stroker
stroker SuperDork
11/27/16 10:03 a.m.

in odd places. I had lunch with a friend in Kirksville, MO yesterday and afterward we were walking around the downtown area. Saw this and couldn't identify it so I had her take a couple of pics. Putting it here for your amusement.

markwemple
markwemple UltraDork
11/27/16 10:06 a.m.

It is what it says, a Henry J.

Doc Brown
Doc Brown Dork
11/27/16 11:04 a.m.

No trunk lid makes it a '51.... otherwise it could be an Allstate with an Henry J trunk lid

iceracer
iceracer PowerDork
11/27/16 11:12 a.m.

I almost bought one but the dealer tried to screw me.

Took one in trade several years later.

They used Willys engines. The 6 was pretty quick for the time.

Oh, it was a product of Kaiser-Frasier.

patgizz
patgizz UltimaDork
11/27/16 11:27 a.m.

That is want. That's all there is to it.

Hal
Hal UltraDork
11/27/16 11:35 a.m.

Back in the late 50's I helped a friend stuff a built up SBC in one of those. Scary to drive when we finished it.

Jumper K. Balls
Jumper K. Balls UberDork
11/27/16 12:02 p.m.

I have only ever seen them in the iconic gasser guise and as 80's and 90's style pro streeters. I would love to see that quirky shape in other styles. Perhaps a "bomb" lowrider or even a road racer with radiused arches. That wild roofline would be difficult to flow with many styles. A Kustom would require a chop/rake.

I do like the Henry J quite a lot. I will take mine with allstate badging please.

chandlerGTi
chandlerGTi UberDork
11/27/16 12:52 p.m.

I went to a boarding school in kirksville for a couple years, there was loads of old iron around.

irish44j
irish44j UltimaDork
11/27/16 1:34 p.m.

In other trivia, there is a US Navy ship named after Henry J. Kaiser as well ;)

Huckleberry
Huckleberry MegaDork
11/27/16 2:23 p.m.

My grandfather bought a Henry J new. I'll have to see if I can find a pic.

Brett_Murphy
Brett_Murphy PowerDork
11/27/16 4:47 p.m.

That's great. Did you talk to anybody about it?

stroker
stroker SuperDork
11/28/16 7:54 a.m.

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

Me? No, the shop was closed at 4pm on a Saturday.

WildScotsRacing
WildScotsRacing Dork
11/28/16 8:50 a.m.

What's the story on having no trunk lid???

iceracer
iceracer PowerDork
11/28/16 10:28 a.m.

Save money.

Madhatr
Madhatr Reader
11/28/16 1:04 p.m.

There is a restored one sitting out on my way home... not sure if they are driving it, or just have it parked.

Knurled
Knurled MegaDork
11/28/16 1:05 p.m.

An amazing number of cars didn't have trunk lids.

NOHOME
NOHOME PowerDork
11/28/16 2:28 p.m.

Buy it, cut out the Henry J's floor pan and drop it over a third generation (Fox) Mustang chassis. Wheelbases are within 1/2"

Depending on what they want for the J and how much you can recoup, that could get done for challenge money.

stroker
stroker SuperDork
11/28/16 6:34 p.m.

Doesn't do much for me in either version...

dculberson
dculberson PowerDork
11/28/16 8:01 p.m.

In reply to stroker:

Oh but that stock one is a-frikkin-dorable.

NickD
NickD Dork
11/29/16 7:10 a.m.

Scott Sullivan (builder of the famed Cheez Whiz '55 Chevy) built a really nice Henry J recently. IT looks fairly stock, but there is actually a ton of body mods done to it.

Personally, I love the design of the Henry J. And you can buy brand new fiberglass bodies nowadays

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