1952 Kaiser Henry J Restoration | Family Memories, Road Trip & Catastrophic Failure

What started as a family restoration quickly turned into one of the most emotional projects we've ever documented. In this episode from the Hemmings shop, presented by POR-15, we do a slight mechanical restoration with some cosmetic "upgrades." This 1952 Kaiser Henry J has been part of the Stoner family for decades. Hemmings' own Dan Stoner inherited the car after his father, Len Stoner, purchased it in the late 1950s. Together they spent years modifying, maintaining, and enjoying this unique piece of American automotive history. In this episode we: ✅ Retrieve the Henry J from Pennsylvania ✅ Bring it back to Vermont ✅ Look back at Dan's mechanical restoration ✅ Tune the rebuilt engine and fuel system ✅ Replace the infamous Porter glass pack (which Len absolutely hated) ✅ Straighten and repair the hood ✅ Replace worn kingpins ✅ Tune the carburetor and ignition ✅ Prepare the car for its first long road trip in decades Everything seems ready for success... ...until only one hour into the drive, disaster strikes with a catastrophic failure that ended the trip abruptly. Was all the work for nothing? Watch to find out. Whether you're into vintage American cars, forgotten classics, restoration projects, road trips, or simply great automotive stories, this episode is one you won't want to miss. 🔥 Subscribe for more classic car restorations, buyer's guides, road tests, project builds, and automotive history. ► Subscribe:    / @hemmingsmotornews   ► Read more classic car stories: https://www.hemmings.com ► Browse Collector Cars for Sale: https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds ► Hemmings Auctions: https://www.hemmings.com/auctions ► Hemmings Marketplace: https://www.hemmings.com/marketplace Follow Hemmings Instagram:   / hemmingsmotornews   Facebook:   / hemmingsmotornews   TikTok:   / hemmings   #KaiserHenryJ #ClassicCars #CarRestoration #Hemmings #ProjectCar #VintageCars #EngineRebuild #RoadTrip #ClassicCarRestoration #AmericanCars