Has anyone heard of a Henry J automobile? I have found a running project car and the only rust I saw was very little on the rocker panels and the headliner is falling down. It has a flathead 6 in it and 3 on the tree. Actually it is in better shape than any other project I have done. Was just wondering if these are rare and who made them? It is a 1952 model. Any info greatly appreciated.

 

I have a vague recolection of hearing about them. There's folks who will know about them here. Ask "havi" about Kyle Smalley and his Henry J.

Does it have right hand drive?

 

Neat cars. Not too many around. Parts could be hard to come by as the car wasn't really popular back in the day. Popular car for racing gassers???

If it's pretty solid and complete, I'd say get it.

 

These were cool little cars, an attempt at economy by Kaiser-Frasier, the original models only came in a 2 dr, no trunk lid and fixed rear windows. Considering they were only made a few years, did not sell well and the parent company no longer exists (kinda: Kaiser-******-Jeep-AMC-Renault-Chrysler), they are somewhat rare and have a limited following. The same car was sold through SEARs and called an Allstate.
Not the worst car for a project, and sure to get attention when completed.

 

There is a Henry J club. Google that. They were a pretty good little car. Some had overdrive and would get around 30 mpg on the road. Very dependable engine and trans. Not a lot of them around but see them pretty often. The were made into a lot of "gassers" with straight axles and big v/8's.
Would be a neat project. Parts should but be too much of a issue as if I remember correctly they used the same engine as kaisers, and Studebaker and the Studebaker has a huge following and many parts for them
Larry

 

Thanks guys for the info. I got home from work and started doing a little research on the internet. Found a ton of information and even found a place that repos parts and a Henry J club. Also found out the guy also has a parts car with an overdrive trans and a different motor that he will let go with this car. This probably will be my next project! I like the way it looks. To keep this Ford related I did read that Kaiser/Fraser was sold to a combine of Ford and Renault owners in the late 60's.

 

Henry J's are cute little cars, and maybe even a little ahead of their time.



They certainly had an interesting history. Built by Kaiser-Fraser, a company started after WWII by car-guy Joe Fraser and wealthy industrialist Henry Kaiser (builder of giant ships and aluminum plants-you may have heard of Kaiser Aluminum). Joe left the company in the early 50's. Kaiser went on to buy out the ******-Overland company and phased out his car line, concentrating on the more popular and profitable ******-Jeep products. He sold KaiserJeep to AMC in 1970.

To keep this a little more Ford related, I know a former Ford parts manager who has a Henry J with an early Mustang drivetrain installed. He's had it since sometime in the 70's, and I painted in once for him in about 1982.

As noted above, they were very popular with hot rodders 'cause thay made nasty little gassers!

 

wayne hit it right on the head as far as i'm concerned ... { spent way too much time with pops , gramps , unk butch at drag city in rochester , and the local dirt bullrings so i'm warped !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!} every one say it all together now ................ GASSER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Attachment 25570

 

head over to the HAMB they love 'em over there. There's running one locally here for sale.