Kaiser Manhattan Stardust Ivory/Jade Green 1953

Kaiser Manhattan Stardust Ivory/Jade Green 1953

The 1953 Kaiser Manhattan was designed by two of Kaiser’s team, Howard ‘Dutch’ Darrin and Howard McRae, the vehicle emerged in 1953 in the midst of company problems which culminated in a merger with Willys-Overland to become Kaiser-Willlys, subsequently famous for the WWII legendary Willys Jeep!

The Manhattan came with a 3.7 litre straight-six engine producing 118 hp. Design features were quite innovative based on a ‘safety first’ maxim, including a padded dashboard, recessed instrument controls and a pop-out one-piece windscreen. Other quirky styling comprised the ‘Darrin Dip’ rear quarter window line and sculpted body panels. The four-door sedan was most popular for its luxurious, large interior and unique styling and is much sought after today.