Wealthy industrialist Henry J. Kaiser partnered with auto industry veteran Joseph Frazer to build new automobiles for the post-World War II American market. The first cars bearing their names appeared as 1947 models.

Stylishly modern, the 1951 Kaiser was designed with input from famed independent designer Howard “Dutch” Darrin and future Studebaker chief stylist Duncan McRae. Carleton B. Spencer, who’d selected and coordinated the exterior colors and interior trim for Kaisers from the beginning, developed the 1953 Kaiser Dragon. The trend-setting car would be his masterpiece. The 1953 Dragon was the first production car to sport gold-plated ornamentation.

Beginning in 1951, Kaiser offered a number of exotic trim packages for their cars by the name “Dragon.” After a year without the Dragon name in the lineup; the 1953 Kaiser Dragon was introduced on Oct. 31, 1952. This time, the Dragon was offered as a separate model, instead of simply a trim option. These cars were upscale, many at the time thought they may be looking at a new Packard or Cadillac due to lovely styling and many high-end standard features being offered.

In period, the Kaiser Dragon was at times referred to as the “Golden Dragon” due to all 1953 Dragons having 14-carat gold-plated trim elements that include hood ornament, hood and fender nameplates, plus select interior components that included a nameplate on the glovebox door that was personalized with the owner's name.

Features unique to the Dragon model included a “Bambu” vinyl-covered top (resembling bamboo), special exterior trim and a two-tone vinyl-and-cloth custom interior. Extra sound insulation gave it the quiet ride of a true luxury car – which it was, as it cost $3,924, more when new than a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan which checked in at $3,666. Topping the Kaiser line for 1953, the Dragon included virtually every available factory option as standard equipment. The total price for these Group 100 options package if ordered separately on any of the other Kaiser models would cost $1,273.98.

The Dragon is powered by a 226.2-cid, 118-hp inline six-cylinder engine built for the automaker by Continental Motors. This unit is mated to a GM-sourced Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Offered only as a four-door sedan; equipment features include electric clock, heater, defroster, door lock shields, E-Z Eye tinted glass, AM pushbutton radio with rear speaker, padding in the glovebox and windshield washer. Its standard Kaiser 15-inch wheels sported full covers and wide whitewall tires. This Dragon is additionally equipped with power steering (a new Kaiser option for 1953), dual foglamps and spotlights. Like other 1953 Kaisers, this prestige model retained the 1951 design’s pop-out “safety” windshield and padded instrument panel.

After receiving a frame-on restoration, this specific example was kept in a private museum. Its beautiful paint is blemish-free and the chrome is near perfect—as is the interior. Four two-tone exterior color schemes were offered for the 1953 Dragon. Among them was the Jade Green with white vinyl top combination seen on the offered car. The wide whitewall tires are 7.10 x 15 BFGoodrich Silvertowns. This Dragon’s interior was trimmed in ivory “Bambu” vinyl and green “Laguna” patterned cloth.

Ionia Manufacturing Co. handled the final assembly and trim work for the Dragons. The firm, which specialized in short-run special builds for auto manufacturers, had a very busy year in 1953. Even as they turned out Dragons for Kaiser, they also completed Caribbean convertibles for Packard, built the last wood bodies for Buick station wagons, and provided fiberglass hoods for the second-series Nash-Healey—among other projects. Before the year was concluded, Ionia Manufacturing became a subsidiary of the Mitchell-Bentley Corporation.

The 1953 Dragons were the most richly appointed of all Kaisers. With their bright colors, high-fashion interiors and special accents, they are highly sought by Kaiser collectors and aficionados of 1950s car design. By its serial number, this Dragon is number 1,236 of the 1,277 similar cars produced by Kaiser for 1953. This Kaiser was for many years part of the now-dispersed Mitchell Corporation Automobile Museum collection in Owosso, Michigan.

The 1953 Dragons is a rare, intriguing and historically significant automobile that shows exceptionally well. It is sure to attract plenty of appreciative attention whenever and wherever it is driven or exhibited.