Allstates and Henry j"s

[Gordie]

When the Henry J's were announced they came as a Standard with 4 cyl. either with or without overdrive or as a Deluxe 6 cyl with or without overdrive.  In 1952 when the Allstates were announced they came in five different models, an Allstate 4 cyl. Standard or a Deluxe 4 cyl.  A 4 cyl. Deluxe with overdrive and a 6 cyl. Deluxe  and a 6 cyl. Deluxe with overdrive.  1953's were the same.  The sales brochures are very vague in descriptions as they do not mention Standards or Deluxes and all cars show deck lids in the Illustrations.  My serial #39  '52 Allstate is a Standard with no trunk but has overdrive and no Allstate emblem on the dashboard or holes for one.  A Standard with overdrive is not listed for the 1953 Allstates.  Perhaps they are like Kaisers and Frazers and we will never figure out all of the changes made during production.  There is very little information on the Allstate cars as most of it came from Sears and not Kaiser-Frazer.  I don't know what the differences were between the Standard and Deluxe Allstates but mine does not have the stainless moldings surrounding the upper grill and is similar to the 1951 Henry J 4 cylinder cars.  Perhaps the interior is different as there must be other differences.  Mine is the only Standard Allstate that I have seen.  Does anyone have more information?  Thanks

[Fid]

I don't have any more information regarding the Allstate Gordie but I will post the differences in the Henry J standard (4 cyl) and Deluxe (6 cyl) once again:

Four cylinder Henry Js (all  years) lacked chrome (stainless) bright work around the windshield, did not have bumper guards, did not have a horn ring, did not have a passenger side sun visor  and came standard with the small hub caps.  The four cylinder Js (all years) also did not have a second "sea shell horn" - they just had one on the passenger side.  The four cylinder cars which were not equipped with an AG did not have a trunk lid, opening wing vents, cigar lighter or ash trays.  Contrary to much HJ mythology, trunk lids were available on both the standard and the deluxe models for 1951 (and '52 Vagabond). Only the four cylinder '52 - '53 Js could be ordered without a trunk lid.

And, as you point out, the '51 and early '52 (Vagabond) had painted hood trim (upper grill) molding as opposed to chrome. The most common modification I see on the '51 Henry J is replacing the painted pieces with chrome. We were doing that back in the '60s already and so were a lot of  other people as it really does look better. 

[pnw_oldmags]

Hi Gordie,
Page three of this Sears Interhouse document has a table that may have what you seek.

http://circlekf.com/sourceslideb.php?pub=SE&typ=IH&nbr=520917&pag=1

Hope this helps.
Jim

[Gordie]

Thanks for the great information on Henry J's and Allstates.  The chart on page three indicates that overdrive was available in 1953 only on the Deluxe cars where in 1952 it was available on any Allstate including the Standard model.  It also shows the Standard Allstate for 1953 still had no deck lid at introduction time.  All Allstates are scarce and it is nice to have documentation as to how each model was equipped.  The 210 was the standard Model and 213, 214, 215 and 216 were the Deluxe four or six cyl. with and without overdrive.  I don't know if numbers 211 and 212 were ever used in 1952.  Standard and Deluxe models are easily identified by their chrome grills or lack of the chrome on the Standards.  I think that overdrive was available on any Henry J through all four years of production.

[Fid]

Great information.   Unlike the Henry J where 4 cylinder cars were standard and six cylinder cars were Deluxe, the Allstate had both standard and deluxe models with 4 cylinder engines.  They are very unique cars.  I remember attending the KFOC National in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2001 and seeing Tom Britanyac's Allstate Deluxe which he drove there from Salem, Oregon!  And Tom was 78 years old at the time.  I don't know who got that car but it was certainly a proven road worthy example.

[Corsairdeluxe]

My "Volunteer" 52 ALLSTATE I bought from Vern Hunt.

As Bought and two years of hard work later.

[Corsairdeluxe]

This ALLSTATE was recently purchased as part of a collection and on the way to a dealer. His price is $16,500. He says he has a firm offer of $12,500 and the car is not yet in house.

http://www.memorylaneclassiccars.com/forsale/1953-allstate-series-4-coupe/

[Gordie]

This car has been modified with non original upholstery and carpets and Henry J hubcaps instead of Allstate caps and if the chrome grill and bumper guards indicates it is a deluxe model it should have Allstate wheel covers.

[Fid]

and Henry J hubcaps instead of Allstate caps

Those are actually '51 Kaiser deluxe wheel covers, not Henry J.
I'm guessing they were used because the Allstate version are virtually impossible to find.
Yes, a four cylinder would've had painted hood trim.
Installing chrome hood trim on the HJ/Allstate fours is probably the most common modification you see on KF cars.

I'm glad to see your car survives Jim.

 

[Gordie]

Earlier in this article we discussed how Allstate and not Henry J had a deluxe four cylinder model so this car could have had the hood trim although the owner stated that the car was a standard model which would not have had the deluxe grill trim.  Proper hub caps, wheel covers, upholstery material and emblems are almost impossible to find for Allstate cars and having the correct parts really raises the value of the cars.

[Corsairdeluxe]

Perhaps the kindest thing to be said about most of the ALSTATE interiors I have seen is that they were
"underwhelming". That is except for the one that used to belong to Dave Antram. It's the red one.

'

[Gordie]

Is that red interior original?  It seems to have carpet which we is know is not correct and the hood ornament does not look original either.  The green interior looks correct for a 1952 Allstate.  Thanks for showing those interiors!

[Corsairdeluxe]

I can't say about the interior and yes The hood "ormand"
looks tref. Here's a look at the blank ALLSTATE spedo insert that covers up the
"K".

[joefrazer]

Allstates used a hood ornament that differed from the HJ. They have their own part numbers for the nose and body...400016 and 400017.

I believe the ornament on the red 53 is correct...if memory serves the tip has a smooth surface rather than with inset rings like the HJ tip. Allstates did not use the three winged tip like 53-54 Henry Js.

[Gordie]

Allstates used black plastic parts for both the front and rear of the hood ornament at least in 1952.  In looking through the windshield of the picture the black parts are not visible.  The maroon 1953 is a standard with no grill trim but has wheel covers and bumper guards.  Technically bumper guards were not an accessory but were parts for the deluxe Henry J's and Allstates.  They were certainly available and like the grill trim really make the standard models look nice.