Nash LaFayette

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The Nash LaFayette was a car series with six cylinder engines from the Nash Motors Company in Kenosha . In 1934 the name of the LaFayette Motors Corporation , which was bought out in 1924 and whose production had been stopped in favor of the Ajax in 1925, was remembered . The new small six-cylinder car below the Big Six model was to receive the traditional name. This model ran as a separate brand in the Nash-Kelvinator Group until 1937, then it was combined with the slightly larger Nash 400 to form the Nash LaFayette 400 . From the following year until 1940 the car was then simply called Nash LaFayette .

1934-1936: Lafayette

LaFayette sedan 4 door model 3610 (1936)

The 110 model had a chassis with a 2,870 mm wheelbase. It had a side-controlled six-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 3,569 cm³ (bore × stroke = 82.6 mm × 111.1 mm), which delivered 75 bhp (55 kW) at 3,200 rpm. The Nash models in this model year already had overhead engines without exception. The drive and brake components (single-disk dry clutch, 3-speed gearbox with center shift, rear-wheel drive, mechanical brakes on all four wheels) corresponded to the Nash models. There were various open and closed structures with 2 to 5 seats. The 4-door luxury variants were called "Brougham".

In 1935 there were few changes. The engine output of the Model 3510 increased to 80 bhp (59 kW) at 3,200 rpm.

In 1936 the design was revised. The model 3610 showed clearer lines. The radiator grille with simple, vertical bars was initially pressed from steel, later it was replaced by a chrome-plated version made of die-cast. The styling of the vehicle corresponded to that of the newly introduced Nash 400 , but the bonnet was still divided and hinged in the middle. The engine output increased again to 83 bhp (61 kW) at 3,200 rpm, and the mechanical brakes gave way to a hydraulic system.

1937: Nash LaFayette 400

After the management of the Nash 400 and the LaFayette seemed too similar, both models were combined to form the Nash LaFayette 400 in order not to get bogged down. The LaFayette brand disappeared from the market. The 3710 model took over the larger six-cylinder in-line engine of the Nash 400 with a 3848 cm³ displacement (bore × stroke = 85.7 mm × 111.1 mm) and 90 bhp (66 kW) at 3,400 rpm. The wheelbase of 2,972 mm was also adopted from the larger model. From the big Nash models of this model year, all called Ambassador , the LaFayette 400 took over the styling with the grill arched forward in the middle and the split windshield. The hood was now hinged at the back.

1938-1940: Nash LaFayette

Nash LaFayette sedan 4 door model 3818 (1938)
1939 model
Nash LaFayette sedan 2 door model 4013 (1940)

In 1938 the Nash model 3810 was called "Nash LaFayette", and its otherwise unchanged engine now developed 95 bhp (70 kW). The chrome-plated "Rainfall" grille with vertical bars had given way to a model with a vertical center bar and horizontal bars, as was the case with all Nash models.

The styling was completely revised in 1939. All Nash models now had an alligator hood and a narrow, high grille with horizontal bars. The main headlights were rectangular and completely embedded in the front fenders. The engine output of the LaFayette, Model 3910 , increased to 99 bhp (73 kW) at 3,400 rpm.

The styling was also adjusted in 1940: the front fenders were more angular, so that the now round main headlights again had vertical lenses. The narrow radiator grille with horizontal bars from the previous year was flanked by two large grill areas in the "Rainfall" design. Technically, the LaFayette model 4010 was not changed in its last year of construction.

In 1941 the Ambassador 600 replaced this model.

Web links

Commons : Nash LaFayette  - collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

  • Beverly R. Kimes (Ed.), Henry A. Clark: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause Publications, 1985, ISBN 0-87341-045-9 .