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1958 Nash Metropolitan

51 messages,  Last post on Jan 13, 2013 at 9:06 PM

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What is this discussion about? Classic Cars, Coupe

Messages Page 3 of 6

#20 of 51 Met in UK by alltorque

Oct 08, 2007 (11:47 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jul 29, 2007 7:37 pm)
Over here in U.K. we had the Austin Metropolitan which really was a RHD version of the Nash, built in Britain by Austin. These are now pretty much museum pieces, (at least, I haven't seen one on the road for many many years). The picture is of one in a local museum. As it's LHD it may well be the Nash version or possibly an export Austin. Didn't think to see at the time. Colour scheme is factory standard. Other options were Yellow/White and pale Blue-Green/White.">
 

#21 of 51 More of the same by alltorque

Nov 01, 2007 (2:19 pm)

Hopefully, this may lead to a picture.
 
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m306/parrotnoid/DSCF2246.jpg
 
This is the Metropolitan referred to in my previous post. Cool, huh ?

#22 of 51 Re: More of the same [alltorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 01, 2007 (6:26 pm)

Replying to: alltorque (Nov 01, 2007 2:19 pm)
Very cute...but a bit tarted up don't you think?
 
Portholes and wire wheels with racing mirrors and a goddess hood ornament? A bit much!

#23 of 51 Re: More of the same [Mr_Shiftright] by alltorque

Nov 02, 2007 (8:04 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2007 6:26 pm)
Nr S, I wouldn't argue with you on that. However, in the 1950's cars were generally Black, Grey or Dark Green or somesuch, so starting with base car in Pink & White it's rather hard to think of any adornments that would "lower the tone" as it were. Never driven one but I imagine it's all a trifle loose and follolopy - pedalo in a gale sort of thing.

#24 of 51 Re: More of the same [alltorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 02, 2007 (8:52 am)

Replying to: alltorque (Nov 02, 2007 8:04 am)
Well you do have a point that is hard to argue!
 
Yes, criticizing the heart-stopping handling characteristics of a little Met is like pointing to a puppy or a baby and saying "Ewwwwww, how repulsive". It's a no-win situation to suggest to Met lovers that they need TWO St. Christopher medals in those things.
 
However, cuteness is a powerful attraction and I'm just as seduced as anyone else. There is something charming about them. Were I a Jay Leno type with enough money to gleefully throw into a raging furnace, I would love to take a Met and give it the ability to accelerate, stop and steer without ruining its basic puppy-like nature. A puppy with fangs maybe.
 
Given the odd suspension, I'm not sure how one would get the car to handle better. I'd imagine that ultimately one would have to take the body off, and alter the frame so that a more modern suspension could be outfitted, and then hope the body will get back on without hitting something. Probably I would use only the shell of the Met and the interior, and the rest of the car would be something else. Perhaps we could fit it to the frame of a Mazda RX-7...that would give us good handling, a small engine that would fit without chopping, a 5-speed transmission, good performance, etc.
 
Or a Volvo P100 frame and drivetrain might work.

#25 of 51 Re: More of the same [Mr_Shiftright] by texases

Nov 02, 2007 (9:02 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 02, 2007 8:52 am)
Just put that body on your new Mini - what a combo!

#26 of 51 Re: More of the same [texases] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 02, 2007 (9:07 am)

Replying to: texases (Nov 02, 2007 9:02 am)
Yeah but then we are swapping cute for cute.
 
I guess we really need a donor car with a real FRAME underneath. Maybe a Fiat 124?

#27 of 51 Re: More of the same [Mr_Shiftright] by texases

Nov 02, 2007 (9:15 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 02, 2007 9:07 am)
MGB?

#28 of 51 Re: More of the same [texases] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 02, 2007 (9:23 am)

Replying to: texases (Nov 02, 2007 9:15 am)
Be a shame though to chop up an MGB. Maybe an MG Midget? That's pretty close to the guts of a Met anyway.

#29 of 51 Re: More of the same [Mr_Shiftright] by texases

Nov 02, 2007 (9:26 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 02, 2007 9:23 am)
Yep, Midget - remember, Mr. Leno, money's no object...

Messages Page 3 of 6

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