Smooth Henry. New Castle, PA
1951 Kaiser-Frazer Henry J
As a way to continue profitability, Kaiser-Frazer Corporation sought to enter the small car field. Pent-up postwar demand for new cars had subsided and the way to attract sales was to offer something different, preferably without much competition. The Henry J was the result, and like seemingly all K-F projects, it was surrounded with controversy.
The new car seemingly had everything — except a name. When the prototype was shown in 1950, the front name plate said “Name the Car.” A contest was held and the choice was Henry J, which just happened to be Chairman of the Board Henry J. Kaiser’s first name and middle initial.
Despite many shortcuts to get down to the $1,219 four-cylinder and $1,343 prices (before taxes and shipping), reviews of the Henry J were favorable for performance and handling. Bare-bones interiors and equipment drew the sternest critiques.
In November of 1951, K-F and Sears Roebuck agreed to build the Allstate version of the Henry J to be sold through Sears stores, the first new vehicles sold by the department store/mail order chain since 1912. Allstate featured many Sears’ parts and had its own interiors. Sales started as 1952 models and lasted into the 1953 model year. There weren’t many.
Production of the large Kaisers would be shifted to the Willys factory in Toledo, Ohio in 1954, but for Henry J, it was over. Kaiser and Willys passenger cars barely made it into 1955 before production was shut down in this country for good. Tooling was shipped to the Kaiser factory in Argentina and both went on to a second life, with the Willys lasting the longest.
Henry J’s found popularity in racing with applications in modified stock cars and drag racing. It took collectors much longer to realize their value.
Smooth Henry. New Castle, PA
1951 Kaiser-Frazer Henry J
As a way to continue profitability, Kaiser-Frazer Corporation sought to enter the small car field. Pent-up postwar demand for new cars had subsided and the way to attract sales was to offer something different, preferably without much competition. The Henry J was the result, and like seemingly all K-F projects, it was surrounded with controversy.
The new car seemingly had everything — except a name. When the prototype was shown in 1950, the front name plate said “Name the Car.” A contest was held and the choice was Henry J, which just happened to be Chairman of the Board Henry J. Kaiser’s first name and middle initial.
Despite many shortcuts to get down to the $1,219 four-cylinder and $1,343 prices (before taxes and shipping), reviews of the Henry J were favorable for performance and handling. Bare-bones interiors and equipment drew the sternest critiques.
In November of 1951, K-F and Sears Roebuck agreed to build the Allstate version of the Henry J to be sold through Sears stores, the first new vehicles sold by the department store/mail order chain since 1912. Allstate featured many Sears’ parts and had its own interiors. Sales started as 1952 models and lasted into the 1953 model year. There weren’t many.
Production of the large Kaisers would be shifted to the Willys factory in Toledo, Ohio in 1954, but for Henry J, it was over. Kaiser and Willys passenger cars barely made it into 1955 before production was shut down in this country for good. Tooling was shipped to the Kaiser factory in Argentina and both went on to a second life, with the Willys lasting the longest.
Henry J’s found popularity in racing with applications in modified stock cars and drag racing. It took collectors much longer to realize their value.