The Frazer Manhattan was the luxury version of the Frazer, the upper-medium priced American car built by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation for the 1947–1951 model years. It was announced on 23 March 1947 at a $500 premium over the original Frazer Series F-47, which carried on as the Standard.
Frazer Manhattan at a glance
| Maker | Kaiser-Frazer Corporation |
|---|---|
| Model years | 1947–1951 |
| Introduced | 23 March 1947 |
| Price | $500 above the Frazer Series F-47 Standard |
| Body | four-door sedan, shared with the Kaiser |
| Engine | Continental Red Seal 226 cu in “Supersonic” L-head six |
| Power | up to 115 hp (86 kW) by the end of production |
| Styling | Howard “Dutch” Darrin |
| Door handles | push-button openers |
| Frazer share of US output | about 1.5% by 1948 |
| 1951 Frazer built | 10,214 |
The Manhattan has no article of its own on Wikipedia; this page is based on one source, the English article on the Frazer marque.
History of the Frazer Manhattan
A new marque for 1947
The Frazer was named after Joseph W. Frazer, the longtime American automobile executive who had become president and general manager of Kaiser-Frazer. The car was styled by Howard “Dutch” Darrin with some input from other Kaiser-Frazer stylists, and the new Frazer won the Fashion Academy of New York Gold Medal for design achievement. Production began on 29 May 1946 and the Frazer made its public debut on 29 June 1946.
There was one basic four-door sedan body shell, shared with the similar but lower-priced Kaiser, which cost $200 to $600 less. Under the bonnet sat the Continental Red Seal 226 cu in “Supersonic” L-head six, which reached 115 hp (86 kW) by the end of Frazer production after the 1951 model year. One feature the Frazer shared at the time only with cars such as the Lincoln was its push-button door openers.
The Manhattan joins the range
The luxury line Frazer Manhattan Series F47C was introduced on 23 March 1947 at a $500 premium over the original Frazer Series F-47, which continued as the Standard. For all its ambitions, the marque remained a small player: by 1948 Frazer sales totaled about 1.5% of all American cars built.
The final Frazers
The dramatically restyled 1951 Frazer models included a four-door convertible, a hardtop sedan and the Frazer Vagabond, a unique hatchback sedan. The final Frazers, face-lifted from leftover 1950 models, were introduced in March 1950 and were an immediate hit with the public: over 50,000 orders were placed. By then, however, Joseph W. Frazer had left the company, and Kaiser-Frazer management decided to concentrate only on Kaiser production after building 10,214 of the 1951 Frazer, when the supply of leftover 1950 bodies ran out.
Design and features
- Luxury trim: the Manhattan was the top line of the Frazer range, priced $500 above the Standard at its launch.
- Darrin styling: the shape drawn by Howard “Dutch” Darrin won the Fashion Academy of New York Gold Medal.
- Continental six: the 226 cu in Red Seal “Supersonic” L-head engine, up to 115 hp by the end of production.
- Push-button doors: door openers of a kind then shared only with cars such as the Lincoln.
- Shared body: the same four-door sedan shell as the cheaper Kaiser.
Frazer Manhattan versions
- Frazer Series F-47 Standard (1947): the original Frazer, which continued alongside the Manhattan.
- Frazer Manhattan Series F47C (1947–1951): the luxury line, $500 above the Standard.
- 1951 four-door convertible: part of the dramatically restyled 1951 range.
- 1951 hardtop sedan: a pillarless body added with the restyle.
- Frazer Vagabond: a hatchback sedan unique among American cars of the period.
The Manhattan was the luxury branch of the Frazer range built by Kaiser-Frazer. More cars of the period are in the Classic Cars collection, and the whole marque is listed under Frazer.
Video: 1948 Frazer Manhattan Four Door Sedan
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Frazer (automobile), English Wikipedia: history, models, engine, production