Henry J
Henry J | ||
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Curb weight 2,341 lb (1,062 kg)[3] | |
The Henry J is an American automobile built by the
Development
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Flickr_-_DVS1mn_-_51_Henry_J_%282%29.jpg/220px-Flickr_-_DVS1mn_-_51_Henry_J_%282%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/1952_Henry_J_Vagabond_%2835905034390%29.jpg/220px-1952_Henry_J_Vagabond_%2835905034390%29.jpg)
The Henry J was the idea of
To finance the project, the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation received a federal government loan in 1949. This financing specified various particulars of the vehicle. Kaiser-Frazer would commit to design a vehicle that in its base form retailed (including federal tax and retail delivery preparation charge) for no more than $1,300.00 (US$16,463 in 2023 dollars[4]). It was to seat at least five adults, be capable of going at least 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) for sustained periods of time, and be available for retail sale no later than September 30, 1950.
A compact car design proposal was made by Howard "Dutch" Darrin that utilized the already approved future Kaiser, but with a shortened wheelbase.[5] However, Henry J. Kaiser wanted an entirely new car and decided on a design developed by American Metal Products, "a supplier of frames and springs for car seats."[5] In an attempt to improve the appearance of the car, Darrin contributed a "dip" to the beltline, windshield, and rear window as well as adding little tailfins.[5]
To accomplish the low price objective, the Henry J was designed to carry the fewest possible components, and built from the fewest parts. To save body stamping costs, early Henry Js did not have rear
Power for the Henry J was delivered by a 134.2 cu in (2.2 L)
Before the Henry J was released to the market the first production models were taken to Arkansas for road testing. Experts computed that driving 100 miles (161 km) on the roughest roads would equal 5,000 miles (8,047 km) of normal driving.[9]
Marketing
While the Henry J was priced low, a Chevrolet 150 model could be bought for less than $200 more, and Chevy included operating rear windows and a trunk lid. The standard Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth, and other low-priced competitors were also larger cars, offering more interior room. Kaiser-Frazer started offering the deck lid as part of an "Accessory Group" (preferred equipment group) during the 1951 model year, as well as a variety of other dress-up items. However, advertising for the Henry J still focused on operating costs at a time when the rationing of gasoline by the War Production Board ended and fuel sold for about 27 cents per gallon. The car could achieve 25 mpg‑US (9.4 L/100 km; 30 mpg‑imp) and in 1953, a Henry J won the Mobil Economy Run.[10]
The Henry J proved to be a sales disappointment for Kaiser. Leftover 1951 models were modified with an outside continental tire and an upgraded interior, to be marketed as the 1952 Henry J "Vagabond" versions.[11] Available in either four- or six-cylinder engines, a total of 7,017 were sold.[11]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/1953_Allstate_%28sold_by_Sears%29_Kaiser_Henry_J_at_Rambler_Ranch_tour_2021_AMO_convention_1of7.jpg/220px-1953_Allstate_%28sold_by_Sears%29_Kaiser_Henry_J_at_Rambler_Ranch_tour_2021_AMO_convention_1of7.jpg)
In 1952, Kaiser began selling rebadged Henry Js through
The Henry J was also available in Japan from 1951 to 1954, through a licensing deal with East Japan Heavy-Industries, part of the Mitsubishi group.[12]
In 1952, the Henry J Corsair (four-cylinder) and Corsair DeLuxe (six-cylinder) models were introduced featuring improved styling and workmanship, as well as higher prices.[13] The front end had a full-width grille while the taillamps were incorporated into the rear fender fins.[14]
The 1953 Henry J Corsair had few styling changes and featured the smaller L-head four-cylinder engine. Kaiser's advertising promoted it as "the easiest car on the road to drive, handle, park, service, run, maintain, and of course the easiest to pay for."[15] A padded dash became standard.[16]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/1953_Henry_J_Corsair_Deluxe_-_all_original_-_at_2015_AACA_Eastern_Regional_Fall_Meet_4of6.jpg/220px-1953_Henry_J_Corsair_Deluxe_-_all_original_-_at_2015_AACA_Eastern_Regional_Fall_Meet_4of6.jpg)
For 1954, the four-cylinder Corsair price was reduced to $1,286 with the six-cylinder Corsair DeLuxe listed for $1,437, or $124 lower than the previous year.[17] New safety features included padded dashboard and the windshield was mounted so it would pop-out on impact, as well as a "Penny-Minder" carburetor that was claimed to achieve 30 mpg‑US (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg‑imp).[17]
Sales declined each year the car was marketed. In 1950 it had 1.35% of the market while in 1954 it achieved only 0.02%.
Concurrently, sales of
End of the car
Kaiser's effort to boost sales in the low-priced market segment by adding a small car to its product offer came at a time when consumers were demanding big cars.[1] With the acquisition of Willys-Overland's vehicle operations in early 1953 by the Kaiser Manufacturing Company division of Kaiser-Frazer (the division changed its name at that time to Willys Motors, Incorporated), management decided to discontinue the car at the end of the 1953 model year. Kaiser also leased the Willow Run factory to General Motors (because a fire had destroyed its automatic transmission plant in Livonia) and Kaiser's vehicle assembly was consolidated at Jeep's Toledo Complex.[15] However, production of the Henry J was not moved from Michigan to the Ohio factory.[15] Instead, the Willys Aero was a similar vehicle that continued to be made in Toledo. Efforts to sell off remaining vehicles resulted in an abbreviated run of Henry J automobiles as 1954 models that used up leftover or incomplete 1953 cars. They can be distinguished from the 1953 version only by their "54" prefix in the serial number.[17]
Notes
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-7055-1. Retrieved 23 March 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
- ^ a b "1951 Henry J DeLuxe". How Stuff Works. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "How Henry J Cars Work". How Stuff Works. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "1951 Kaiser-Frazer Henry J specifications". oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-87349-735-0.
With more than 80,000 Henry J's produced in an extended 1951 model year this was a substantial revenue source
- ^ "1951 Henry J Standard". How Stuff Works. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Kaiser's Henry J." Popular Mechanics. 94 (4): 105. October 1950. Retrieved 23 March 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ Gunnell, John (7 October 2005). "Ten collector cars to collect in a gas crisis". Hagerty Insurance Agency. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ a b "1951 Henry J Vagabond". How Stuff Works. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "History of Mitsubishi, 1940-1959". Mitsubishi Motors. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "1952-1954 Henry J Corsair". How Stuff Works. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "1952-1954 Henry J Corsair DeLuxe". How Stuff Works. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Wright, Kelsey. "Kaiser Cars, 1947-1955". Allpar. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Henry J foldout". oldcarbrochures.org. p. 5. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87341-096-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7853-0778-5. Retrieved 23 March 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Report on the small cars". Changing Times, Kiplinger's Personal Finance. 7 (9): 14. September 1953. Retrieved 23 March 2022 – via Google Books.
References
- Langworth, Richard M. (1975). Kaiser-Frazer, the Last Onslaught on Detroit: An Intimate Behind the Scenes Study of the Postwar American Car Industry. Princeton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-915038-04-6.
- Mueller, Jack (2005). Built to Better the Best: The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation History. MT Publishing. ISBN 978-1-932439-33-5.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- "Henry J Models (history)". Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2022.