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In this Discussion
- Gene_ca March 2012
- Oldcar_Mechanic May 2010
Sad that Kaiser didn't make it.
-
I grew up in Detroit. Kaiser-Fraser was a really attractive car. True, it was an assembly of purchased parts. The engine was Continental, the rear axle was Spicer or Eaton and the front suspension was Eaton as I remember, but I could be way off.
I toured the factory once in the late '40's and was impressed with the quality of work I observed. The later body and a V-8 engine might have saved the company.
I later worked at Willow Run for Hydramatic about 2 years after the "great Hydramatic fire". The big Graham-Paige presses were stored way down in one end of the plant. The small brass property tags said "Graham-Paige Property #123456" etc.
My e-mail is gene1142@sbcglobal.net if I might be able to provide any other information. -
I'll bet it had to be nice to see those cars when they were new. 1947 I was born and by the time K-F went ou in 50 or 51, I never remember seeing any. I have worked on a few and they were nice cars but lacked the flair that everyone else had. That, along with the lack or real engineering caused it's demise. They did have some really nice looking models though I think. I would love to have a convertible. It's rare to see any K-F at shows and I wonder where they all are that are left.
I take it that all those presses got scrapped?
Ron -
Large body presses have a very long life, even in the auto industry. They may have ended up sold to another manufacturer as the industry was expanding in the '50's.
I understand the the old Hudson Gratiot body plant still stands and is used by a dealer to store heavy production machinery like those presses. There was another brand that I hated to see go. My father worked for Hudson for about 30 years. -
My father worked at the Jefferson plant from about 1918 till sometime in 1940. He was transferred to the new Naval Ordnance Plant at 9 Mile and Mound Road. They produced the 20mm Orlikin anti aircraft gun for the Navy during the war. That plant is now a GM Power Train operation.
