1949 KAISER VIRGINIAN -- TOP OF THE LINE PADDED HARDTOP

Both the Kaiser and the Frazer automobiles received their first restyle. The restyle included a wider and more massive grille and large horizontal taillights. A utility sedan, the Special Traveler was introduced and a Deluxe convertible was added to both the Kaiser and the Frazer lines. A redesigned dash was more ornate and had a giant speedometer in place. The Kaiser redesign cost ten million dollars and thus the Kaiser Virginian hardtop sedan appeared. The appearance of the '49 Kaisers showed off a wider and lower stance even though it was the same height as the '48 models. The Virginian has a hidden roll-over bar in place. It is anchored at both ends into the floor and chassis and braced at the top above the headliner. You can't see this roll-over bar because it's hidden but you can very well see where it is anchored into the frame with the chrome bolt heads visible. This Virginian was priced as just under $3,000 and weighed 3,541 lbs. Total production of the Virginian is approximately 4,500 units with a total Kaiser / Frazer production this year of 95,175 units. The model year production had Kaiser down 135 to 79,947 for 16th in the industry and the Frazer down 56% to 21,223 for 18th place. Looking over this very rare Kaiser Virginian is how ""clean and decent " it looks. Very good paint and chrome. Comfy seating interior with that newly designed dash is eye pleasing. The padded top came in different shades and this one in no worse for wear but what a feature to behold on a late forties car. Decades later the padded roof was almost commonplace. Check out those elongated fender skirts. I am very please to have seen and recorded this Virginian for your viewing pleasure and I thank you very much for seeing this piece of automotive history.

Added 21 Aug 2026