1949 Kaiser Special 226 CI side valve I-6 from North America

Summary:

A complete junkbox

Faults:

Constantly jamming shift linkage, leaks around the windshield.

General Comments:

This was not my car. It belonged to my parents. I learned how to drive with it.

It was a perfectly terrible car. It was obsolete, even by 1949 standards. It had no directional signals. The 3 speed manual column shift jammed many times, meaning you didn't have 3rd gear. And it didn't have a heater or a defroster! Driving this car in the winter was hell on Earth.

And after only about 40,000 miles, the engine needed rings & a reboring. My father fortunately got rid of it at that point.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 9th June, 2014

10th Jun 2014, 12:43

Gosh, I hope this review doesn't have an effect on Kaiser's sales!

Seriously, turn signals and heater/defrosters were usually optional, not standard equipment on most makes in 1949. It's not Kaiser's fault that your parents did not buy them!

11th Jul 2024, 20:03

Would be interesting to drive now if any of these cars were left.

14th Jul 2024, 18:44