DID - U - KNOW
by Facia Nearside

Following WWII, American Auto Makers geared up to supply the eager public with new offerings. Because bigger is better seemed to be the philosophy in Detroit, Nash-Kelvinator president George Mason felt it was futile to come at that end of the market. He directed company executives to examine the idea of developing the first compact car of the post war era.

Designer William Flagpole was commissioned to pen a concept car which could serve as a family’s second car. Dubbed the Nash Experimental International (NXI) this car showed marque resemblance to the big Nash but had a wheelbase shorter than a Volkswagen Beetle. It was to be the car for Mom to take the kids to school or for grocery shopping. As such it was the first postwar American car to be specifically targeted to women. Surveys convinced Nash there was indeed a market for this idea, so a series of prototypes followed which transformed the NXI into the NKI (Nash Kelvinator International). The car would be of unibody construction following in the footsteps of the world’s first mass production “unit body” car, the Nash 600.

Despite all cost saving measures Nash management calculated it to be prohibitive building the car from scratch in the United States. It would be necessary to build overseas, making use of existing components such as engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and electrical. Negotiations with several companies resulted in the Austin Motor Company of Birmingham, England being awarded the provider of mechanical components as well as final assembly. This was the first time an American designed car would be entirely built in Europe.

The first prototype was completed in December 1952 with production commencing in October1953. The trendy little car was available in two models, two door hardtop and two door convertible, selling in the United States for $1,445 and $1,465 respectively. By early 1954 the NKI had a trendy new name also, Metropolitan.

Production continued from 1953 to 1961 with more than 95,000 Metropolitans built. Due to mergers and acquisitions during that time, the fun little ride was sold under the marques of Nash, Hudson, Rambler, Austin, and AMC. It came in both left- and right-hand drive configuration.

It’s hard to look at a Metropolitan without getting a big smile to your face. Now, almost 60 years after the end of production, the “Kenosha Cadillac” is still well known, and one of the most fun and affordable classic cars of all time.

Reprinted from British Boots & Bonnets Chronicle — June 2019 issue.