Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jim B PEI on July 31, 2010, 11:05:02 PM

Title: Skyline automobile based on 53 Henry J ?? Pictures??
Post by: Jim B PEI on July 31, 2010, 11:05:02 PM

Found this info....

The Skyline Inc.
Jamaica, NY
1953
The Skyline X-50 was "A New American Sports Car" built by The Skyline Inc. of Jamaican, New York. This American Automobile had an unusual retractable hardtop.
This sporty convertible was based on the Henry J. Unusual for the 1950s was seat belts, high back seats and a padded dash. All listed in the sales literature as safety items.

Title: Re: Skyline automobile based on 53 Henry J ?? Pictures??
Post by: kaiserfrazerlibrary on August 01, 2010, 08:51:38 AM

The skyline was a customized HJ that used a grille insert that looked similar to a 1951 Nash, and had a continental siare tire on the back.  It used the HJ 6 cylinder drivetrain with no significant modifications.  Only a handful were produced.  What is worth noting here is that there is no information as to wether or not the company reinforced the HJ frame to compensate for the lack of structural stability caused when the steel top was removed.

You can't just cut the top off the car, as K-F engineers found out when they were developing the 1949-51 Frazer & 1949-50 Kaiser ragtops.

Title: Re: Skyline automobile based on 53 Henry J ?? Pictures??
Post by: StillOutThere on May 15, 2012, 08:34:21 AM

Skyline brochure

Title: Re: Skyline automobile based on 53 Henry J ?? Pictures??
Post by: Fid on May 15, 2012, 04:30:31 PM

We made a couple of Henry Js into pickups and they definitely sag big time when the roof is cut. Of course we stiffened them by adding panels, rear windows and welding angle iron around the door frames. Seemed to work well but if there's no top at all, you can't do any of those things to help.
(https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6cf04b3127cceede6a38a29b000000030O01SatmLdmyB7efAA/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00203070160520161126004236390.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)

Title: Re: Skyline automobile based on 53 Henry J ?? Pictures??
Post by: joefrazer on May 15, 2012, 08:05:35 PM

Looks like the Skyline sports a Nash grille with Studebaker headlights and Tucker style rocker switches...interesting!

Title: Re: Skyline automobile based on 53 Henry J ?? Pictures??
Post by: StillOutThere on May 15, 2012, 08:18:08 PM

Yes, the Nash and Stude parts are pretty obvious in the drawing on the folder but that doesn't necessarily mean the prototype or any production car(s) actually got finished that way due to costs or whatever. 
Which leads me to wonder about this other Henry J based custom attached.  The Nash grille is there again and now it adds Packard tail lamps and has a interesting curved windshield.  Anyone have knowledge of this white car?

Title: Re: Skyline automobile based on 53 Henry J ?? Pictures??
Post by: Fid on May 15, 2012, 10:40:19 PM

Nice piece of work there but I'm sure Dutch would be none too happy about his "dip" being removed.