The Roaring Season

Thanks for that. In the UK, we only knew them as Austins - other than enthusiasts who knew a little of the history. I'll therefore file all those pics taken in NZ as Nash's and pics taken in the UK as Austins - even though all were built in the UK!

And they are still the most distinctive styled car...i love these Metropols still and a worthy addition to any garage....just like the Bullet- nosed Studebaker

a Metro [ politan ] at Greerton - no not a Mini Metro .. C and C in Auckland.
Left Hooker and Right Hooker at C and C .. same day - the Right Hooker same car as above - had the hardtop on ..
MET 59 - Carjam says this ....
" Year: 1959
Make: NASH
Model: METROPOLITAN
Colour: Red
Second Colour: White
Submodel: 561
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: 7A8DE000705094693
Plate: MET59
Engine No: 15A-N-L83084
Chassis: HE6-94693 "

AF6299 - this

" Year: 1958
Make: AUSTIN
Model: METROPOLITAN
Colour: Red
Second Colour: White
Body Style: Saloon
Plate: AF6299
Engine No: IH192068
Chassis: 77171 "

Those Chassis and Engine numbers are very different - was the LHD built in the USA ?? and the RHD in the UK ???..

Confused ?? I am .. John Mck - they all have the Nash red " N " badge !!

John McKechnie wrote:Its a Nash,Campbell Motors sold rhd Nashs, part of NZ history. ..end of story

John Mck see my photos - the N badge not an Austin badge but ????

ERC wrote:A query. Nash/Austin Metropolitans. As I understand it this was car designed by Nash, built by Austin, using Austin engines.

OK. So initially, left hand drive for the USA, so no problems. It's a Nash Metropolitan.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63321[/ATTACH]

Later, they did right hand drives for the UK, Austin Metropolitans.

However, in NZ they later sold right hand drive but badged only Metropolitans.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63322[/ATTACH]

Filing photographs, I therefore file LHD, USA, Nash.

But, do I just bite the bullet and file all RHD's as Austins? Not that it matters to anyone of course, or should I file them all as Austin's or all as Nash's?

Given that looking at them, the only differences appear to be which side the steering wheel is located.

Even our British badged cars may be made in Europe and Japanese cars built in England as were some Citroens years ago.

Interesting to know what the main criteria is and how others see it.

AE6481 - according to Carjam - which we know is not perfect " perfick " ..as David Jason would say !!.

" Year: 1958
Make: NASH
Model: NASH
Colour: Green
Second Colour: White
Body Style: Saloon
Plate: AE6481
Engine No: N/A
Chassis: 83031 ".

It is a right hooker and with that Rego would have been in NZ from new - It was 1958 .. However Carjam says AF6299 was not - someone must have saved some old plates ?? .

" AE6481
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 13-May-1958
Cancellation Date Of Registration: 01-Nov-1996 "

AF6299

" AF6299
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: Import from
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 02-Nov-1976
NZ Last Registration: Get Full CarJam Report
Was Registered Overseas? Yes "

I don't think any were built in the USA. They were all Austin powered and built in the UK.

Just had a quick dip in my old Observers Book of Automobiles - two or three of them. Neither Nash Metropolitan, Austin Metropolitan, nor 'Metropolitan', are listed! In fact, Nash isn't listed at all.

Goodwood 2017 - John Cleland - Nash...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NX-9OpV8rs

I grew up in NZ all my life, always the Metropolitan was called a Nash.
Good luck finding a Kiwi who calls a Metropolitan an Austin....no bribing just to get a statistic
You could see the similarity to the big Nash saloons also available here in RHD.
We all knew they had BMC motors in them, but they were a Nash.
Austin were A90 Atlantics with Flying A emblems on, none of these on a Metropolitan.
Call them what you like in England, but here , because of the distinctive American styled body, they were Nash.
Dont worry about your overseas books...look at the series of car cards as a give away in the mid 60s at petrol stations in New Zealand- not a library reference book -you will see Nash Metropolitan powered by Austin motor.

Remember - the latest ZB HOLDEN Commodore is a body built by Peugeot, but even in Australia it is seen and accepted as a Holden .People recognition gives it the identity

Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck....break out the orange sauce

Listed as a Nash Metropolitan Hard Top in this Price List from a 1957 NZ magazine.

John McKechnie wrote:I grew up in NZ all my life, always the Metropolitan was called a Nash.
Good luck finding a Kiwi who calls a Metropolitan an Austin....no bribing just to get a statistic
You could see the similarity to the big Nash saloons also available here in RHD.
We all knew they had BMC motors in them, but they were a Nash.
Austin were A90 Atlantics with Flying A emblems on, none of these on a Metropolitan.
Call them what you like in England, but here , because of the distinctive American styled body, they were Nash.
Dont worry about your overseas books...look at the series of car cards as a give away in the mid 60s at petrol stations in New Zealand- not a library reference book -you will see Nash Metropolitan powered by Austin motor.



Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck....break out the orange sauce

Yep, that's my recollection as well. I always thought [back then] that they were american made.

...in 1954 [Austin] started to make the little Metropolitan coupes and convertibles for Nash. In style these were Nash Airflytes in miniature, with 3-speed gearboxes. They were powered initially by the A40 engine and later by the 1.5-litre A50. Production continued until 1961.

From: The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars.

As Milan states, they were built by Austin and only by Austin and only in England - but for Nash! When sold in England, later on, they were sold as Austins. Cars sold in NZ were Nash's.

You folks might find this site interesting.
http://www.classic-car-history.com/nash ... olitan.htm.

Question. What does a Nash Metropolitan have in common with this DeKon Monza ? Answer; The clutch slave cylinder.


Ken H.

A mix...

2003 - Dome 2018 - de Thomaso 2019 - the ex Bernie Hines Lola - without a side panel, due to a slight hiccup on the Saturday Swift - Gary Rush

Clearing a backlog of images...

John McKechnie wrote:I grew up in NZ all my life, always the Metropolitan was called a Nash.
Good luck finding a Kiwi who calls a Metropolitan an Austin....no bribing just to get a statistic
You could see the similarity to the big Nash saloons also available here in RHD.
We all knew they had BMC motors in them, but they were a Nash.
Austin were A90 Atlantics with Flying A emblems on, none of these on a Metropolitan.
Call them what you like in England, but here , because of the distinctive American styled body, they were Nash.
Dont worry about your overseas books...look at the series of car cards as a give away in the mid 60s at petrol stations in New Zealand- not a library reference book -you will see Nash Metropolitan powered by Austin motor.

Remember - the latest ZB HOLDEN Commodore is a body built by Peugeot, but even in Australia it is seen and accepted as a Holden .People recognition gives it the identity

Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck....break out the orange sauce

Orange Sauce it is John Mck .. happy for them to be a Nash..

Roger Dowding wrote:John Mck see my photos - the N badge not an Austin badge but ????

Actually Roger, the badge is an 'M', not an 'N'... Should have gone to Spec savers?...
To the best of my limited Knowledge, there is no Nash badge either!

ERC wrote:Actually Roger, the badge is an 'M', not an 'N'... Should have gone to Spec savers?...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63368[/ATTACH]
To the best of my limited Knowledge, there is no Nash badge either!

You got me, You got me !! - as the Caltex ad goes !! Cheers Ray .. M - etropolitan

maybe..Murican Motors..............?