1953 Kaiser Dragon
2021.0033.0004, Savoy Collection, Generously donated by an anonymous donor
Engine: 226 cu. in. (3.7L) Cast-iron block, L-head, I-6
Output: 118 HP @ 3,650 RPM
Transmission: Hydramatic Automatic
Wheelbase: 118 in.
Overall Length: 211 in.
Weight: 3,320 lbs.
Top Speed: 88 MPH
No. Produced: 1,277
Original Price: $3,924
Manufacturer: Kaiser-Frazer
Kaiser Motor Corporation released the Dragon sedan on October 31, 1953 – Halloween! Not only were buyers “treated” to a limited-edition luxury vehicle, but also “tricked”. The Kaiser Dragon could easily be mistaken for a Packard or a Cadillac. The Dragon’s interior featured alligator-patterned seats, “Bambu” lined dashboard, and a padded rooftop. The colors and patterns for the “Bambu” interior may have appealed to many World War II veterans who had been stationed in Polynesian areas.
The name Dragon was a marketing ploy designed to deter consumers from thinking that genuine alligator skin was used in the interior. The 14-carat gold trim earned the car the name “Golden Dragon”. Options in Kaiser’s Group One package were standard equipment on the Dragon. The three different series released in 1953 had specific interior and exterior paint, fabric, and trim combinations. This car is an AACA Senior Award Winner at Hershey and a Kaiser-Frazer Gold Award recipient.
Awards:
2000 Senior National First Prize, Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA)