1953 Kaiser Dragon

This is a well preserved and rare car. Only 1. 77 Dragons were produced in 1953. and the car priced in the same range as Cadillac and Lincoln. This car has many desirable options. including 4-speed automatic transmission. power steering. rear speaker. center armrests on both seats. carpeted and upholstered trunk. and even an upholstered glove box! This car is driven regularly and drives well.   In the summer of 2011 I drove it over 1. 00 miles from Texas to Utah.   The car is currently insured. but the tags have expired. although I believe it would pass most state inspection tests as is.   The car is very presentable.   Paint and chrome are good. but not show quality. The original black "bambu" vinyl upholstery is in very good condition. except for the package shelf. where it is slightly fading. Even this is still very presentable. The white seat inserts are not the original "Laguna" cloth material. but are a white vinyl which has some staining. but is still quite presentable. Headliner is also in very good condition. but is beginning to pull away from the inner bows in some places. The carpet. both in the passenger compartment and trunk. is worn and slightly faded. but looks presentable and is not torn. All glass is good with the exception of the driver's vent wing. which is cracked but intact. There is some surface rust on the chromed bumpers. step plates and underbody. including the chassis. but no known pitting rust.

The Engine runs well but would need a rebuild to run perfectly. There are leaks from the oil pan and rear main seal. transmission. steering box. shocks and rear differential. The following mechanical work has been performed since I bought the car in 2009: Engine valve unstuck. engine tuned. gas-tank boiled. fuel pump rebuilt. power steering pump rebuilt. starter and generator rebuilt. regulator replaced. radiator. heater and power steering hoses replaced. belts replaced. plug wires. ignition coil. distributor cap and rotor installed. alignment performed. complete new exhaust system installed (new steel pipe from the manifold to the tip with a new muffler). entire brake system rebuilt (I replaced master cylinder and all four wheel cylinders with new parts.   I had the drums turned and shoes relined.   I also replaced portions of the lines. ) Brakes now stop the car precisely with no pull to either side.   The pedal is firm. and the emergency brake holds the car solidly. The bias-ply tires are old but not worn.   The spare tire is the original and is unused.

This Dragon has the following deviations from stock: the paint color is incorrect. It should be "Stardust Ivory. an off-white. It was originally equipped with a padded roof in the same black vinyl material as the interior. but is now painted. The taillights are incorrect and are from a 1954 model. The seat inserts. as mentioned earlier. are incorrect. The hood ornament. hood and deck "V"s. side and trunk script and trunk keyhole cover were all originally gold plated. but have since been painted gold. The original gold-plated plaque on the glovebox with the owner's name engraved. is missing. The following items are not working: radio. windshield washers. glovebox light (this was working recently. but has since gone out).   All other lights. accessories. etc. are functional.

I am the third owner of this well-documented car. and I personally knew the original owner. who was my neighbor growing up. It was sold new in Utah. then sold in the 1980's to someone in Delaware whom I bought it from in 2009. Based on lack of wear and tear I believe 58. 87 to be the actual mileage. The car has a clear Texas title. but is currently located in Utah.

This car has appeared in the Kaiser-Frazer Owners' Club International calendar and has been used for weddings and photo shoots. This is a great. rare car to drive as-is and take to your local car shows and parades. or an excellent candidate for a full show-car quality restoration.

Also published at eBay.com

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