Folks Of Interest RIP ... Henry "DANA RED" Dana

Henry Paul Dana
December 22, 1942 - August 6, 2020
RIP @DANA RED
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Sad to hear this news.

 

His profile says he was born in '42. I used to read about him and his wife building cars, when he was in Florida. Quite the prolific builder, RIP Mr. Dana.

 

Henry's most recent rides:

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I heard the news this morning, I met Henry many years ago and after he moved to the Charlotte, North Carolina area I saw him a lot more often.

He was a fixture on the All Deuce Run and we will really miss him.

Better times, Henry trying on my '32 pickup on the All Deuce Run. HRP

 

Henry's "OCCASIONAL HUSBAND" '56 Chevy Wagon Junior Stock dragcar:

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Henry's "OCCASIONAL HUSBAND II" '56 Chevy Panel Delivery Junior Stock dragcar:

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Fun guy to be with. I cruised with him on the All Deuce Run in North Carolina around 2013. Then a couple years ago he was at the Hot Rod Hundred in Wisconsin after he moved there. I was very surprised he instantly remembered me by name.

He will be missed.

Phil

 

Sad news!
Henry and Nancy built some beautiful cars back in the day.

 

Henry Dana Red, for anyone of the era, that meant something. Wasn't his the wife the painter? They built some awesome hot rods. Drive On, Mr. Dana.

 

Far too young, what a talent and from all reports, a swell guy.

 

He was 78????? Sounds like he had a good long life

 

Condolences to the Dana Family and Friends of Henry...He certainly did the Go Fast Walk in Life to a Big Degree...Rest in Peace Hamber Dana Red...

Thanks for sharing this loss to the community @HEMI32 and to the others sharing stories about this accomplished man...

Regards, Stogy

 

I first met Henry (and his first wife, Nancy) in the late '70s at an NSRA Nats event ... not sure which car they had just finished ... but I for sure know it was painted "Dana Red"

I kind of recall it was their Deuce Roadster (at Merced '78):

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... but may have been their Deuce 3wd (at St. Paul '79):

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I last saw Henry at the 2013 GoodGuy's West Coast Nats in Pleasanton, CA (he & a group of his roadster buddies drove all the way from North Carolina):

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He pretty much "talked my ear off" ... about the "old days", his memories of my dad, and (the good & the bad) about the H.A.M.B.

Since then, we've kept in touch via social media ... I will miss his FB posts.

My condolences to his wife Marie, daughter Melissa, sons Andy & Kevin, and all of Henry's family & close friends.

Godspeed my friend!

 

Here's a recent (H.A.M.B. friendly) build that Henry was involved with ... Greg Southworth's Deuce Vicky:

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Today 78 is young. When you are 75, like me, 78 seems even younger.

 

Here's a great pic from Henry's photo album ... he captioned it, "Me and Smokey figuring a setup for Daytona":

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So sorry to see this. Prayers to the family!
Keep cruising, Henry!!

 

An ICON. I have the article about DANA RED here somewhere, gotta go find it

 

R.I.P.
Prayers to Family from Aussie

 

I really don't have any more to add to what has already been said, but I do know that I will miss Henry Dana. I first met him in the late '70s. And although I never felt like I knew him all that well, I always enjoyed our conversations. He always seemed to have a friendly manner and a positive outlook. I would run into him every few years at an event and we would spend some time catching up. There was something about him that made these relatively brief encounters develop into much deeper ties. I think the last time we spoke was a couple years back at the hotel we were staying at for the Grand National Roadster Show. The idea that these chance encounters will never happen again saddens me. He did seem to live a full hot rodder's life. From campaigning Junior Stock tri-five Chevys to helping develop the brightest red hot rod paint ever, to caring for the Earnhardt car collection and to building is own traditional cars, he seemed to do it all. I regret that our chance encounters in rod run parking lots are over. My condolences to family and friends. May Henry rest in peace.
Steve Coonan

 

Well said, Steve.

 

Gods Speed my friend

 

This is a car Henry built for his wife Marie, it was a simple build but one of my favorites!

And suprisinly it wasn't Dana Red. HRP

 

Our condolences to his family and friends. R.I.P. Henry.

 

In the late 70s my brothers friend Gail Messick bought the 32 three window built and painted by Henry Dana.
This pic taken from the June 79 Street Scene magazine shows Gail's deuce and brother Tom's "STREET A" taken at the Western Nationals.
Later Tom built the "STREET B" 32 roadster (with the first Gennie Shifter), painted Ferrari red, a multi award winner and cover car on the Jan. 1982 Street Rodder. Tom told me he wouldn't park next to Gail's deuce because the Dana Red made Tom's 32 look bland.
We were always told that Henry's paint was mixed by his wife Marie.

 

Actually, it was mixed/painted by Henry's first wife, Nancy:

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Henry married Marie (Southworth) in 1999:

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Oh No. A good friend during the early days of hot rods. Later we usually met up during the L.A. Roadster show. R.I.P. to a real pioneer in this sport of ours. Goodbye my friend .... Ron

 

RIP Henry. It’s been an honor to know you. Our condolences to his family & friends.