Nash Metropolitan

The Nash Metropolitan, also sold under the Hudson, Rambler and Austin marques, was a very small commuter/shopping subcompact car sold between 1954 and 1962. It was designed in the United States by William J. Flajole for Nash-Kelvinator International. At first, the cars were to be sold as the NKI Custom. While the design was American, the cars were built in the United Kingdom—the bodywork was built by Fisher & Ludlow while the mechanicals and final assembly were by the Austin Motor Company. It was the first time an American-designed car had been entirely built in Europe.

The cars were tiny, with an 85 in (2159 mm) wheelbase, an overall length of 149.5 in (3797 mm) and a weight of only 1803 lb (818 kg); even a VW Beetle was much bigger. There were two models, a convertible and a hardtop, both powered by the small overhead valve 1.2 litre straight-4 Austin A-Series engine driving the rear wheels through a 3 speed gearbox.

No true model year distinctions existed. After the 1954 merger of Nash and Hudson, the cars were sold under the Hudson name as well as Nash as one of the earliest cars in the American Motors production era. It is perhaps a fitting start for a company so defined by unusual-looking cars.

A redesign in 1956 gave the Metropolitan the larger 1.5 litre BMC B-Series engine, chrome trim on the sides, a redesigned grille and hood, and two-tone paint. This new car was initially marketed as the "Metropolitan 1500" since stocks of the older model were still available. From 1958, they were marked under the Rambler name, the Nash and Hudson names being retired.

Little changed until production ceased in April 1961, but enough stock of cars existed for them to continue to be sold until March 1962. Approximately 95,000 Metropolitans were sold in the United States, although not a great deal they were one of the highest selling foreign cars in the USA at the time, second only to the VW Beetle.

From 1956, the smaller engined version was also sold in the UK through Austin in fairly small numbers, approximately 9,400 being sold.

The main problem with the Nash was its turning radius. The front wheels are closed in by the squared, low, fenders, which is something that defined the car. However, this limited the movement of the front wheels, producing a tiny car with a very wide turning radius.

External links

History and details of the Metropolitan