Here is the one I have for sale:
And at Sublette, IL last fall
1952 Henry J Vagabond
Some members here may remember I bought the car on eaby in June 2001. It had 39,000 miles on it at that time.
The car started its life as a four cylinder without overdrive. The guy I bought it from had added the chrome lip molding on the hood and he also added a horn ring. I owned it about 3 weeks when the 4 cylinder engine lobbed a rod through the block. At the time my dad had a spare six cylinder engine and overdrive transmission at this place so we rebuilt the 6 cylinder engine and trans and upgraded the car to six cylinder with overdrive. It has the correct factory rear axle ratio (41/9) for that combination. I used only KF issue Henry J parts to do the job, I had an NOS overdrive control cable which we got from an old dealer we bought out years ago. After installing the 6 cylinder engine I began upgrading everything else so it would have all the features of a 6 cylinder model - bumper guards (re-chromed 2002), stainless brightwork around the windshield and back window (new gaskets from Rudy Phillips), second seashell horn and a set of NOS inside visors. It also has a working factory cigar lighter, working factory heater, working factory radio (early issue 100219 style with footswitch), door arm rests, air vents, courtesy lights (factory accessory) and rear seat ashtrays.
It has two non-KF issue features:
A previous owner installed a Darwin remote master cylinder reservoir/filler which is period correct for the 1950s and this is a huge plus if you ask me. Makes filling the MC very easy.
The other non-KF feature is a previous owner installed side view mirrors, one on each door. They work OK and appear to be period correct.
The previous restorer also installed a new headliner and wind lace in the early '90s - both still in great shape. I installed a set of reproduction floor mats from the KFOC Manufacturing Fund in 2001 shortly after I got the car. The door panels, kick panels and rear seat side panels are original Henry J Cape Verde green vinyl.
The front and rear seats are original Henry J Caribbean plaid and in exceptional condition for their age.
rear seat
I also have some Caribbean plaid material which will go with it.
There is a dent on the passenger side rocker panel, down under the door which is not visible unless you look for it
There are also some ruffles in the hood where it meets the cowl. Appears the previous owner did not adjust the hood right when installing it. Not really visible till you get up close
Overall the car is one of the best you're likely to find and I am proud to say the bulk of the work was done by me.
The car now has 52,000 actual miles on it. I drove it from the Twin Cities to Missouri Valley, IA for a meet in Oct 2004 (about 750 miles round trip) with no problems at all. Last fall (Sept 2012) I drove it from the Twin Cities to Sublette, IL for the annual orphan car show there. That trip put 900+ miles on it and was trouble-free. It is a proven, dependable runner which I did all the mechanical work on. Low miles and very solid car.
A rare model too since of the 123,000 or so Henry Js that were produced, only about 7000 were '52 Vagabonds.
Other notable features:
New firewall insulator pad - 2010
New original repro wire harness - 2009
New repro dash knobs - 2005
New steering sector seal - 2011
New U-joints (probably didn't need them) - 2009
New brake line hoses - 2011
New clutch and resurfaced flywheel - 2007
Radiator boiled out and cleaned - 2003
Gas tank cleaned and sealed - 2001
NOS chrome ash tray - 2012
4 BF Goodrich WWW 5.90 tires were new in 2001 and have about 12,000 miles on them
NOS correct Carter dual action fuel pump - 2005
NOS Autolite distributor - 2005
Starter rebuilt - 2001
Generator rebuilt - 2002
It is AG 17 which means opening vent windows, dual action fuel pump, deck lid and folding rear seat (a nice combination).
This one of the best Js you're likely to encounter. Two of them sold last fall/summer for $16,000. This one is right up there close to either of those two and I'm asking $15,000.
The car is located in the Twin Cities. Send me PM if interested.
