A 1951 Henry J Goes Full Custom Thanks to Revision Rods & Rides
People often think of compact cars being a response to the oil embargos and gas crises of the 1970s or shifting consumer tastes of the 1980s. But there was an initial wave of compacts produced after World War II, with companies like Crosley and Kaiser-Frazer marketing them as economical transportation to cost-conscious buyers or second vehicles for families. Our case in point; the 1951 Henry J.
The Henry J was Kaiser-Frazer’s compact offering and was named after company chairman Henry J. Kaiser. Despite great fuel economy and other attributes, however, the American public was underwhelmed by the Henry J. and continued buying full-size offerings from bigger brands, making the car little more than a ’50s curiosity.
Such curiosities can make great custom projects, though, especially when they’re reimagined as something even more unusual, like a compact unibody pickup! That’s what Revision Rods and Rides did with Joe Faso’s ’51 Henry J, using Eric Brockmeyer design illustrations as a roadmap.
As you can imagine, this transformation required extensive metalwork. The car’s top was not only shortened and chopped, but re-skinned with a lower crown, custom rear dovetail, lengthened B-pillars, and a hand-built rear window opening. Custom quarter panel tops and a hand-built tailgate surround the new bed, with stretched rear quarters and wheel openings giving the rear better proportions. Up front there’s a lengthened and pancaked forward-tilt hood and a custom grille. Beautiful Glasurit root beer paint covers the body, with one-off front and rear bumpers wearing plating from Ogden Chrome.
The reshaped 1951 Henry J body is supported by a custom frame from Roadster Shop with an independent front suspension, four-link rear suspension, and Ridetech air springs. Baer 14-inch disc brakes with six-piston calipers reside behind Schott 18×8- and 20×12-inch wheels wearing Michelin rubber.
Flip open the hood and you’ll find more custom metalwork surrounding a beautifully detailed LS3 engine with a smoothed block, Billet Specialties accessory drive, custom-machined air intake, and body-color engine cover. Smoothed exhaust manifolds lead to a custom stainless exhaust running past the smoothed 4L65e transmission.
The interior has been reimagined with modern style and amenities, starting with the clean custom dashboard fitted with a center touchscreen, Dakota Digital instrument cluster, and Vintage Air climate controls. A Billet Specialties wheel tops the Ididit tilt column. Recovery Room stitched the custom bucket seats and console in two-tone brown leather and crafted door panels to match.
Joe’s 1951 Henry J. debuted at this year’s Detroit Autorama and was a Great 8 Finalist for the Ridler Award before becoming a Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year Finalist in Des Moines. Both honors are well earned for a vehicle that has seen an amazing transformation from economy compact car to world-class custom pickup.
Photos by John Jackson
