1960 Nash Metropolitan Convertible
American Motors president George Mason envisioned a compact two-seater that offered something Detroit’s Big Three didn’t, resulting in an unusual transatlantic collaboration.
Bodies came from Fisher & Ludlow in Britain, Austin supplied the engine and performed final assembly at Longbridge, while American designer William J. Frajole styled the diminutive convertible and hardtop based on his NX1 show car.
The production Metropolitan featured distinctively skirted front wheels and was often fitted with a continental-mounted spare tire. The 1959 model year brought significant improvements including an externally accessible trunk lid, front vent windows, and larger tires.
Built on an 85-inch wheelbase, the car measured just 149 inches overall and weighed approximately 1,785 pounds. Starting in 1956, a larger 91-cubic-inch (1.5-liter) Austin four-cylinder engine produced 52 horsepower through a three-speed manual transmission.
With convertible pricing around $1,495, the Metropolitan was modestly priced but could be well equipped for its class. Available features included Weather-Eye heating and ventilation, an AM radio, turn signals, and a nylon-vinyl interior.
Marketing emphasized fuel economy claims of up to 40 mpg. Production ceased after 1962 with total U.S. retail sales of 84,028 units.
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