including chrome caps for beneath the window openings. The trim presents as being in good, unrestored condition, in the photos. The glass is believed to be original and is reported to be in good shape, except for one cracked rear window. All the exterior lighting is described as functional. The underside appears to be generally clean, with surface corrosion on some components visible in the photos.

INTERIOR

The cloth upholstery is reported to be in “very good” condition, with no visible tears or indications of soiling. The carpeting has no reported holes, but a worn area on the passenger’s side is noted. The original headliner is reported to be sag-free, with a stain from a possible water leak near the windshield noted. The dashboard looks to be in excellent original condition, with no apparent missing trim. The instrumentation, including the factory AM radio, is reported to be functional, except for the fuel gauge. The heater is said to be operable. The trunk presents as being generally clean with an apparently solid floor.

CHASSIS

The date of the Kaiser’s most recent chassis service is unknown. The seller reports no visible component damage and no leaks from the shock absorbers. The seller says the manual drum brakes were disassembled with the wheel cylinders honed and cleaned. The master cylinder is reported to have been recently rebuilt, with no functional braking issues. The original wheels, with original hubcaps, are said to be mounted tires of unknown age.

DOCUMENTATION

The seller states that this vehicle will be sold on a clean New Mexico title in his name. Additional documentation includes the original owner’s manual, bill of sale, and finance booklet. This 1951 Kaiser Special, from the first year of its final landmark look, is described as a strongly original example.

VEHICLE LOCATION: Alamogordo, New Mexico

VIN: K511037198

ODOMETER: 60,450