Vehicle Description
Unquestionably cute, this 1958 Nash Metropolitan was a car ahead of
its time. With a huge enthusiast following, they've become the
smart hobby car for today's world, offering wonderful '50s styling
in a compact package that's easy on fuel as well as the eyes.
This particular 1958 Met brings with it a stack of restoration
receipts that make it one of the nicer ones we've seen. Now some
experts will quickly spot that this car was originally a coupe
that's been expertly converted to an open to-seater, but the way
our cars are used today, nobody else will notice or care. The
jaunty two-tone black and silver paint scheme is certainly flashy,
and was applied after the diminutive body was refinished to a very
high standard. Check out how tight the door gaps are, how crisp the
grooves in the window sill are, and how crisp the line between
silver and black is across the hood. All the chrome was
professionally refinished, too, including the egg crate grille and
unique bumpers. This is a nice looking little car that needs
nothing to start enjoying it right away.
The car is tiny, no question about it, but you'll find that it's
easy to get comfortable inside. The original split bench seat is
gone, replaced by a set of stylish modern buckets that offer plenty
of adjustment for even tall people. Black and white cloth inserts
and matching door panels almost look like modern art and the
sweeping two-tone dash is handsome as well as functional. All the
relevant instruments are clustered ahead of the driver, with the
shifter sprouting from the base of the steering column. The fat
leather-wrapped wheel isn't original, of course, but it works well
with the bucket seats and overall vibe. There's also an AM/FM/CD
stereo hanging under the dash, and it's discreet enough that nobody
will notice. Plush carpets and floor mats make it feel comfortable
compared to the original rubber mat. You'll also note that the
windows have been removed (no top, no point, right?) and the
exterior door handles were shaved, so it has a very clean overall
look.
The Austin A90 donated its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 50
horsepower. Bearing in mind the car's modest size and weight,
performance is energetic and you'll find yourself zipping around
corners, one of the many benefits of the lightweight design. The
engine has been properly maintained and offers a few upgrades,
including a new distributor with electronic ignition, a spin-on oil
filter conversion, and a recent tune-up. A rebuilt 1-barrel Zenith
carburetor handles induction chores and a fresh exhaust system
gives it an authentic sound that's sporty without being annoying.
The transmission was rebuilt with new synchros, seals and a fresh
clutch and slave cylinder, the shocks are new, and the brakes were
completely rebuilt, including new linings. New wheel bearings
eliminate one other potential point of concern and it sits on
155/80/13 whitewall radials, which ride well and are incredibly
affordable, making this a hobby car that's easy on the wallet.
A lovely little car, this Nash is way out at the far end of the
quality scale with no hope of recovering the restoration costs.
What that means is a big score for the lucky new owner, who gets to
enjoy this neat little car for a fraction of the cost. Call
today!