Misplaced Pages

#604395

33-662: Various versions of the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer were manufactured in the US and other nations by Kaiser Motors (1962−1971), by American Motors (1971−1987), by Chrysler (1987−1993), and Stellantis from 2021. A revival of the Jeep Wagoneer was introduced as a concept version on September 3, 2020, and as the production model on March 11, 2021. Sales begin in the second half of 2021 with 2022 model year versions. In 2024, Jeep added an all-electric vehicle called

66-442: A station wagon body style, later the pioneering design became known as a " sport utility vehicle " (SUV). Available initially with rear-wheel drive, the four-wheel drive SJ-body Wagoneer remained in production for 29 model years (1963–1991) with an almost unchanged body structure. The second-generation Wagoneer is an upscale version of the unibody -based compact XJ Cherokee produced between 1983 and 1990. The compact XJ Wagoneer

99-409: A car-starved public, the company did not have the resources to survive long-term competition with the " Big Three " domestic automakers. The original Kaiser-Frazer design was distinctive and fresh, but the company could not maintain the price point for long-term success. However, the company's problems started as early as 1948. That year, Joseph Frazer resigned as president of Kaiser-Frazer, but stayed in

132-461: A farmer) replied, "Every farmer in America knows about Plymouth Binder Twine. Let's give them a name they're familiar with." On January 11, 1928, the first car was produced and later it shared some of the styling and features of Chrysler and DeSoto . By 1931 the car was ranked third in automobile sales in the U.S. In 1939, Frazer left Chrysler and by this time, the company was already one of

165-429: A key organizer of GMAC . On loan from GM's executive staff, he established a similar lending arm for Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company . Frazer first met Walter P. Chrysler in 1923 at Maxwell Chalmers . Chrysler was aware of Frazer's growing reputation in the business as a thinker who made large-scale sales possible. Frazer joined Chrysler and, with him on board, Maxwell tripled its annual sales, helping Chrysler obtain

198-559: A new holding company encompassing the various Kaiser industrial activities. Kaiser Motors' name was changed to Kaiser Industries Corporation, and it functioned as a holding company for various Kaiser business holdings, including Willys Motors Incorporated. While U.S. production of Kaiser and Willys passenger cars ceased in 1955, production of Willys Jeeps in Toledo, Ohio, continued. Kaiser continued automobile production in Argentina under

231-574: A science degree in 1911. Frazer joined his brother's Packard dealership in Nashville as a mechanic's assistant. He then switched to selling new cars at the dealership and subsequently at another Packard franchise in New York City. He then moved to Cleveland and operated a sales office for the Saxon . Frazer was then hired by General Motors , where his understanding of purchase loans made him

264-722: Is 600 hp, coming from two electric motors. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, which is faster than the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. The gross battery capacity is slightly over 100 kWh. Multiple journalists made references to the Range Rover brand, either in a positive or a negative sense, when describing the vehicle. Although first launched in North America, the Wagoneer S will also go on sale in other markets including Europe, according to

297-619: The Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) company established in Santa Isabel, Córdoba and Willys passenger cars moved to Brazil under the Willys-Overland do Brasil company, using the U.S. dies, well into the 1960s. The company changed its name to Kaiser Jeep in 1963. By 1969, Kaiser Industries decided to leave the auto business, which was sold to American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1970. As part of

330-541: The Ram 1500 (DT) chassis. It was revealed in March 2021 for the 2022 model year as the flagship model Jeep. Production of the fourth-generation Jeep Wagoneers began in 2021. While the current Wagoneer remains in production, an all-electric vehicle called the Wagoneer S was unveiled in 2024. It is a smaller vehicle than the Wagoneer, actually smaller in exterior dimensions than the current (2024) Jeep Grand Cherokee. The power output

363-660: The Wagoneer S to the lineup. The first Wagoneer is the original full-size SUV-style design produced between 1962 and 1991. The new vehicle was introduced in November 1962 for the 1963 model year as a successor to the Willys Jeep Station Wagon that had been built since 1946. It is a full-size body-on-frame vehicle that shared its architecture with the Gladiator pickup truck. The vehicle was introduced as

SECTION 10

#1732781154605

396-518: The 1947 and 1948 Kaiser and Frazer as well as the 1951 Kaiser automobiles. The vehicle went into production during January 1954. It was sold as the Kaiser Darrin . Production of the Allstate ended in 1953. The last Henry J automobiles were built in late 1953 as 1954 model year cars. The sports car was in production only during the 1954 model year. While sales were initially strong because of

429-654: The 1952 model year. The deal was contingent on Olds expanding its Lansing, MI, engine production facility. Still, that expansion was canceled due to military needs for the Korean War. K-F had their own V8 engine development program that ran through 1949 but, as the lead engineers on the team stated to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) they found their work was leading down a "blind alley" and would fail. Due to changing market conditions, Frazer cars were not as competitive as luxury and upper-medium priced models. This

462-719: The 1993 model year. Called the Grand Wagoneer , it featured a long list of standard equipment, including the Magnum 5.2 L V8 engine and unique leather interior as well as the Grand Wagoneer's traditional exterior woodgrain applique. After 6,378 were produced, the model was dropped for 1994, leaving the Grand Cherokee Limited as the top-of-the-line Jeep. The fourth-generation Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are full-size SUVs and full-size luxury SUVs based on

495-526: The Big Three automobile manufacturers in the United States with an annual revenue of $ 550 million. He moved to Willys-Overland which was in dire financial straits with sales stalled at 16,000 units annually. During his time at Willys the company built and unveiled its new military vehicle, where Frazer approved trademark filings to make "Jeep" an automotive nameplate. Frazer claimed to have coined

528-614: The Henry J models that Kaiser-Frazer dealers were selling, the cars were in the Sears catalog, but the cars could not be purchased by mail order. At the 1953 New York Auto Show, Kaiser-Frazer announced it would produce a fiberglass-bodied sports car called the Kaiser-Darrin-Frazer 161 . The car featured a 161 cu in (2.6 L) straight six-cylinder engine. It was designed by stylist Howard "Dutch" Darrin , who also did

561-948: The Kaiser car, Graham-Paige would build the Frazer and agricultural machinery. By the end of 1946, Graham-Paige was losing money, and was unable to meet its financial obligations to Kaiser-Frazer and in 1947, Frazer sold Graham-Paige's automobile operation to Kaiser. He retained the farm equipment division which he moved to a plant in York, Pennsylvania. Joseph married Margaret "Lucille" Frost (born January 3, 1896, Chicago, Illinois - passed 28 Mar 1979 (aged 83) in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA) on November 18, 1914. They had one daughter Arielle (born August 23, 1917 – died February 7, 2006, in Newport, Rhode Island ). In April 2012, Frazer

594-609: The Kaiser marque including the Kaiser Darrin until 1955. Their South American operations continued to build passenger cars well up into the 1960s. The company changed its name to Kaiser Jeep Corporation in 1963. The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation was established in August 1945 as a joint venture between the Henry J. Kaiser Company and Graham-Paige Motors Corporation. Both Henry J. Kaiser , a California-based industrialist, and Joseph W. Frazer , CEO of Graham-Paige, wanted to get into

627-649: The Willys-Overland Corporation, makers of Willys cars and Jeep vehicles. After completing the acquisition, Kaiser Manufacturing Corporation changed its name to Willys Motors, Incorporated. During late 1953 and 1954, Kaiser Motors operations at Willow Run Michigan were closed down or moved to the Willys facility in Toledo, Ohio. Kaiser-Frazer worked out deals with General Motors to purchase GM Hydramatic automatic transmissions and detuned Rocket 88 engines from Oldsmobile, with deliveries starting in

660-481: The automobile business and pooled their resources and talents to do so. Less than a year after Kaiser-Frazer's formation, the first Kaiser and Frazer branded automobiles were being produced at the Willow Run, Michigan, headquarters for both Kaiser-Frazer and Graham-Paige . By the end of 1946, over 11,000 cars (total Kaiser and Frazer) were shipped to dealers and distributors, many of which sold to end users. During

693-562: The company would resume manufacturing automobiles after the war with a completely new car to be called the Frazer. While seeking financial backing for this venture, he met industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, who also had plans for a postwar automobile. The two formed the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation on July 25, 1945. Henry Kaiser became the chairman of Kaiser-Frazer, and Frazer became president. Kaiser-Frazer Corporation and Graham-Paige became equal partners. Kaiser-Frazer would make

SECTION 20

#1732781154605

726-399: The manufacturer. Kaiser Motors Kaiser Motors (formerly Kaiser-Frazer ) Corporation made automobiles at Willow Run , Michigan , United States, from 1945 until 1953. In 1953, Kaiser merged with Willys-Overland to form Willys Motors Incorporated, moving its production operations to the Willys plant at Toledo, Ohio , where the company continued to build automobiles under

759-466: The position as a "lame duck" until April 1949 when Henry J. Kaiser's oldest son, Edgar , took Frazer's place as president. This was partly because Frazer had warned Kaiser not to tool up to produce 200,000 cars for the 1949 model year, realizing they could not compete against the new cars from the Big Three coming out that year. Kaiser did not heed the warning, saying, "The Kaisers never retrench." A total of 58,000 cars were sold that year. The Frazer marque

792-491: The resources build his own car. In 1925 Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corporation . Frazer suggested to Chrysler that the company build a low-priced car that would directly challenge Ford and GM. Frazer suggested calling the car "Plymouth". "Why not call it Plymouth? That's a good old American name. Ever hear of Plymouth Binder Twine?" While others were unimpressed by Frazer's proposition, Chrysler (himself once

825-460: The summer of 1948, the 300,000th car came off the production line. In 1950, Kaiser-Frazer began production of a new compact car, the Henry J and ended production of the Frazer automobiles. Both makes were 1951 model year automobiles. In 1952 and 1953, Kaiser-Frazer provided Sears, Roebuck and Company with Allstate-branded automobiles that retailers sold through select Sears Auto Centers. Based on

858-661: The transaction, Kaiser acquired a 22% interest in AMC, which it later divested. Included in the sale was the General Products Division , which Kaiser had purchased from Studebaker in 1964 as Studebaker prepared to leave the auto business. AMC renamed the division AM General . The company continues operations and is best known as the manufacturer of the Humvee and civilian Hummer H1 . Joseph W. Frazer Joseph Washington Frazer (March 4, 1892 – August 7, 1971)

891-420: The trunk connected to the interior of the car was an improvised attempt at marketing a model to compete with the standard station wagon designs. The last Kaisers were produced in America during the 1955 model year. Close to 760,000 cars were built of all makes and models between May 1946 and September 1955. At the end of 1955, the Henry J. Kaiser Company management team used Kaiser Motors Corporation to create

924-643: The word "jeep" by slurring the initials G.P. but this is disputed. Willys won the U.S. Government contract to build the Jeep ["General Purpose" - ("G.P.") military utility vehicle]. Jeep began production in 1940–1941. Frazer also directed the development of a low-priced car called the Willys Americar which was a sales success. By the time he left in 1944 Willys-Overland had yearly sales of $ 212 million. In August 1944 Frazer took control of Graham-Paige Motors Corporation and became president. He announced that

957-537: Was a mid-20th century American automobile company executive . Over the course of his life Frazer was employed in half a dozen different companies as a mechanic, instructor, financier, salesman, president and board chairman. He held down top executive positions in Chrysler , Willys-Overland , and Graham-Paige , before partnering with Henry J. Kaiser to form the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation . He

990-656: Was an important figure in the classic era of American car building. Frazer was born March 4, 1892, in Nashville, Tennessee . He was the son of James Stokes Frazer, an attorney and judge, and Mary Washington. Frazer's mother traced her lineage to an uncle of George Washington . Frazer graduated from The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville , Connecticut , and studied engineering at Yale University Sheffield Scientific School in New Haven , Connecticut , and graduated with

1023-544: Was available in two trim levels: the "Wagoneer" and the "Wagoneer Limited". These vehicles were intended to replace the SJ-body Wagoneer models, but high demand prompted American Motors, and Chrysler after 1987, to keep the original SJ-body Wagoneer in production. The Wagoneer nameplate was reintroduced for one year as the top-of-the-line model of the Jeep ZJ platform that debuted on the mid-size Grand Cherokee for

Jeep Wagoneer - Misplaced Pages Continue

1056-509: Was discontinued after the 1951 models. Joseph Frazer remained a sales consultant and vice-chairman of the Kaiser-Frazer board until 1953. At the 1953 annual stockholders' meeting, Kaiser-Frazer Corporation's name was changed to Kaiser Motors Corporation by stockholder vote. Shortly before the meeting, Kaiser-Frazer's Kaiser Manufacturing Corporation division worked out a deal to purchase certain assets (and assume certain liabilities) of

1089-552: Was similar to the experience of Hudson and Studebaker during the 1950s. The Henry J, while a reasonable idea, was restricted by the terms of a re-capitalization loan the government made to the company in the fall of 1949. Kaiser-Frazer labor agreements resulted in the company paying the highest wages of any American automaker while having a productivity rate of only 60–65% in return. Kaiser tried to resolve its deficiencies with schemes like elaborate designer interiors with upscale dashboards and upholstery. A line of "Traveler" sedans with

#604395