By 1951, Kaiser sales were in decline. What looked new and different in 1947 had begun to look dated by 1950. They had hoped to introduce a facelifted car that year, but could not get it ready in time. The restyle had wait until 1951. In order to attract as much attention to the sleek, new Dutch Darrin design, four show cars with what were arguably the most flamboyant interior appointments of any car in that flashy decade were rolled out for the 1951 Chicago Auto Show.



South Seas Show Car – 1951 Ad – Swenson Sales in Redwood City, CA

Their Worldways in Motoring exhibit featured the Explorer with polar bear fur seat covers, the Safari done in zebra skin and lion fur, the Caballero, upholstered in palomino and unborn calf hides with western buckles on door-mounted saddlebags and spurs for window cranks and the South Seas as seen in our top and bottom photos. However much attention they might have attracted, the company’s sales peaked at around 31,000 in 1953 but slid steadily downhill after that until passenger car production ceased in 1955. You will find more Kaiser-Frazer posts on The Old Motor. Photos courtesy of Alden Jewell.

