*Revell 1951 Henry J Gasser*

[Classicgas]

1 hour ago, Brian Austin said:

I'd be more interested in the kit if it could be built stock.  ?

X3, but I'll eventually get it.

[1972coronet]

15 hours ago, tim boyd said:

This was [ my Henry J ] , inspired by some parts swapping as demo'ed in Don Emmon's excellent June 1966 R&C article on the Anglia kit, into a mid-1960's style street rod, powered by the Anglia injected Olds engine.

Looks quite lovely , Tim. That 'DLO' material colour : was that the original acetate included or is that from office folders ? 

Too bad about the crummy wheels in the recent iteration of the kit (and virtually every Revell kit from c.1973 - c.1982) . Those chromed steelies look much better that're on yours. Likely changed during the c.1973 updates.

Chris ( HPI Guy ) did a nice job on his copy. I was surprised that he didn't balke about the bonnet nor the chassis & suspension  . Additionally ; the parts look clean (if not a little long in the tooth from ad infinitum issues) and free-from flash and warping. 

[showrods]

How's the styrene quality in this version? 

[stavanzer]

It was great to see the original 5 spoke rims restored back to the kit, instead of the iffy "Centerline" clones that have been in it for the last 30 years. But, I am disappointed by the 5 spokes. I had not realized how poor they look. The proportions for the center cap just look wrong. Maybe they are exact copies of 'something' from back then, but I've never seen them in any photos from back then.

As for the Stock version, I think Dean Milano and a couple other guys have built stock versions. I remember seeing them in SAE many years ago. Lots of very heavy duty scratch building involved. I remember that the flathead 4 cylinder engine is from the Willys Jeep, so there is that. But, after that, a ton of work. Truthfully, other than the body, there is nothing else that is "stock" in the kit, so you'd need to acquire a Chassis, Interior, Engine and wheels for a stocker, as well as the missing front splash pan, bumpers, and other trim. I don't ever see a business case for a stock Henry J, as they were a pathetic failure as a real car. If not for a few drag cars, they'd be dead and forgotten.

[Mark]

The wheels are supposed to represent Ansen Sprints, same wheel that Revell put in the early issue Anglia and Thames kits.  Those wheels did have larger center caps, and didn't look as good as other wheels of that era so they didn't sell that well. 

The Anglia/Thames had the best version of that wheel; the J/Austin/Willys pickup, '69 Mustang coupe, and '53/'54 Chevy kits all had what looked like crude copies of the same wheel.

[Mike999]

12 hours ago, alexis said:

As for the Stock version, I think Dean Milano and a couple other guys have built stock versions. I remember seeing them in SAE many years ago.

I remember seeing those articles too.  I might even still have them, somewhere in the basement.  IIRC, one builder used an AMT '49 Ford chassis for the underside.  Plus the Jeep engine you mentioned.

I've always wanted to build a stock Henry J.  Or even better, the Sears "Allstate" Henry J that was sold thru their catalog in 1952-53.  

[carsntrucks4you]

This kit is or was one of the worst kits I had build. I had build the old Hot Rod Issue of it. 

If you need other inner door panel or rear inner side panel these are available in my Shapeways shop. 

[Classicgas]

14 hours ago, alexis said:

It was great to see the original 5 spoke rims restored back to the kit, instead of the iffy "Centerline" clones that have been in it for the last 30 years. But, I am disappointed by the 5 spokes. I had not realized how poor they look. The proportions for the center cap just look wrong. Maybe they are exact copies of 'something' from back then, but I've never seen them in any photos from back then.

As for the Stock version, I think Dean Milano and a couple other guys have built stock versions. I remember seeing them in SAE many years ago. Lots of very heavy duty scratch building involved. I remember that the flathead 4 cylinder engine is from the Willys Jeep, so there is that. But, after that, a ton of work. Truthfully, other than the body, there is nothing else that is "stock" in the kit, so you'd need to acquire a Chassis, Interior, Engine and wheels for a stocker, as well as the missing front splash pan, bumpers, and other trim. I don't ever see a business case for a stock Henry J, as they were a pathetic failure as a real car. If not for a few drag cars, they'd be dead and forgotten.

Failure, yes, as was the Tucker, thanks to other forces. Dead and forgotten, no sir.? They will always live in the hearts of those of us that love the oddball. I think if a stock kit was ever offered I'd literally buy a case, and I rarely buy more than a copy or two of a kit. I may do that for the Tucker too.

Edited December 19, 2021 by Classicgas

[Misha]

A rather neat street version at the Goodguys Spring Nats 2018 in Scottsdale…

 

 

[Robberbaron]

On 12/18/2021 at 7:05 PM, alexis said:

It was great to see the original 5 spoke rims restored back to the kit, instead of the iffy "Centerline" clones that have been in it for the last 30 years. But, I am disappointed by the 5 spokes. I had not realized how poor they look. The proportions for the center cap just look wrong. Maybe they are exact copies of 'something' from back then, but I've never seen them in any photos from back then...

 

13 hours ago, Mark said:

The wheels are supposed to represent Ansen Sprints, same wheel that Revell put in the early issue Anglia and Thames kits.  Those wheels did have larger center caps, and didn't look as good as other wheels of that era so they didn't sell that well. 

The Anglia/Thames had the best version of that wheel; the J/Austin/Willys pickup, '69 Mustang coupe, and '53/'54 Chevy kits all had what looked like crude copies of the same wheel.

Actually those wheels seem to resemble the Ansen "Apollo":

Vintagewheelcatalogs.com shows they were available in 1965.  By 1968, Ansen offered their "Top Eliminator", which was more of a true Torq Thrust copycat, and I don't see any images or mention of the "Apollo" by that time in their catalogs.

They also offered a model called the "Arrow" with Radir style flat ribbed spokes, but the same fat center caps:

Mostly forgotten and not really sought after, probably just due to aesthetics.  I also think that Revell made the center caps a bit too big in this kit.  Can't tell from Chris's pics/video: do they actually have lug nut detail?

P.S.  All pics nabbed from the H.A.M.B., as usual.

 

Edited December 20, 2021 by Robberbaron

[RancheroSteve]

My father in law owned a Henry J back in the 50s. Said it was the worst car he ever had.

[Bainford]

A quirky 'anorak fact'; Sears-Roebuck sold the Henry J through their mail order stores in 1952-53. The cars were re-branded Allstate, and had some minor trim changes, but was otherwise the same car.

[espo]

When I was in high school, I knew a guy who had one of the Allstate cars. By the time he got it the condition was such it was just this side of walking when you had to go somewhere. The things I remember about the differences between the Henry J and the Allstate were that the Allstate didn't have a trunk lid or a glove box in the dash.  

[tim boyd]

12 hours ago, Robberbaron said:

 

Actually those wheels seem to resemble the Ansen "Apollo":

Vintagewheelcatalogs.com shows they were available in 1965.  By 1968, Ansen offered their "Top Eliminator", which was more of a true Torq Thrust copycat, and I don't see any images or mention of the "Apollo" by that time in their catalogs.

They also offered a model called the "Arrow" with Radir style flat ribbed spokes, but the same fat center caps:

Mostly forgotten and not really sought after, probably just due to aesthetics.  I also think that Revell made the center caps a bit too big in this kit.  Can't tell from Chris's pics/video: do they actually have lug nut detail?

P.S.  All pics nabbed from the H.A.M.B., as usual.

 

Very nice detective work here, Robert.   

Although I can't locate my original release Henry J box art right now, my recollection is that it used the same wheels that first appeared in the Revell Anglia kit when that was first released in 1966.  I did locate my original issue Anglia box, and on the side panel it calls out "Ansen Apollo" wheels among the kit features.  And they do include lug nuts, albeit a little on the shallow side for depth.   The Revell wheels do not include the engraving onthe 1/1 scale hub covers, however, just a slightly domed, smooth surface.  

Here's a photo of those wheels.  

I always assumed those mags were Revell generics, not a specific 1/1 scale aftermarket offering, in spite of the box art claims.  Now, very cool to know what they are, after all.  TB 

[Daddyfink]

[OldNYJim]

Only very loosely related, but I wonder if we'll see a reissue of the Anglia too? 

[Mark]

Ansen Apollo wheels, with center cap detail, were included by AMT in their '67 Impala annual kits.  I'm pretty sure they are in the custom-only "for 1968" "Chevrolet SS 427" kit, basically the '67 hardtop minus stock trim pieces and rear window opening.  Not what you could call beautiful wheels by any stretch, but if you need a good set for a period project, there they are.

[tim boyd]

On 12/18/2021 at 12:13 PM, 1972coronet said:

Looks quite lovely , Tim. That 'DLO' material colour : was that the original acetate included or is that from office folders ? 

 

John....sorry for the delay in responding.  Given that the model was built about 53 years ago and my sometimes-questionable memory, pretty sure those windows were cut from the yellow sheet in the Revell Thames kit that was issued about two years prior.   

Best...TIM l

[Mark]

5 hours ago, espo said:

When I was in high school, I knew a guy who had one of the Allstate cars. By the time he got it the condition was such it was just this side of walking when you had to go somewhere. The things I remember about the differences between the Henry J and the Allstate were that the Allstate didn't have a trunk lid or a glove box in the dash.  

The trunk lid was a running change on the Henry J.  Kaiser tried to build the car down to a $1,000 price tag, and left out the trunk lid as part of that.  It was later added, as was the glove box.

The Allstate had slightly different upholstery, it also used a Sears battery and Sears tires.  I believe the engines were painted different colors also.

[espo]

20 minutes ago, Mark said:

The trunk lid was a running change on the Henry J.  Kaiser tried to build the car down to a $1,000 price tag, and left out the trunk lid as part of that.  It was later added, as was the glove box.

The Allstate had slightly different upholstery, it also used a Sears battery and Sears tires.  I believe the engines were painted different colors also.

I do recall some badly torn Sears seat covers and the engine had as much oil on the outside as in the crankcase. Had to park on a hill to roll start it and he carried a large rock for a parking brake. Other than that, it was pretty much shot. 

[Daddyfink]

9 hours ago, CabDriver said:

Only very loosely related, but I wonder if we'll see a reissue of the Anglia too? 

Well, the last time it was issued was in 2017, and it was done for the SSP program and as a Model King issue. But I can not remember if they had the correct wheels or not. 

So I would say it would be a real possibility that they would reissue it again, probably next year. And maybe even the Thames Panel 

Now, my biggest question for these kits, is why did Revell not keep this level of detain when they did the Henry J and Willys Pick Up kits? 

 

[misterNNL]

12 hours ago, Bainford said:

A quirky 'anorak fact'; Sears-Roebuck sold the Henry J through their mail order stores in 1952-53. The cars were re-branded Allstate, and had some minor trim changes, but was otherwise the same car.

Thanks for posting these stock photos. Very useful stuff.

[Dave Darby]

1 hour ago, Daddyfink said:

Now, my biggest question for these kits, is why did Revell not keep this level of detain when they did the Henry J and Willys Pick Up kits? 

 

It may had something to do with Jim Keeler leaving Revell.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Dave Darby

[Mark]

Revell was doing a lot of things on the cheap in the late Sixties.  The multiple-version kits really got going (these three gassers with a common chassis, the Corvair powered C-cab based thingies, the several dune buggies with one chassis, and so on).  They went to those greasy two-piece tires and slicks in a lot of kits around that time also.

[Reegs]

Ordered out of a Sears catalog? I'd love to see FedEx deliver a Henry J.

Edited December 22, 2021 by Reegs