Kaiser Golden Dragon Hardtop 1953
The Kaiser Dragon is a car model based on the a second-generation Kaiser that was manufactured by Kaiser Motors Corporation in 1953. The dragon name was first used in 1951 for a special trim option on Kaiser cars featuring vinyl upholstery claimed to resemble dragon skin.
The Kaiser Dragon model was introduced on October 31, 1952, for the 1953 model year. This time, the Dragon was a separate model, not a trim option, positioned above the "Manhattan.". The special upholstery and padded roof now featured a grass-patterned "Bambu" vinyl and heavy-duty Belgian linen "Laguna" cloth with overlapping patterns.
Available only as four-door sedans, these cars were upscale in addition to the special trim. Standard equipment included Hydramatic automatic transmission, power steering, electric clock, radio with rear speaker, front and rear center armrests, numerous courtesy lamps, heater, tinted glass, 14-karat gold plated hood ornament and fender nameplates, interior trim (including a nameplate on the glove box door that was personalized with the owner's name), and padding in the glove box. The Dragon models provided for a luxury feel with "almost 200 pounds (91 kilograms) of insulation to quiet the ride and give it a sense of additional heft." Front leg room was 45.1 in (1,146 mm), with rear leg room at 39.5 inches.
Safety features were built in so Kaiser called it "the world's first safety first car" (even though the Tucker 48, a car known for unique features, including safety items, came out five years earlier). Among the standard features were a full padded dash and recessed instruments, extra large and pop out windshield, a low center of gravity, steering designed for better control as well as brakes with “more stopping power” and special lighting for better visibility at night.
These cars were expensive for the time at US$3,924 (equivalent to $39,743 in 2021) A comparable 1953 Buick Roadmaster was priced at $3,358 and came with 188 hp (140 kW) 322 cu in (5.3 L) V8 compared to the Dragon's 118 hp (88 kW) 226.2 cu in (3.7 L) I6 engine. Along with being more expensive, Dragon's 0-60 mph time was 15 seconds.
A total of 1,277 were sold.
Kaiser Golden Dragon Hardtop 1953
The Kaiser Dragon is a car model based on the a second-generation Kaiser that was manufactured by Kaiser Motors Corporation in 1953. The dragon name was first used in 1951 for a special trim option on Kaiser cars featuring vinyl upholstery claimed to resemble dragon skin.
The Kaiser Dragon model was introduced on October 31, 1952, for the 1953 model year. This time, the Dragon was a separate model, not a trim option, positioned above the "Manhattan.". The special upholstery and padded roof now featured a grass-patterned "Bambu" vinyl and heavy-duty Belgian linen "Laguna" cloth with overlapping patterns.
Available only as four-door sedans, these cars were upscale in addition to the special trim. Standard equipment included Hydramatic automatic transmission, power steering, electric clock, radio with rear speaker, front and rear center armrests, numerous courtesy lamps, heater, tinted glass, 14-karat gold plated hood ornament and fender nameplates, interior trim (including a nameplate on the glove box door that was personalized with the owner's name), and padding in the glove box. The Dragon models provided for a luxury feel with "almost 200 pounds (91 kilograms) of insulation to quiet the ride and give it a sense of additional heft." Front leg room was 45.1 in (1,146 mm), with rear leg room at 39.5 inches.
Safety features were built in so Kaiser called it "the world's first safety first car" (even though the Tucker 48, a car known for unique features, including safety items, came out five years earlier). Among the standard features were a full padded dash and recessed instruments, extra large and pop out windshield, a low center of gravity, steering designed for better control as well as brakes with “more stopping power” and special lighting for better visibility at night.
These cars were expensive for the time at US$3,924 (equivalent to $39,743 in 2021) A comparable 1953 Buick Roadmaster was priced at $3,358 and came with 188 hp (140 kW) 322 cu in (5.3 L) V8 compared to the Dragon's 118 hp (88 kW) 226.2 cu in (3.7 L) I6 engine. Along with being more expensive, Dragon's 0-60 mph time was 15 seconds.
A total of 1,277 were sold.