I would like to find a Nash Metro some where in the mid west.
Rick Johnson
08-Oct-2005 04:38
1954 Nash Metropolitan Convertible. When George Mason became President and Chairman of the Board at Nash in June, 1948, he was convinced that Nash could market a profitable small car in America. The Big Three had experimented with small car projects at one time or another, beginning in the nineteen thirties, but each time terminted the projects because of cost and profitablity factors, and conventional wisdom that said the car buying public would not accept smaller "european-type" cars. But over at Independent Nash, Mason was a "visionary" of sorts and thought Nash could find a profitable niche in the market to sell a smaller, more "compact" car, and in 1950, Nash introduced a small convertible landau with fixed side rails called "Rambler". This wasn't a cheap, stripped model. It was comfortable and roomy inside, and well-appointed and featured most of the popular options of the time as standard equipment, but at the same time, easy and fun to drive, and economical. Mason was proven right. The Rambler was an instant hit.
Meanwhile, while the Rambler was being introduced in 1950, Nash had hired a freelance designer by the name of Bill Flajole, who developed an even smaller prototype that was being shown to select audiences as the "NXI" (Nash Xperimental International). Response was favorable, and by 1953, Mason and Nash had contracted with the Fisher & Ludlow works in Birmingham, England to produce the bodies, with final assembly by Austin in Longbridge, England, who also provided the engine from its Austin Model A40, a 73.8 cubic inch powerplant rated at 42 horsepower. The "NXI" moniker was dropped in favor of "Metropolitan" and the cute little cars began arriving in America at Nash showrooms across the country in both convertible and hardtop models priced around $ 1,450. The little car only weighed about 1,800 pounds, and gas mileage was 40 miles per gallon. The economical little car proved to be popular, especially with the woman of the household, as a second car for shopping and running errands. Over 13,000 were sold in 1954 in its first model year! The Metropolitan was produced from 1954 to 1961, and has a strong and enthusiastic following today among collectors and owners. Ken's photograph is of a pristine 1954 model. What's not to love. This cute little car has Personality Plus!!!!!!!!!!
