Kaiser Henry J History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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Model history available. Detailed year guides are not published for this model.
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Named after company chairman Henry J. Kaiser, the Henry J was an early attempt at an affordable American compact, launched for the 1951 model year (introduced in 1950) on a short wheelbase with stripped-down, low-cost construction — the basic version even had fixed rear side windows and, at first, no exterior trunk lid.
Buyers could choose a 134-cubic-inch four-cylinder (68 hp) or a 161-cubic-inch L-head six (80 hp). The Henry J anticipated the compact-car wave by several years but never found enough buyers, and it was discontinued after 1954. Its most unusual footnote: from 1952 a rebadged version was sold through Sears, Roebuck stores as the Allstate — one of the very few cars ever marketed by a US department store.
Body styles
- 2-door sedan
Notable special editions & performance variants
Allstate
A rebadged Henry J sold through Sears, Roebuck under the Allstate name, with unique trim and Sears-brand tires/battery; dropped after two slow years.
Related models
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