Vehicle Description
1948 Nash Ambassador Series 4860 Custom Cabriolet
The story of Nash Motors begins way back in the early 1900s with
the Thomas B. Jeffery Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prior to the
first TBJC automobiles being produced in 1902, the company spent
ample time developing its prototypes. The son of the company
namesake came up with two radical innovations during the
prototyping process, a steering wheel and front-mounted engines.
While normal today, at the time vehicles utilized tiller steering
and nearly all had the engine under the seat. Of course by the time
TBJC production began, father talked son out of his crazy ideas.
Steering wheel or not, the lengthy research and development proved
successful; they sold cars as fast as they could build them.
For consignment, one of a mere 1000 produced in 1948, we give you a
Nash Ambassador Series 4860 convertible. The car here is the last
of the full size convertibles produced. This car was once part of a
collection based in Auburn, Indiana, and is an older restoration.
It still retains its shine, with nicely preserved chrome and
trimmings and Stratos Blue factory matching paint. It has Nash fog
lights, a grille guard as well. Under the hood is a rebuilt engine
that is the correct unit and has been upgraded for modern day
driving. Headed For History, You'll Be Ahead With Nash!
Exterior
As with most cars of the era, the front end presents with a V
shaped high bulbous hood meeting up with a small upper grille in
the center of wide fenders that have a rectangular turn signal
light next to the upper grille. They are next to a single round
wide bezel headlight on the ends of the front fenders. Below is
another grille, this one running the width of the car with
horizontal ribs, that wrap mourned the front quarters. The bumper
has vertical grille guards and factory yellow lense Nash fog
lights. The massive hood runs into a split front windshield trimmed
in stainless steel with shiny wipers and an air cowl vent. The
large front quarters run back to the doors where the design goes
sans running boards and to the back quarters which are also rounded
over and have a wide trimming on their leading edge. Wide doors
allow easy access to the passenger compartment and this area is
covered with a nicely preserved tan canvas convertible top that has
a plastic rear window. When down, a black tonneau covering is
present to cover the top. A wonderfully rounded rear deck makes its
way from the back of the canvas top, and down to the rear bumper
which wraps around the rounded curvaceous back of the car.
Rectangular tail lights and the shiny bumper with vertical guards
and the chromed trimmings and badging on the lid are excellently
preserved. Stratus Blue bathes the entire body and shows with a few
minute flaws and a notable crack in the bodywork of the passenger's
door. 15-inch Stratus Blue steel wheels with Nash logoed dog dish
caps and polished trim rings are shod in 7.00-15 blackwall radials
for a more pleasant driving experience.
Interior
Top down and a swing of the doors I am greeted with deep blue vinyl
door panels with chrome upper sils. These are just a tad loose and
show some slight wrinkles from this looseness. A split back bench
has dark blue vinyl bolsters, some piping in dark blue, and in the
inserts, a creamy tan broadcloth which is slightly soiled
predominantly on the drivers side. The rear bench is looking good
and is very clean, matching the front bench. Dark blue carpeting is
on the floors and is also clean. In front, the art deco inspired
dash is in a slightly lighter blue than the benches and sports
horizontal shiny ribs running through it. Within the front are a
trio of round shiny bezel gauges. In the center is a wide ivory
bakelite framed raised panel for the radio speaker. Just below this
an aluminum panel recently added that houses a few toggles for the
fuel pump and small round black faced gauges showing water temp and
oil pressure. On the passenger's side is the glovebox, and a fuel
gauge now resides on the door in lieu of what was a clock. A big
white bakelite steering wheel with a central Nash badged hub is
fronting the dash. The shift lever is on the column.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a 234.8ci LeMans Dual Jetfire inline 6 cylinder
engine which has been restored. It has a factory installed aluminum
head as part of the Jetfire package. On the side it is being fed by
dual 2-barrel side draft carburetors. There is a 3-speed manual
with overdrive transmission with a 4.10 gear rear axle. Handling
the exhale is a factory header and Flowmaster muffler equipped
single exhaust. All is very clean and buttoned up on this
alternator converted Nash mill.
Undercarriage
All stamped steel and solid steel framing is under this car with no
invasive rust. Although a light peppering of surface rust is making
an appearance on the usual suspects, the chassis remains
structurally solid, including the flooring and inner rockers. New
brake lines, no drips on the bottom end of the engine, new fuel
lines and a new tank all work to make a very clean environment.
Independent coil spring front suspension for the front and leaf
springs for the back provide the ride. Drum brakes are on all 4
corners.
Drive-Ability
She fires right up and has a nice purr from the factory header and
Flowmaster. A nice smooth driver, smooth acceleration, and quick
braking from the manual drums. The top goes up and down easily, and
its power actuated. The radio, heater blower, and clock make check
marks on our frown list as they are non functional.
1 of 1000 built a rear example, this one an earlier resto, but
still holding its own. A good driver and turn the key and go and
show. Why march in line with the norm when you can steal America's
heart with a Nash?
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
