1951 Henry J

Right after World War II, automakers experimented with smaller cars, to judge their acceptability to American motorists. The Rambler was successful, but the Crosley and King Midget not so much. Then along came Henry J. Kaiser...aluminum magnate, ship builder, dam builder. He formed the Kaiser Frazer Corporation headquartered in Willow Run, Michigan. The 1947 Kaisers and Frazers were well received, partially because the American population was car-starved during the war. Henry forged ahead with the small Henry J, built from 1951 to 1954, also sold by Sears as the "Allstate".
If he had allowed it to be built in the image of the 1951 Darrin styled Kaiser, it might have been successful..however, it was too basic to receive widespread acceptance. I do believe Henry fancied himself as another Henry Ford, bringing basic transportation to the masses. The Henry J would not be the vehicle to do that. Frazer's last year was 1951..the full sized Kaiser ended production here in 1955. Big weak point...no V8!

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Autos & Vehicles

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• raconter1
• antique
• car
• show
• Henry
• J.
• Kaiser
• Frazer
• 1951

[KRPangborn]

GM - as a consequence starting in the laste 60's GM sped downhill making really BAD cars. Chrysler hit it's zenith in the 60'd and then by the 70's became lesser than its former self. For's sons, Edsel and his brother were both idiots. Henry tried to step back in to save the company, but by the 60's the brand was ruined. F-O-R-D.. Now it is in better shape. It is a matter of not having the right products. Listening to idiots like Obama instead of buyers.

[raconter1]

@KRPangborn No substitute for car guys. I disagree about Edsel..he was held back by Henry, but was a genius at styling. Henry's grandson, Edsel's son, Henry II actually saved the company...it was on the road to ruin because of the old man's intransigence. Dramatic new styling with new overhead valve V8s made it competitive again. :) Jack

[KRPangborn]

Look up the Excaliber J

[raconter1]

@KRPangborn I just did! Hadn't been aware of it before...all this was placed at the feet of Henry J. Kaiser..and he acted just like we knew he would! The head of a car company needs to be, at the least, a car guy! Thanks! :) Jack

[KRPangborn]

Brooks Stevens put a fortune in making that engine race.

[raconter1]

@KRPangborn Thanks for the info...our four cylinder didn't even have an oil filter..result, used oil at 30K. :) Jack

[KRPangborn]

I sort of agree. Edsel was great at styleing- but when he oversaw manufacturing he built shit. Henry 2 did a great deal to modernize the Ford line. But again - failed to modernize manufacturing and the plants deteriorated.Willow run was amuch better facory BUT they7let it go to Kaiser instead of moving their production there. At any rate by 1959 tha sars really started to turn into crap. By the mid 60's they were JUNK.

[KRPangborn]

What Kaiser started with was the old Graham Paige cars. Kaiser was diven by EGO. Nobody at Willow Run could stand that California crew. Like I said - they called them "Orange Juicers." heir ideas about cars were generally stuipd.GM is another prime example of a car company run by people who had NO idea what made cars go.

[KRPangborn]

That has been the problem with the American auto industory for most of the past century. The pattern was started by Ford. Henry Ford ws an inventor and knew his product. His sons were idiots. Look at GM where idiot sons got in charge. Companies run by Harvard MBA's. "Make it cheaper make it faster." Make CRAP. (subsitute a stronger word.)

[KRPangborn]

The engines were good. The Kaiser engine (Continental Read Seal 6) was designed for pumps and forklifts. Hence they were wound tight at 1700 RPM. It took a fortune for Brooks Stevens to make it work in the Excaliber J. Reliable as hell but slower than hell.