Nash
Metropolitan: Motoring
history goes up for sale
history goes up for sale
5:35 AM Sunday Aug 12,
2012 New Zealand Herald
The Nash Metropolitan is one of the few right-hand drive models made, and is ready to drive away |
An American classic with
a New Zealand connection and a famous motorbike are two of the highlights of an
upcoming auction in Australia.
The Shannons Melbourne
Spring auction on Monday, August 27 will feature a striking 1956 Nash
Metropolitan coupe finished in burgundy over white.
The
eccentrically-styled, 3.8m long sub-compact Metropolitan coupe had a shorter
wheelbase than a VW Beetle and was the first American car to be marketed
specifically to women as the second vehicle in a two-car family.
The car is powered by a
four-cylinder Austin A40 engine and built at Austin's Longbridge factory in
Britain.
Just over 100,000 were
built between 1953 and 1962, and most were delivered to North American
customers, making right hand drive examples very rare.
The factory right-hand
drive 1.5-litre-engined Metropolitan being auctioned is believed to have been
delivered new to New Zealand.
Cosmetically restored in
the 1970s, it was placed in long-term storage from the late 1980s until this
year, but was recently recommissioned with reconditioned brakes and new
whitewall tyres.
Sold with its owner's
manual, this quirky Nash can be driven as is, or restored to bring it back to
top-line condition, as its Austin parts are cheap and reasonably easy to find.
The Metropolitan is
being offered with no reserve and for its collectible and curiosity value alone
is expected to sell in the A$8000-$12,000 range.
Also up for auction at
the event is a rare Melbourne-built 1914 Mostyn motorcycle in original
condition after a sheltered life.
Expected to sell in the
A$24,000-$32,000 range, the bike was assembled in a frame made by A.G.Healing
of Little Bourke St in Melbourne, then badged and sold by William
"Mostyn" Tanner of 200 Canterbury Rd in the Melbourne suburb of
Canterbury.
After being uncrated in
1953 - still unused - the Mostyn spent time in the front window of a motorcycle
shop in the central-Melbourne Elizabeth St in the 1970s and in later years went
on display in the Maffra Motor Museum.
It has been meticulously
cared for all its life and remains in pristine, original condition and is fully
operational.
Email: peterblakeborough@gmail.com
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