The Kaiser Carabela was the Argentine version of the Kaiser Manhattan, localised for Argentine production by Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) between 1958 and 1962 at its Santa Isabel factory. It was largely a carryover of the 1954 and 1955 Manhattan, and about 10,225 were built.
Kaiser Carabela at a glance
| Maker | Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) |
|---|---|
| Factory | Santa Isabel, Córdoba, Argentina |
| Production | 1958–1962 |
| Based on | 1954–1955 Kaiser Manhattan |
| Bodies shipped | nearly complete cars from the Toledo, Ohio plant |
| Transmission | domestic three-speed manual instead of the automatic |
| Superchargers | deleted for Argentine export |
| Suspension | improved and modified for unpaved roads |
| Total built | about 10,225 |
| Taxis | 57 |
| Official cars | limousines for Argentine officials, including President Arturo Frondizi |
| Special bodies | funeral car and flower car made locally |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Kaiser Carabela.
History of the Kaiser Carabela
An American Kaiser for Argentina
The Carabela was not a new design but the Argentine continuation of the Kaiser Manhattan. The 1954 and 1955 cars were shipped to Argentina from the Toledo, Ohio plant as nearly complete models for reproduction, and IKA built them at Santa Isabel. The American production equipment for the Kaiser had been transferred to Argentina, so the Carabela could be made with the same press tools as the original.
The car was adapted to its new market. The transmission and superchargers were deleted for Argentine export, and instead of the automatic gearbox of the 1955 Manhattan a domestic three-speed manual was used. The suspension was improved and modified for the unpaved roads of Argentina, where many of the cars would spend their lives.
Production and official use
About 10,225 Carabelas were produced, of which 57 served as taxis. Through IKA’s relationships with the Argentine government a number of limousines were built for Argentine officials, including President Arturo Frondizi. A funeral car and a flower car were also made locally in Argentina; one of the funeral cars appeared on Bring-A-Trailer in 2023, and it is unknown how many of either body were built or how many survive.
The end
The Carabela was discontinued in 1962, the year in which IKA began assembling Rambler models under its agreement with American Motors and the Kaiser-based cars gave way to the Rambler and later the Torino.
Design and features
- American tooling: the Carabela was built on the transferred Kaiser production equipment at Santa Isabel.
- Simplified for Argentina: no supercharger and a three-speed manual instead of the American automatic.
- Rough-road suspension: the chassis was modified for the unpaved roads of the country.
- Coachbuilt versions: local limousines, a funeral car and a flower car were made outside the standard range.
- Small, long-lived line: about 10,225 cars in five model years, 57 of them taxis.
Kaiser Carabela versions
- Standard saloon: the four-door Carabela with the domestic three-speed manual.
- Taxi: 57 cars were used as taxis.
- Official limousine: built for Argentine officials, including President Arturo Frondizi.
- Funeral car: a locally made hearse body.
- Flower car: a locally made body for funerals, of unknown production.
The Carabela was the Argentine development of the Kaiser Manhattan line, and it was built alongside the other Argentine Kaiser. More cars are in the Kaiser collection.
Sources
- Kaiser Carabela, English Wikipedia: production, Argentine changes, numbers, official and special bodies
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