1953 Kaiser Dragon
1953 Other Makes Kaiser Dragon Description:
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1953 Kaiser Dragon
A "South Seas" Jewel With Mid-Century Modern Design
When World War II ended, Kaiser-Frazer was one of the first out with an all new automobile design. Streamlined and unlike anything competitors had to offer, their entry in the automotive field signaled a change in postwar automobile offerings. While new to automotive manufacturing, Kaiser brought innovation to automobile styling by working with key designers of the era. Howard "Dutch" Darrin had been involved with Kaiser designs since the 1940s and played a significant part in the new body design which debuted in 1951. Another designer, Carleton Spencer, was part of the Kaiser team and was well-known across the industry for his interior design and color combinations. The 1953 Kaiser Dragon is recognized as his best work.
Dragon interiors and colors used were a combination of the design talents of Carleton Spencer and fashion designer Marie Nichols. Nichols designed the Belgian-cloth for the interior known as "laguna cloth" and most Dragons used this material for seat inserts and as part of the door panels. The rest of the interior was a result of Spencer's work where he used bambu vinyl (their term for "bamboo" which mimicked bamboo in 3 different colors) for the padded top, dashboard, door panels, headliner, seats, trunk, kick panels and even the glovebox. The interior was over the top, true mid-century modern design and was extravagant in every way. And the bambu vinyl gave the entire car a "south seas" or "tiki themed" flair.
Each Dragon was fully appointed and equipped with options such as Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, tinted glass, oversize whitewall tires, rear speaker, center armrests and more. To top it off, many trim pieces were plated in 14 carat gold such as the hood ornament, hood and deck "V" medallions, deck and fender script trunk and keyhole cover. Even the script "Dragon" which appeared on the front fenders of the car were plated in 14 carat gold.
The Dragon was the most luxurious Kaiser ever produced - and the most expensive too. It was designed to compete against entry level Cadillacs and cars of similar type. As each Dragon was sold, the dealer installed a 14 carat gold plated medallion on the glovebox which read "Built Expressly For" with the name of the owner engraved on the emblem. Additionally, a personal letter from Edgar Kaiser, owner and Chief Executive Officer of Kaiser, was sent to the new Dragon owner emphasizing the custom features of the car and congratulating the new owner on his/her discerning purchase.
Kaiser Dragons were specialty cars built for Kaiser by Mitchell-Bentley of Michigan who was famous for finishing limited production specialty and show cars such as the Packard Caribbean, the Dodge Granada show car, Packard Panthers and more. The Kaiser Dragon was a one-year model - 1953 only. As such, Kaiser produced just 1277 of these rare, limited production luxury cars. Few Dragons are left today.
Additional Reading: An excellent article about Kaiser Dragons recently appeared in Hemmings "Classic Car" magazine. Click here to review this Hemmings article on the 1953 Kaiser Dragon
The Car For Auction:
We've owned this car for over two years. This previous owner was a Kaiser specialist who kept the car for nearly 30 years and restored it many years ago. He put less than 3000 miles on it during his ownership. The Dragon runs and drives nicely. It has the options normally seen on Dragons which include electric front wiper, reverse lights, tinted glass, center armrests in both seats, wire wheels and other options correct for a Dragon. Also installed on this car are dealer options which include rear window defogger and rear windshield wiper. Since acquiring the car, we've updated the older restoration with the following work:
* Restored: gas tank (lined and powdercoated exterior), converted to electric fuel pump, rebuilt carburetor, rebuilt radiator, rebuilt starter and generator
* Updated to electronic ignition replacing points and condensor but kept 6 volt system in car with all 6 volt equipment (nothing moved to 12 volt)
* Replaced front windshield with new tinted glass
* Installed new window rubber seals for front and rear glass
* Installed new vent window rubber seals
* New bambu vinyl top installed
* New steering gear, steering wheel and shift knob/turn signal knob
* New wheel seals (front and rear)
* New brake lines
* New shocks
* Newly lined rear springs and bushings
* Miles: 34,026
* VIN: K530001577
NOTE: The new owner of this car will receive an engraved plate that will fit on the glovebox medallion showing that the Kaiser Dragon they just purchased was "Built Expressly For" you.
Links of Interest:
Article: Hemmings Classic Car, May 2017 "Moto Exotica - 1953 Kaiser Dragon"
Article: Collectible Automobile, October 2009 "Carleton Spencer: Kaiser's King of Color"
Auction Results: 1953 Kaiser Dragon Sold for $37,400 at Scottdale Auction, January 19, 2018
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Shown Below Are Photos of The 1953 Kaiser Dragon Being Auctioned in this Sale
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1953 Kaiser Dragon "Brochure"
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Transportation costs and arrangements from origination (Tampa, Florida) to buyer's location are the responsibility of the buyer. This car is being advertised locally and we reserve the right to end the auction at any time. Car is being sold "as-is." People have different opinions and expectations of old cars. It is your responsibility to inspect this vehicle or send a third party inspector for your satisfaction. A $2000 non-refundable deposit is due within 48 hours of the end of the auction. Full payment via electronic/bank transfer is due no later than 7 days from the end of the auction.
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