I have always loved this car,so practical in size,power and comfort. I still have the mark two version brochure and original toad test. The mark two incorporated an external,lockable boot(trunk) lid. The three speed transmission was quite adequate for the size and power. Heater was standard,cigar lighter standard. All in all,a very practical car which would probably fare well on our roads today,if in production. It was originally intended for the American market,produced by Studebaker.
When I was in college, there was a two-tone turquoise Nash at a small used car lot i walked past every day. I SO wanted that car, but being a starving student, couldn't even consider buying such an impractical car. It disappeared from the lot after a few weeks; I assumed a collector nabbed it. My first car was a 65 Rambler Station Wagon (this was in 1977 or '78). What a POS! But that's another story...
By 1978, the 13 year old Rambler probably needed brakes, brake bleeding, transmission fluid and filter, new spark plug wires and plugs, cap and rotor, chassis lube, hinge lubes, oil change, etc. Did you do all of that basic maintenance for the Rambler?
The "Nash" Metropolitan was a captive import. It didn't just have an Austin engine, it was built by Austin to Nash specifications. And even the British found them silly looking, due largely to the Nash trademark overhanging front fenders (wings). Apparently they built more than could be sold in the US so many wound up as police cars in the UK.
Marketed to women whoe were usually buying the groceries, but it didn't have a trunk until 1959, which was its best sales year. Whoever made the bonehead decision to try to sell a car of this size with no trunk should have been committed.
Thanks for the insight. You are, of course, correct. Except for a plate in the engine compartment that says "American Motors," the car doesn't have a brand name mentioned on the exterior or interior that I could see. Even without the Nash name in 1958, I suspect lots of folks still regarded them as a Nash model. Thanks again.
Nash Metropolitan was also used by Weird Al in his music video and a feature film, UHF.
Funny looking car.
I have always loved this car,so practical in size,power and comfort. I still have the mark two version brochure and original toad test. The mark two incorporated an external,lockable boot(trunk) lid. The three speed transmission was quite adequate for the size and power. Heater was standard,cigar lighter standard. All in all,a very practical car which would probably fare well on our roads today,if in production. It was originally intended for the American market,produced by Studebaker.
Nothing to do with Studebaker. It was Nash
@@ramblergarage You are right,was a long time ago.
BEEP-BEEP!
That was for the Rambler rather than the Metropolitan, though you have to be a music geek or of a certain age to even get the reference!
@@seed_drill7135 hahaha! Stuck in 2nd gear! Yeah, I'm old.
That would be fun to have. I rarely drive (most time I bicycle), so this would be fun for the short drives I do.
It has no trunk. You could probably carry more with a bike trailer.
Nash was a corporation which also manufactured home appliances and it really shows in the styling. Looks like a refrigerator on wheels 🤣
One other thing in common - a light comes on when you open the door.
@@ride-ct-classiccars it looks almost art-deco!
The "wheel openings" in the fenders were a not so subtle tie in to the ongoing styling of its "real Nash" much bigger brethren.
When I was in college, there was a two-tone turquoise Nash at a small used car lot i walked past every day. I SO wanted that car, but being a starving student, couldn't even consider buying such an impractical car. It disappeared from the lot after a few weeks; I assumed a collector nabbed it.
My first car was a 65 Rambler Station Wagon (this was in 1977 or '78). What a POS! But that's another story...
By 1978, the 13 year old Rambler probably needed brakes, brake bleeding, transmission fluid and filter, new spark plug wires and plugs, cap and rotor, chassis lube, hinge lubes, oil change, etc. Did you do all of that basic maintenance for the Rambler?
A Metropolitan limo. Now that’s a stretch! Pun intended!
Americans must think that all cars in Europe and Japan are clown cars.
The "Nash" Metropolitan was a captive import. It didn't just have an Austin engine, it was built by Austin to Nash specifications. And even the British found them silly looking, due largely to the Nash trademark overhanging front fenders (wings). Apparently they built more than could be sold in the US so many wound up as police cars in the UK.
Marketed to women whoe were usually buying the groceries, but it didn't have a trunk until 1959, which was its best sales year. Whoever made the bonehead decision to try to sell a car of this size with no trunk should have been committed.
Did not know that. Thanks.
Metropolitan was no longer Nash starting in 1957, sold by Rambler dealers without the Nash (or Hudson) name.
Thanks for the insight. You are, of course, correct. Except for a plate in the engine compartment that says "American Motors," the car doesn't have a brand name mentioned on the exterior or interior that I could see. Even without the Nash name in 1958, I suspect lots of folks still regarded them as a Nash model. Thanks again.