Art and Antique Dealer and travelling Argentina, Chile and Uruguay: 4/23/06

Queen Elizabeth II & IKA Kaiser Frazer of Argentina
Topic: Old Cars of Argentina

The Queen and the Kaiser......

Late April is featuring world wide important event-celebrations. In England the famous Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80 years of age –and will celebrate once again in June 17th in the protocol calendar. In Argentina, the famous Jeep vehicle produced by the Argentine branch of Kaiser Industries, IKA Argentine Kaiser Industries, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

It was a sunny April day in 1956 when the first Jeep was produced in the Cordoba Plant of St Elizabeth. The funny celebration coincidences are no more than that, nonetheless one other interesting coincidence is that the Queen has been reigning for just a bit more than 50 years (53 to be more precise).

The first Jeep IKA model was an off-road four cylinder vehicle and the first of this kind to be mass produced in Argentina. Over 85,000 units were built in our country of this unique off-road. This vehicle was originally conceived as a military jeep during the Second World War by Willys Overland Inc. But once the International Military Conflict was over, it was adapted to suit the civilian car market.

IKA’s Jeep became one of the Sports Utility vehicles of choice by the Argentine public because not only was this a strong multi-purpose vehicle, but also because it was beautiful, comfortable, durable and of top quality. IKA’s Jeep was the inspiration for the company’s pick-up version as well as for the Estanciera wagon, yet one other car gem of the Argentine Industry.

The St Elizabeth Plant as well as the brand IKA was latter on purchased by the French company Renault des Usines, and soon IKA became IKA Renault. They maintained the original products while adding some of their own French style vehicles.
Jeep and the other IKA station wagon vehicles were produced until 1978, when a sudden and abrupt shift within the local economy made the St Elizabeth plant to go without any production after over 2 decades of high and intense production.

Wliily Station Wagon made here in Argentina..