Friend seeks to acquire a turnkey Henry J or Allstate

[Richstape]

I have a friend that seeks to acquire a turnkey Henry J or Allstate.  Any body got one they want to part with?

[Richstape]

Not picky. 

[Richstape]

Please tell me more, including condition and asking price.

[Richstape]

Attached photo is my Henry J.  It is a daily driver if I choose to do so.  Its only deficiency is the drivers side front seat upholstery (Dragon) needs replaced.  51 Deluxe, 6 cylinder with overdrive, still 6 volt system, everything still works!  I believe it has every option offered.  Body is Bondo free and rust free. I just replaced the original spark plugs about 2 months ago.  My friend is looking for something comparable.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Please, will someone explain why posting ads that are years old will help the man get what he wants?  Isn't a proper turnkey restoration a car with the proper interior (no bucket seats, gages under the dash, etc) and with chromed bumpers and grille trim, not painted?

I ask to find out why not to be critical

[Corsairdeluxe]

"Turn Key" is dangerous description. It could mean "All you need to do is turn the key, everything is done and done right". It could also mean,"Turn the key and it will start" and many other stages of condition in between. A fully "Turn Key" done right is going to bring 15k to 20k."Original" is also completely useless as it is commonly used. "Rust Free" is hilarious as used by most sellers. Here in Florida about 6 months ago a "Rust Free" 53 HJ sold for 15k.All four body mounts had rust out holes you could put your thumb through. I did.

[Richstape]

Thanks for all of the feedback.  I will share this topic with my friend on our next meeting.  I left a narrative on reply 7 to offer an example of the kind of quality he is looking for.  He does not want to do a lot of work to it.  He wants to drive and enjoy it.  He placed no price qualifications on his request.  I feel confident that there are cars like this out there.  I had hoped that someone might want to part with one.

[joefrazer]

Here are a few I found while trolling the internet.

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/kaiser/deluxe/1599181.html  Here's a nice looking car that needs some work. (Understand that I didn't say the car was a correctly restored car, just that it looked good in the pictures). The grille, medallion, and other odds and ends need repair or replaced, but the car does look like one that can be enjoyed as is. The asking price is strong, but that seems to be where the "restored" HJ market is heading.

Another car...restored to the owner's taste. Not necessarily correct but it does show well in the pictures.  http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/4772937356.html

Here's a mildly rodded J. Not a full blown gasser but modified just enough to make it a hot rod. Not my cup of tea, but they are popular.  http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/cto/4802989159.html

[Fid]

Wow, if one such as the one Jake posted went for almost $15,000 then it's time to raise the values on mine again. The car for sale on Hemmings has been discussed several times on this board. As Joe Frazer points out, it may be  a fine driver but I would definitely try to negotiate the price down as the car is not what the seller thinks it is as far as being an original/authentic example.  It's been for sale for quite a awhile and I'm guessing they would negotiate. It may be fine driver.

[Corsairdeluxe]

That yellow J was posted at$20,000 5 or 6 years ago .I have photos of it mefore the hood ornament corroded.

[Richstape]

Everything was placed with my friend on Saturday night.  I hope he finds something he likes!  Thanks for all of your help in compiling the information.

[Fid]

The black J in the previous ad has been for sale since last June or before - lots of problems. Look at the pictures of the floorboard and you can see the patch work which is done with nuts and bolts!
The person who did didn't have the good sense or ability to weld it in.  The original ad stated - "the dash appears to be very original" but look carefully - it has a '51 Henry J fuel gauge mounted behind the '53 cluster - looks way out of place. Also a '53 deluxe would have originally had a covered dash - it's missing and none of the dash knobs are original. I see that part was removed so someone must've said something to the seller (it's a dealer). The door arm rests are not original nor is the shift lever knob or window crank handles. 
It may be a turn-key car, it may run fine and I always thought black looks quite classy on the '53 J especially. If someone is looking for a turn-key car this may be it but if they're looking for a original/authentic example of a Henry J, this one needs some work.  I see the price has been lowered but not enough in my opinion. Someone could use these issues as bargaining points.  It is a six with OD and it is presentable.

[Richstape]

I passed the info to my friend.  I have heard nothing since.  I will see him again at our March meeting.

[51Deluxe]

Couple more in case he hasn't found one:


http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1953-Kaiser-Special-1238285.xhtml?conversationId=1349867

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1951-Kaiser-Deluxe-1794886.xhtml?conversationId=1349867

[Fid]

Both of those cars have been discussed on this board a few times. The green one is a very early J with the open steering column. There's something not right about that floating grill on that one - it's damage or installed wrong as it sits back way too far. It may be fixed easily but it's hard to tell without looking at it. Probably a good car for the price. The other would be a good car for about half the asking price.