1949 Kaiser Deluxe

 When I first heard and saw the 1949 Kaiser Deluxe what stuck out most about this car's story was the fact that its paint color was chosen based on the results of Carleton Spencer's research, a pioneer of color and trim. For it was Spencer who took a survey for the Kaiser company to see what it was that women liked in cars. A interesting fact was that Spencer's research was used both for the Magazine "House and Home" and for the Kaiser-Frazer automobile company.

This particular car was bought by Harold and Nancy LeMay while it was still dissembled when they were visiting in Pennsylvania. The car was put together for the 15th Annual LeMay Car Show and Auction ( which happens every last Saturday in August) in 1992. Interesting fact was that when the LeMay's went to look at the car that was in a bunch of boxes they were expecting a sedan with a hard top, not a convertible.

The fact that the car was described as a sedan to them probably had to deal with the fact of how the idea for the convertible Kaiser Deluxe came about, because Henry J. Kaiser believed that he could make a convertible from the company's sedan by just chopping off the hood, adding chrome to the windows and installing a convertible top and that the car would be fine without added enforcements. However, after the first test drive where it was described to drive like a "bowl full of jelly" the company's mechancial engineers convinced Mr. Kaiser that the convertible needed at least x-member frames and special pillars for it. However, why stop at just x-member frames?

After analyzing a Packard convertible, which was said by one of Kaiser's engineers to be the best convertible that he had ever driven, the Kaiser Deluxe not only got its x-member frames but other special reinforcements that ended up the car weight 4,000 pounds and exceptionally solid.

Now on another interesting note: 
 

A Mystery is also attached to this particular car.....
There is a image of a buffalo within the Kaiser emblem on this car is several places, on the front, steering wheels and hubcaps of the car but there doesn't seem to be a explanation as to why? The volunteer that I spoke to at the Museum that has been curious about this puzzling image has asked several different sources, other volunteers and other people that might of had an answer but to no avail. 

My answer thinking about it is that the car's color is called Indian Ceramic, because of its color being much like that of the Native American Pottery. Maybe its a Indian Buffalo or somehow the Buffalo was associated with Native Americans back then?

So if you happen to know the answer behind this mystery or have another idea of what the answer could be I would love to hear it.

In the mean time I hope that you enjoyed this post.
'Til next time have an amazing day everyone!