Vehicle Description
Do you think the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 are real mini cars? If
you want ultra-cool in a compact package, how about this 1957 Nash
Metropolitan instead? Classic '50s styling with an economical and
fun driving style make for a slam-dunk hobby car during these
uncertain times.
Restored in 2007 by a guy who just wanted to drive, this little Met
is a rather rare and unusual coupe version and remains in great
condition today. The two tone black and white paint has a great
1950s look that shows off the interesting bodywork to great effect.
With that striking color combination, you can take the time to
notice things like the rounded grille, wrap around, bumpers, that
little dip in the doors where the windows roll down, and the jaunty
continental kit out back that makes everyone smile. Fit and finish
are quite good, and despite a few years of driving enjoyment across
the country, it really looks fantastic. Much of the chrome is
re-chromed or replaced, which is OK because this car hails from
California and spent much of its life in Texas and Georgia. It's
also worth noting that this car proudly wears a Metropolitan emblem
on its grille, not the usual Nash badge of earlier years.
The Metropolitan is small, but it feels full-size once you're
behind the wheel. The diminutive proportions mask a surprisingly
comfortable interior, anchored by a vinyl bench with split back for
easy access to the rear seating area (although it's probably too
small for anyone but children). With wide pleats it looks right for
1957, and the durable materials will look good for years to come.
The simple instrument panel is reminiscent of the other micro-car
of the period, the VW Beetle, with its big speedometer and built-in
fuel gauge and the turn signal control is that lever on the
steering wheel hub, a neat period touch. The original AM radio is
in the dash and as is typical of cars of this era, it's not
functional, but it looks so good it would be a shame to remove it
(maybe hide on in the glove box if you need the entertainment).
Fold down the rear seat back and you have access to a decent-sized
trunk that makes the Met a nice choice for a weekend getaway.
The Metropolitan is an interesting Anglo-American hybrid in that
it's one of the rare cars that was built in Europe exclusively for
the US-market by a US auto maker. As a result, it carries a 1489 cc
inline-four built by Austin in England. It's a rugged little engine
that delivers spirited performance in the lightweight Metropolitan
and parts are still easy to find and quite inexpensive. Even more
importantly, fuel mileage routinely hovers in the 30+ MPG range,
making this a fantastic car if you're on a budget but still like to
get out and drive. The engine bay is neat and tidy, but since it's
been driven and enjoyed, it's no longer show-quality. Mechanically
it remains in superior condition and ready to drive anywhere and
the familiar Austin green paint looks quite nice. The 3-speed
manual transmission has light action and with smart gearing, it
cruises at 55-60 MPH without complaint and without being buzzy on
the highway. The conventional suspension is surprisingly compliant
and with those tiny 13-inch whitewalls, the turning radius is tight
enough to make traffic a blast.
A neat little mini car with great club support and a few receipts
to go with it. If going green is your thing, perhaps a bit of
eco-friendliness from the '50s is just what you need. Call
today!
