Subscribe for more sale proof car reviews! czcams.com/users/saleproofcarreviews EDIT: The heater is operated by pulling the knob out which opens the hot water valve. Then clockwise rotation of the knob turns the fan on at high speed and decreases the fan speed the farther you go clockwise. The fan will work independently, whether or not the water valve is open. If the valve remains closed the fan will draw fresh air through the cowl into the car. There are two half round doors on the heater box under the dash that can be opened to allow fresh or warm air into the car. If those doors are closed air only travels through the windshield defroster vents on top of the dash. The wiper switch is simply a pull out, push in, ON /Off switch.
That horn is that loud to scare away railroad locomotives that might be bearing down on you if you got stuck in the middle of a track at a railroad crossing.
Fun Fact: The Metropolitan's doors were built so they could be used on either side of the car. The factory first fabricated the doors without holes drilled for door handles and no frames for the ends. Factory workers could then put a hinge plate on one end and a latch plate on the other end then drill the holes for the door handle on the left or right side, depending on which side the needed it on.
This was my first car. I bought it from my neighbor and restored it when i was 14 (in the 90s). The purpose of the cutouts on the doors was to give you arm a place to lay when driving. (which I always did) Another cool note is the "weather eye system" (or the heater under the dash) is a circle. This circle lines up with the cutout for the spare holder. In the factory, these were rotisseried with a pole going all the way through the car before the engine was fitted.
Thank you. I enjoyed your cheerful, matter-of-fact presentation. My Pop had a yellow '59 when I was in high school. It was cute as a bug, and fun to drive. I always have preferred the '59 or later models because of the improvements to grill and hood, vent windows, one-piece rear window, outside-opening trunk. I'd love to have one today.
Your description of the operation of the heater and wiper is incorrect. The heater is operated by pulling the knob out which opens the hot water valve. Then clockwise rotation of the knob turns the fan on at high speed and decreases the fan speed the farther you go clockwise. The fan will work independently, whether or not the water valve is open. If the valve remains closed the fan will draw fresh air through the cowl into the car. There are two half round doors on the heater box under the dash that can be opened to allow fresh or warm air into the car. If those doors are closed air only travels through the windshield defroster vents on top of the dash. The wiper switch is simply a pull out, push in, ON /Off switch.
Just a small correction on the 1954/1955 hardtop models. Neither years had white tops. They all had Mist Grey (P907) tops, no matter what the 4 bottom colors were. Mist Grey wheels were also standard for the 54/55 models.
The ridges on the door were a Pininfarina styling cue that was carried over from the bodies they designed for the full-size Nashes of the same time. It was a means of visually tying the models together to the same maker family. Beyond that, there wasn't really a function, but I think some people felt it was a little better for visibility of the lines in the road, and it's slightly lower for setting your arm on when the window is rolled down.
Further to my previous, it is basically a British Austin, hence the peculiarities such as indicator switch on top of steering wheel boss which, to a Brit, was quite normal. No mention of the three-speed gearbox with column shift - not so usual for a British car. Engine and drive train are all Austin, based on the A40/A50.
Another awesome video! I've heard of the Nash Metropolitan. I may have seen one in person. I've always thought it was the best looking car offered by Nash/Rambler/AMC. Whether it's a good investment or *"sale proof"* I think depends on who you ask.
@@Classickoolcars my Ford Fiesta 2013 5sp gets 42mpg US... that'd be 50+ imperial MPG. If I drive it under 60mph like the comfortable top end of a 57 Metropolitan or 55 like the top end of an earlier Met...then I get almost 50mpg US Customary About 37mpg around town with stop and go.
ahhh , memories , from the days an import car meant it came from Europe . Austins,Perfects,Hillmans,Vaxhauls . the little Nash was excellant at what it was built for , moving two people through city streets . Of course we were teenagers so we'd cram 4 or 5 people into it bomb down the highway . not safe, but fun lol
If anyone is interested, there is one here in Sanford NC. It's in need of a major restoration. It's at Milton's Garage on Steele Street. May be great for a collector or as an investment? It's a hard top.
Loved the video but it would have been nice to have had both video from behind the wheel and from outside whilst moving. Also would have liked to have seen and heard the general public's reaction to it when parked up in a busy area (like outside the entrance to a Mall). My grandfather had one (a RHD yellow and white coupe, an Austin I believe) and I now have a red and white LHD Nash coupe. Takes me back! Nick England
Wonderful presentation highlighting this superb example of this beautifully designed car, many thanks for posting. The engines used were Austin "A" Series engines of varying cc and power output. Just one error to correct in your otherwise flawless commentary - Austin was a British Manufacturer of motor vehicles and not a European one.
@@SaleProofCarReviews thank you, I hope you didn't mind, as you may have guessed we are quite "anti-Europe" at the moment and reviving/refreshing our pro - USA loyalties and goodwill.
Good video. I used to own a '57 Met in Mardi Gras Red and White. I'm 6'1" and was surprised by its headroom and overall roominess. Wish I had kept it but I was approached by a guy (also known as a "heat seeking missile") who was desperately looking for a Met for his wife's upcoming birthday. What can I say? He made me an offer I couldn't refuse...
‘We’ 🇬🇧 always seemed to refer either to the full name ‘Austin Metropolitan Nash’ or the ‘Austin Metropolitan’ ‘Nash’ very rarely. I think the lack of a Boot/Trunk lid was a killer in the U.K.
I was thinking the same Herman. Most americans like to ride with their arm out the window. The way that it is on the door makes it look like its made for the arm.
They’re called “cozy wings” and are for comfortable cruising. If you ever drove one and hung your arm out the window, you’d understand. Lol. They’re the besssst.
My brother bought one (same colour scheme) for his wife in the 1960’s in the 🇬🇧 memorable as I locked the keys in it as a 4 year old 😂 my one daughter owns the modern equivalent the Nissan Figaro.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VIDEO. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND A 1959 CONVERTIBLE IN 2006. STILL NEEDS WORK BUT IT IS A JOY. MINE HAS THE FLYING LADY HOOD ORNAMENT. WAS THIS AN OPTION ON NASH VEHICLES? OUR CAR IS A FAVORITE DURING HOT AUGUST NIGHTS WEEK LONG CELBRATION IN RENO NV. YA'LL ARE INVITED TO COME TO RENO FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST
Thank you for the great info! I am trying to find which model had a rear door that opened. The backseat faced the opposite direction. I found one for sale that I wanted to buy while I was in high school. I’ve never found another one like that model again. Do you know which year and model? Thank you..
Metros show up at some shows en masse. When you come upon a gaggle of them, you feel as though you are in Japanese anime, and you get a sudden urge for some kind of colorful, sugary snack.
We know it as the Austin metropolitan. .1500cc Austin motor
Před 4 měsíci
I can't get past the stupidity of closing in the front wheel openings. The early cars don't even have an opening trunk/boot. The only cars that are a good investment are very limited production cars that are in great demand; the Metropolitan does not qualify.
If you buy a Met simply as an investment, you don't deserve the privilege of DRIVING one of the coolest cars ever made. You want to invest? Try the stock market...
Very kind of you not to point out that the UK is not part of Europe or even the EU now. The presenter didn’t mention one of the unusual mechanical features. The brake lights are not electrically triggered but are triggered by hydraulic fluid from the brake pedal. This line can leak at a brake light. That will cause a soft pedal or no brakes. I suppose at least the lights wouldn’t go on! The AM radio is of course a tube radio. The heater is called a weather eye which was the Nash brand for their heater (looks like a tea-kettle). Said to be one of the first heaters which was able to direct heat of hot water into the cabin from the radiator through the heater core.
Stupid design with those closed in front and rear wheels. This compromises front wheel turning and makes tire changing difficult. The subject car looks fully restored to a good standard. Most Metropolitans that you find will be well below this standard and will require a lot of work.
Subscribe for more sale proof car reviews!
czcams.com/users/saleproofcarreviews
EDIT: The heater is operated by pulling the knob out which opens the hot water valve. Then clockwise rotation of the knob turns the fan on at high speed and decreases the fan speed the farther you go clockwise. The fan will work independently, whether or not the water valve is open. If the valve remains closed the fan will draw fresh air through the cowl into the car. There are two half round doors on the heater box under the dash that can be opened to allow fresh or warm air into the car. If those doors are closed air only travels through the windshield defroster vents on top of the dash. The wiper switch is simply a pull out, push in, ON /Off switch.
That horn is that loud to scare away railroad locomotives that might be bearing down on you if you got stuck in the middle of a track at a railroad crossing.
Fun Fact: The Metropolitan's doors were built so they could be used on either side of the car. The factory first fabricated the doors without holes drilled for door handles and no frames for the ends. Factory workers could then put a hinge plate on one end and a latch plate on the other end then drill the holes for the door handle on the left or right side, depending on which side the needed it on.
Interesting!
This is my "dream car"!!!! My Aunt Evelyn had one in black and white. I was 6 years old and wanted one of these for 63 years!
This was my first car. I bought it from my neighbor and restored it when i was 14 (in the 90s). The purpose of the cutouts on the doors was to give you arm a place to lay when driving. (which I always did) Another cool note is the "weather eye system" (or the heater under the dash) is a circle. This circle lines up with the cutout for the spare holder. In the factory, these were rotisseried with a pole going all the way through the car before the engine was fitted.
Thank you for featuring my car! This was fun and you did a great job!!!
My pleasure! Thank you for letting us film and hope to see it at one of the car shows soon!
Congratulations in the new addition...she is adorable!
She is! She's an adorable handful
Thank you. I enjoyed your cheerful, matter-of-fact presentation. My Pop had a yellow '59 when I was in high school. It was cute as a bug, and fun to drive. I always have preferred the '59 or later models because of the improvements to grill and hood, vent windows, one-piece rear window, outside-opening trunk. I'd love to have one today.
Your description of the operation of the heater and wiper is incorrect. The heater is operated by pulling the knob out which opens the hot water valve. Then clockwise rotation of the knob turns the fan on at high speed and decreases the fan speed the farther you go clockwise. The fan will work independently, whether or not the water valve is open. If the valve remains closed the fan will draw fresh air through the cowl into the car. There are two half round doors on the heater box under the dash that can be opened to allow fresh or warm air into the car. If those doors are closed air only travels through the windshield defroster vents on top of the dash. The wiper switch is simply a pull out, push in, ON /Off switch.
Noted
Interesting about Nash Metropolitan: czcams.com/video/sjt23cNjbw0/video.html
Just a small correction on the 1954/1955 hardtop models. Neither years had white tops. They all had Mist Grey (P907) tops, no matter what the 4 bottom colors were. Mist Grey wheels were also standard for the 54/55 models.
One of my 5 dream cars. I sure hope ill be able to afford one someday
I believe the door treatment (the cutout with the vertical lines) is a Nash styling cue so it was to show the Met is part of the Nash family.
The ridges on the door were a Pininfarina styling cue that was carried over from the bodies they designed for the full-size Nashes of the same time. It was a means of visually tying the models together to the same maker family. Beyond that, there wasn't really a function, but I think some people felt it was a little better for visibility of the lines in the road, and it's slightly lower for setting your arm on when the window is rolled down.
Further to my previous, it is basically a British Austin, hence the peculiarities such as indicator switch on top of steering wheel boss which, to a Brit, was quite normal. No mention of the three-speed gearbox with column shift - not so usual for a British car. Engine and drive train are all Austin, based on the A40/A50.
This looks like the car Mr. Incredible picks up.
"What are you looking at, kid?"
"Idk, something amazing I guess."
"Me too kid, me too."
Hahaha!
Another awesome video! I've heard of the Nash Metropolitan. I may have seen one in person. I've always thought it was the best looking car offered by Nash/Rambler/AMC. Whether it's a good investment or *"sale proof"* I think depends on who you ask.
40 mpg was GREAT for 1957!
She drives really well up to 60mph
It's incredible mileage! @Melissa Reiner I forgot to ask you, do you have to add any modifiers to your gas for it to run optimally?
Try to get a modern fuel injected car to do that these days!!
@@Classickoolcars my Ford Fiesta 2013 5sp gets 42mpg US... that'd be 50+ imperial MPG.
If I drive it under 60mph like the comfortable top end of a 57 Metropolitan or 55 like the top end of an earlier Met...then I get almost 50mpg US Customary
About 37mpg around town with stop and go.
I have 4 Metropolitans here in England, one of each colour for the series 3 and 4 cars, ALL Mets were made in Longbridge, England by Austin
I had two tone salmon pink and white, the engine was made by the Rootes Group in the U.K.
I came across one at the local car museum. I saw it and kind of giggled, but thought it was adorable. Im looking into buying one.
ahhh , memories , from the days an import car meant it came from Europe . Austins,Perfects,Hillmans,Vaxhauls . the little Nash was excellant at what it was built for , moving two people through city streets . Of course we were teenagers so we'd cram 4 or 5 people into it bomb down the highway . not safe, but fun lol
When I was a kid my mom. Had a girl friend and her husband had one and they took me to their place in the country, I sat sideways . I love tiny cars
If anyone is interested, there is one here in Sanford NC. It's in need of a major restoration. It's at Milton's Garage on Steele Street. May be great for a collector or as an investment? It's a hard top.
@ 8:03. The cut outs.
It is symmetrical decoration.
The right and left door panel are from the same mold.
Loved the video but it would have been nice to have had both video from behind the wheel and from outside whilst moving. Also would have liked to have seen and heard the general public's reaction to it when parked up in a busy area (like outside the entrance to a Mall). My grandfather had one (a RHD yellow and white coupe, an Austin I believe) and I now have a red and white LHD Nash coupe. Takes me back!
Nick England
I would have loved hearing him start her up.
A buddy of mine had one that we used to tool around in during the late 1960s It had a white on yellow paint job and was a really fun little car.
Nice review from a new subscriber. Good narrative on this. Thanks.
Can remember as a kid in Cardiff, UK seeing these unusual cars with the corrugated iron doors. Cool.
What a beautiful car. Loved it
Great video!
Wonderful presentation highlighting this superb example of this beautifully designed car, many thanks for posting. The engines used were Austin "A" Series engines of varying cc and power output. Just one error to correct in your otherwise flawless commentary - Austin was a British Manufacturer of motor vehicles and not a European one.
Thank you for the kind words and that's a fair enough critique!
@@SaleProofCarReviews thank you, I hope you didn't mind, as you may have guessed we are quite "anti-Europe" at the moment and reviving/refreshing our pro - USA loyalties and goodwill.
I don't mind if someone points out my inaccuracy or error in a tactful way
I've owned one in yellow and white in NZ. Always thought it was made by Austin of England. Certainly uses an Austin engine. Badged as Austin in NZ.
Excellent video.
Good video. I used to own a '57 Met in Mardi Gras Red and White. I'm 6'1" and was surprised by its headroom and overall roominess. Wish I had kept it but I was approached by a guy (also known as a "heat seeking missile") who was desperately looking for a Met for his wife's upcoming birthday. What can I say? He made me an offer I couldn't refuse...
‘We’ 🇬🇧 always seemed to refer either to the full name ‘Austin Metropolitan Nash’ or the ‘Austin Metropolitan’ ‘Nash’ very rarely. I think the lack of a Boot/Trunk lid was a killer in the U.K.
Our '55 Nash Metropolitan convertible had a two-tone paint job.
That steering column looks like an Austin component. I suspect they used a lot of bits from Austin's parts bin.
maybe the cutouts on the tops of the doors are so you can rest your elbow out the window more comfortably?
It's possible, but I think unlikely. I figure Austin Motors manufactured it that way for a reason, more than likely because it was cost effective..
I was thinking the same Herman. Most americans like to ride with their arm out the window. The way that it is on the door makes it look like its made for the arm.
They were to match the design of the bigger Nash cars
They’re called “cozy wings” and are for comfortable cruising. If you ever drove one and hung your arm out the window, you’d understand. Lol. They’re the besssst.
My brother bought one (same colour scheme) for his wife in the 1960’s in the 🇬🇧 memorable as I locked the keys in it as a 4 year old 😂 my one daughter owns the modern equivalent the Nissan Figaro.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VIDEO. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND A 1959 CONVERTIBLE IN 2006. STILL NEEDS WORK BUT IT IS A JOY. MINE HAS THE FLYING LADY HOOD ORNAMENT. WAS THIS AN OPTION ON NASH VEHICLES? OUR CAR IS A FAVORITE DURING HOT AUGUST NIGHTS WEEK LONG CELBRATION IN RENO NV. YA'LL ARE INVITED TO COME TO RENO FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST
Thank you for the invite! And I believe the hood ornament was an option
THX
Quite a few RHD Metropolitans were also sold in Australia. In the UK they were always Austins.
Good job man. We love ours. 👍👌❤️❤️
That has to be the cutest car ever sold in the USA. Sorry, Crosley.
Thank you for the great info! I am trying to find which model had a rear door that opened. The backseat faced the opposite direction. I found one for sale that I wanted to buy while I was in high school. I’ve never found another one like that model again. Do you know which year and model? Thank you..
59-61 (model III) are the ones with the outside rear trunk door!
Thanks.. how much room in back
Metros show up at some shows en masse. When you come upon a gaggle of them, you feel as though you are in Japanese anime, and you get a sudden urge for some kind of colorful, sugary snack.
Dad had bought a metropolitan just like this car in 67
I always liked these neat cars. Are parts for it hard to find?
Nope huge aftermarket for used, refurbished, and newly made part
Lois Lane drove one in Superman series.
I'm gonna say, you're down a few points. At car shows, these Mets are the hit...
We know it as the Austin metropolitan. .1500cc Austin motor
I can't get past the stupidity of closing in the front wheel openings. The early cars don't even have an opening trunk/boot. The only cars that are a good investment are very limited production cars that are in great demand; the Metropolitan does not qualify.
I don't know what's cuter you or the car ?!
.....sigh, he never started it.
My neighbor has a 1960 with the trunk lid. Looks better without one, and it kinda sucks.
If you buy a Met simply as an investment, you don't deserve the privilege of DRIVING one of the coolest cars ever made. You want to invest? Try the stock market...
Its British
Very kind of you not to point out that the UK is not part of Europe or even the EU now.
The presenter didn’t mention one of the unusual mechanical features. The brake lights are not electrically triggered but are triggered by hydraulic fluid from the brake pedal. This line can leak at a brake light. That will cause a soft pedal or no brakes. I suppose at least the lights wouldn’t go on! The AM radio is of course a tube radio. The heater is called a weather eye which was the Nash brand for their heater (looks like a tea-kettle). Said to be one of the first heaters which was able to direct heat of hot water into the cabin from the radiator through the heater core.
Most rusted away.
Stupid design with those closed in front and rear wheels. This compromises front wheel turning and makes tire changing difficult. The subject car looks fully restored to a good standard. Most Metropolitans that you find will be well below this standard and will require a lot of work.
Plenty of Toyota Camry’s for you Mr Boring….🤣🤣🤷♂️🤷♂️
Just a nit, but it isn't a "knob" it is a gas cap. Knobs are typically used to control something, hence it is a CAP