Customs Lost custom found need help identifying

Sold to museum

 

somtimes lost is a good thing

 

I was hoping my eyes were telling my brain the truth at 4 am. I see by your post we are of the same opinion.

 

"'Scuse me, while I kiss this guy"
Jimi H, 1967

 

$21K in 1951 was very ill spent....

Paint the nose bullet with a red pinwheel, slap a bulb horn and some plastic flower stickers on it, and get a clown suit. You'll be a hit in every parade...

 

I like some of it, but I don't like all of it. Good Luck with your quest.

 

Looks like a Popular Mechanics feature car.


Bob

 

Is there a top with it?
Is the rear windshield on a pivot? Does it flip over the rear seat into a rear window position?
I don't have any info on the car, just curious.

 

I wonder how many clowns would come out of that car when you opened the door?

 

Amazing that someone would buy about the cheapest new car ($1300) and spend nearly 10 times that on customizing it. While it is not the style of car that we accept now as a cool custom car, I have seen quite a few picture of cars done in that style. Top cut off, cut down doors, ect. It actually looks like a parade car. Maybe something done by a big company for a promotion or sponsor of a parade.

 

Quirky....


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

I would think a misplaced decimal should read $21.00 even that would have been a stretch.there is a good chance it was conceived in a drug induced nightmare

 

Those mocking this car obviously weren't around in 1951. Better they should do some serious research on the trends of that period of time instead of making fun of it. This Henry J is a top-shelf example of the kind of customizing being done by the Popular Mechanics set at the time and it is a miracle that it has survived virtually intact. Hopefully this museum-worthy car will be restored and displayed as a tribute to what else was going on in the world while Sam and George were chopping Mercs...

 

Interesting car. The style reminds me of the Jolly cars built in the 1950/60ies. Must have been quite popular in those days:

https://www.velocetoday.com/why-is-the-jolly-so-jolly/

The "J" in Henry J clearly stands for Jolly in this case.

Still I Can't believe that it cost 21.000,- $ in 1951. This seems way to much. What did a full Barris Custom cost back in the day for example?

 

I seriously doubt that custom was lost. I'm sure hidden was more likely the case. What were these people thinking of?

 

I would forget the dual cowl phaton look, replace the front windshield with a more stylish Duval inspired one , paint it all red to eliminate the add on look of the door inserts. Redo the interior and it would make a cool cruiser. I would much rather see this at a show or cruise in than another 4 door rusty "Barn Find" car that everyone seems to think is so cool! Larry

 

^^^Yep, as you and 37 kid mentioned, it looks like it rolled right out of an old Popular Mechanics magazine. Chances are, it may have been featured in the magazine.
While it's not what comes to mind when we think of an early 50's Custom, and certainly not "in" (or acceptable) today, these 'cut down door' style were a style of Custom back then. I've seen 34, 40 Ford open cars done up in the style. This one goes to extremes with the flip over boat wind screen, etc.

The $21,000 figure seems outrageous (unless he got hosed). In 1951, that money would have bought you a house, a new Mercury and money left over to customize it.
What did Hirohata have invested in his Merc? I've seen early labor rate sheets for Barris' shop. $21k would have gone far.

 

The styling is kinda boatish witch fits for Florida, but it's fugly.

 

Exactly.

 

I kinda like it. I don't know if I "get" the rear windshield (?) treatment, but it's quirky, mid-century cool, and a neat time capsule. Don't let the negative commenters get you down. I'd make it operable, and just have fun with it.

 

The more I think about this post I wonder if the 21,000 dollar price reflected a small fleet of these cars for one of the up and coming resorts of the time or a taxi type service centered in a resort area. maybe not now but back in the 50's seeing the sites in something like this would have seemed a lot cooler than some plain jane 4 door taxi cab. even now I think it would be. your choice , this or a Prius ! lol doesn't seem like such a bad car now does it! lol Larry

 

it wasn't lost... it was hiding

 

Given the quality of workmanship and detail, especially in the grill and taillight bezels, along with the styling, has me wondering if this might be a Kaiser factory custom that a designer like Dutch Darrin or Brooks Stevens might have had a hand in.

 

I always wondered where the old saying "A Fool and his money are soon parted" came from. This may very well be the starting place.

 

Neat car. I hope someone recognizes it.

While these things look a little awkward in photos... in real life they are neat as hell.

 

Amazing condition too...

 

another HAMB post where people follow the popular opinion. if the first few posters said it was really cool that would have been the theme. I see it all the time.

would someone build that today? no. is it cool nonetheless? yes

 

sure different. I actually kinda like it. If probably set that rear windshield aside as it messes with the flow.

 

You might try Rik Hoving or Kustomrama .Good luck finding some history!

 

If I remember right the Henry J was a unibody car. I wonder what they did to brace it all up to remove the top?