HJ Prototype Photo

[HJ-ETEX]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=485
Post #9688

A photo of a HJ before it was officially the HJ. Isn't the "Name-The-Car" script cool?

[Gordie]

That's great!  I wonder if that is the first production Henry J?

[Fid]

I saw that a couple of months ago too. It's the first photo I'd seen with the "Name The Car" script on the rear.

[ben-tex]

First one I have seen with the name on rear as well. The car with the script on front was pictured in the Dealer News among other places.

[Terry T]

I have one of the original mailings that went out to all the winners of the "Name the Car" Contest.  It lists the names of all those that chose "Henry J", categorized by state.  There was a secondary essay contest to choose the Grand winner--$10,000.  Not bad for 1950!!!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The prototype HJ received Name-The-Car script on the hood and rear deck; the prongs should be the same as on the production HJ script.  It was part of a promotion to get people into Kaiser-Frazer showrooms and (they hoped) maybe buy a 1949 or 1950 model in stock.  While it was true that "Henry J" was selected as the name of the car before the contect was launched, it was still a game of skill and luck in that the reason for submitting the Henry J name was what determined the winning entries.

[Fid]

Does anyone know the first name of the lady who won first?  She's always listed as "Mrs. Charles Atkinson" which was common practice for women back in the day. Just wondering if her first name was ever known and if she might still be alive?

[ben-tex]

Her name is given as Mrs Charles S Atkinson in the flyer referred to. Gussie Allen of Longstreet LA won one of the $25 prizes. I moved from there in 1949. I think she worked in the post office. She did not get her prize doubled since she did not have her car appraised. The first place winner did not get an appraisal either but the second place winner did (also from Denver).

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The Atkinson family in Colorado had that 1951 Kaiser into (I believe) the late 1980's or early 1990's.  This was discovered when they finally put the car up for sale and could document its parentage.   I don't know who ended up with the automobile.