The Nash Metropolitan is an automobile that was sold from 1953 to 1961. It conforms to two classes of vehicle: economy car and subcompact car. In today’s terminology the Metropolitan is a “subcompact”, but this category had not yet come into use when the car was made. At that time, it was variously categorized, for example as a "small automobile" as well as an "economy car". The Metropolitan was also sold as a Hudson when Nash and Hudson merged in 1954 to form the American Motors Corporation, AMC, and later as a stand alone marque during the Rambler years, as well as in the United Kingdom and other markets. While most U.S. automobile makers were following a "bigger-is-better" philosophy, Nash Motor Company executives were examining the market to offer American buyers an economical transportation alternative. The Metropolitan was designed in the U.S. and it was patterned from a concept car, the NXI, Nash Experimental International, that was built by Detroit-based independent designer William J. Flajole for Nash-Kelvinator. It was designed as the second car in a two car family, for Mom taking the kids to school or shopping or for Dad to drive to the railroad station to ride to work as the "commuter/shopping car" with resemblance to the big Nash, but the scale was tiny as the Met's wheelbase was shorter than the Volkswagen Beetle's. With this in mind, Nash Motors negotiated with several European companies. On October 5, 1952, they announced that they had selected the Austin Motor Company and Fisher & Ludlow later operating under the name Pressed Steel Fisher, both English companies based in Birmingham, England and vicinity. Fisher & Ludlow would produce the bodywork, while the mechanicals would be provided, as well as final assembly undertaken, by the Austin Motor Company. This was the first time an American-designed car, to be exclusively marketed in North America, had been entirely built in Europe. It became a captive import. The styling for all Nash vehicles at that time was an amalgam of designs from Pininfarina of Italy and the in-house Nash design team. The new Metropolitan was made in two body designs: convertible and hardtop. All came with several standard features that were optional on most cars of the era. Among these factory-installed benefits for customers were a map light, electric windshield wipers, cigar lighter, and even a "continental-type" rear-mounted spare tire with cover. In September 1957, AMC announced that it was dropping the Nash and Hudson brand names. The Metropolitan was subsequently marketed under the "Metropolitan" name only, and sold through Rambler dealers. It is believed that the Nash and Hudson Grille medallions were discontinued around October 1956 and they were replaced with the "M" style grille medallion. The suggested price for '57 Metropolitan models was $1,527 for the hardtop and $1,551 for the convertible. Although it had only 42 horsepower, the Metropolitan coupe only weighed about 1,800 pounds, so its performance was similar to that of the bigger, six-cylinder Rambler: 0-60 mph., and took about 22 seconds and top speed was around 75 mph. In 1957, 13,128 Metropolitan units were sold. The '57 Metropolitans were labeled the Series 56, " 1500 ". The convertible coupe had a base price of $ 1,591, and the coupe had a base price of $ 1,567. Features of the economy compact is the close resemblance of the 50th anniversary of the full size Nash car with it's unibody construction, it's Nash like partially hidden wheel wells, it's pillow like door sill, simple dash, three - piece rear backlight, and Nash like rear end treatment with continental kit rear mounted spare tire. Metropolitans were always colorful and usually two-tone combinations. These paint choices include : Spruce Green, Canyon Red, Caribbean Blue, Croton green, Mist Grey, Black, Snowberry White, Sunburst Yellow, Coral Red, Berkshire Green, Mardi Gras Red, Frost White, and Autumn Yellow. Metro's could be found sometimes in one paint color but usually a white paint with any of the above for the two - tone effect. This Nash is finished in Berkshire Green over Snowberry White. Thanks very much for viewing this forerunner economy / subcompact Nash Metropolitan from 1957.
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