Masano: A Pennsylvania Native

Tom Masano of Reading, PA wanted to build a fiberglass car of a unique design. He enlisted a local company experienced in plaster work and statue making to build the mold for the Masano’s beautiful body. While the body is completely original, the chassis and driveline was tried and true. It came from a 1952 Kaiser Henry J. By the time Tom Masano acquired his, more than 75,000 of the rather homely little cars had been sold. The Henry J used a light weight frame and 161 cu in 6-cylider engine. When paired with its new 250lb fiberglass body, the car would have delivered pretty lively performance. It is not clear Mr. Masano had plans to market finished cars or the just the body so that DYIers could turn their little Js into something special. Or did he just want a great looking, one of a kind personal machine to tool around Eastern Pennsylvania in. Either way only one was ever made, and it resides in the Boyertown Museum as part of their extensive collection of Pennsylvania-made vehicles.