Lot 201 - 1959 12851 Nash Metropolitan Series III

The Nash Metropolitan is a car that was sold, initially, only in the United States and Canada, from 1954 through to1962. In today's terminology the Metropolitan would be known as a 'subcompact', but this category had not yet come into use when the car was manufactured. At the time, it was categorised 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. While most U.S. car makers were following a 'bigger-is-better' philosophy, Nash Motor Company executives were examining the market to offer American buyers an economical alternative. The Metropolitan was designed and patterned from a concept car, the NXI (Nash Experimental International) and was built by Detroit-based independent designer William J. Flajole for Nash-Kelvinator. In October 1956, Austin Motor Company obtained permission from American Motors Corporation to sell the Metropolitans in overseas countries where AMC did not have a presence. The early brochures for the Austin Metropolitans used a reversed photograph to show an apparently righthand drive car parked in an English country town (Chipping Campden), because only left hand drive vehicles were available at the time the photos were taken. From December 1956, production of Austin Metropolitans began, and from April 1957, approximately 9400 additional units were sold in overseas markets. List prices for the UK Series III models were £713 17s 0d for the Hardtop and £725 2s 0d for the Convertible. An estimated 1200 Metropolitans were sold in four years, according to several published sources. However one British journalist has estimated the figure at around 5000.

This Austin Nash Metropolitan is in need of restoration; however, she starts and drives and appears to be complete. Registered with the DVLA as a Historic Vehicle, 323YUT is therefore MoT and Road Fund Licence exempt. Offered at no reserve, this Austin built, American designed quirky car will attract attention wherever she appears.