Nash Metropolitan

Nash Metropolitan Coupe

The Nash Metropolitan was a subcompact car that was offered from 1954 to 1962 in the United States. The Metropolitan appeared also as a Hudson Metropolitan when Nash and Hudson merged in 1954 to form the American Motors Corporation ( AMC), and later as an independent brand during the Rambler years and in the UK and other markets.

Design

While most car manufacturers in the United States the philosophy of " bigger is better " followed, the leaders of the Nash Motor Company investigated the market, in order to offer U.S. customers a cost-effective means of locomotion can. The Metropolitan was designed in the United States and it is a prototype, the NXI ( Nash Experimental International) by William J. Nash - Kelvinator built for Flajole. This prototype was shown at some car clinics to test the reactions of the U.S. auto audience on a car of this size. The results of these tests convinced Nash that there is indeed a market for such a car was when it would be offered at a competitive price. This meant that it would not be feasible to completely restore such a car in the United States because the tooling costs would have made the project uneconomic. Was the only economical way to build the car outside of the United States based on an existing mechanism, whereby for the plants in the United States remained the only tool costs for the bodywork and other special parts.

With this in mind, Nash negotiated with several European companies until 1952 you announced that you can with the Austin Motor Company (then already part of BMC) and Fisher & Ludlow, both British companies had near Birmingham, agreed. The body would Fisher & Ludlow build and mechanical components came from Austin, who would also perform the final assembly. This was the first case of a designed cars in the United States, which was built entirely in Europe. The Metropolitan was available in two versions - Convertible and Coupe. Both had parts as standard equipment, it was only an extra charge for other cars of this time. These were, for example, a reading lamp, electric wipers and even a rear mounted spare wheel with a separate cover.

Production

The production began in October 1953 in the Austin factory in Longbridge. The small cars were called " baby Nash ". They had a wheelbase of 2159 mm, a total length of 3797 mm and a total weight of 818 kg. Thus, the Nash Metropolitan was smaller than the Volkswagen Beetle. Both models - the convertible and the coupe - were powered by four -cylinder OHV in-line engine of the Austin A40 1200 cc, as he was inducted into the Austin models Devon and Dorset. He drove the rear wheels through a three speed gearbox.

The new model was originally called " NKI Custom", but two months before the official launch in March 1954 the name was changed to " Metropolitan ". After the first 10,000 copies were built a motor B-series with a still 1200cc, as he was also mounted in the Austin A40 Cambridge.

1956, this engine has been thoroughly revised and now had 1500 cc, as in the Austin A50 Cambridge. Trim in polished stainless steel allowed a two-tone paint. Also, the grille got a different look and the hood lost its air scoop was no function anyway.

A further revision in 1959 brought an externally accessible trunk and front triangle windows. The engine compression was increased from 7.2:1 to 8.3:1, which raised the output to 55 bhp. This engine corresponded to the Austin A55 Cambridge.

Production ended in April 1961 (last Chassis no. E95981 ). By 1962, the model was still selling. A total of approximately 95,000 Metropolitans were sold in the United States. Although this was not a relatively high number, the Metropolitan was one of the most successful imported vehicle in the U.S. market. Only the VW Beetle sold more copies. Even AMC Chrysler surpassed in sales of small cars during the economic crisis of the Eisenhower era in 1958. The best sales year for the Metropolitan in 1959, which AMC helped to find a place for the small car sales of the "Big Three" (GM, Ford, Chrysler).

Situation outside the United States

In October 1956, Austin received by AMC approval for the marketing of the Metropolitan in third countries where AMC had no representation. Thus began in December 1956, the production of the Austin Metropolitan, and from April 1957 we sold an additional approximately 9400 pieces in the UK and third countries. In the UK models were sold with right-hand drive, in third countries, the Austin models had LHD. In the Austin dealers in the UK, the car was offered only as " Metropolitan ". Although the cars had Austin nameplates, they had no visible outside Austin emblem. The styling of the Metropolitan was visible American and the UK has experienced in comparison with other BMC products in traditional English style as very foreign. Production of the Austin Metropolitan was terminated in February 1961, however, two single units were built in March and April of the same year. The last car had the chassis number. A HP 150,301th The total number of Austin Metropolitans is estimated to 9384-9391 cars.

Collector's item

There are some active brand clubs, especially because of the driving pleasure as a city car and because of the high resale value. Also, some suppliers of new and used parts are known. In Germany there are four roadworthy examples of the Nash Metropolitan.