61 Nash Metro

[69MyWay]

Please feel free to question my sanity. Truth is that Radrambler has little by little rubbed off on me with these pre AMC products and the early AMC products. I started looking first at the Metro then switched to the 50s Nash Rambler Wagons...and settled back here. I LOVE the dropped fenders and saw some V8 models...etc with some sweet wheels - etc.

I usually prefer to pick up "project cars" that are in a deep state of disrepair or unfinished. I probably paid too much for this one, but from what I can see it is solid leaving more time for the good stuff instead of trying to rebuild the entire car before I get to the goodies.

Because gas prices and other issues have put a squeeze on my "hot rod" budget, I have all sorts of odd ideas running around my mind head about this 1.5 liter three on the tree teacup on wheels.

Also, I want a car I can drive everyday that is both economical and fun. I know that those two words and cars built in 1961 aren't suppose to go in the same sentence.

So...here is the ebay auction I won with the pictures.

Let me know what you think - or what you would do with one of these little puddle jumpers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170789543569&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1120#v4-40

[coolwelder62]

I think there's an amusment park missing one of their kiddie car's.:willy: :rofl: No, it look's like a soild car.I think it need's a twin turbo Big Block.:thumbsup:

[69MyWay]

I know - they are TINY - Like Cartoon tiny!

I've been on youtube and seen one of these with a big block super charged where the blower was bigger than the stock engine!

At a minimum I'd like to see it running again with fresh tires, brakes...etc and be able to zoom to and from work.

On the flip side, I think if the continental spare was shaved, bumper holes shaved and fresh rear LED late model lamps of some sort in there - HID kit in the front, dropped low, fresh tight suspension and some nice wheels it would be a sharp looking ride - very clean.

Engine wise, a stock 2.5 S10 with five speed drive train would be a nice start. Of course an LS would be amazing - or even a Saturn Sky turbo four and six manual would be neat.

But - right now I'll be satisfied to drag it to my garage and just figure out how to get the stock mill fired up and get some soft parts on the inside.

[Rick D]

I have a friend that has on of these. I have always thought it would make a cool hot rod kinda pro-touring?? I can get for next to nothing?
This is just a picture from Google not the one my friend has, his is in MUCH better shape. Cool project should be fun, and my vote is for Sky turbo motor. You know different like the car.

[64pontiac]

I'll give you my idea, but don't be mad if you see me do something like it on a different car.......

Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky Turbo ecotec drivetrain..... manual trans, rear wheel drive configuration, ecotec aluminum 4 banger and a turbo. And you can get them for a decent price.

Then in keeping with that theme, do a removable hard top and a flip front end.

[daemon2]

http://image.hotrod.com/f/featuredvehicles/hrdp_1012_1954_nash_metropolitan/35224434+pheader_460x1000/hrdp_1012_01_o+1954_nash_metropolitan+front_left_v iew.jpg

Heres a link to the article, they stuffed a V8 in her: http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_1012_1954_nash_metropolitan/

[OLDFLM]

Engine looks very similar to the one in my 1960 Austin Healey Bugeye!

You could also do a full Miata swap with drivetrain and suspension! :yes:

[69MyWay]

http://image.hotrod.com/f/featuredvehicles/hrdp_1012_1954_nash_metropolitan/35224434+pheader_460x1000/hrdp_1012_01_o+1954_nash_metropolitan+front_left_v iew.jpg

Heres a link to the article, they stuffed a V8 in her: http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_1012_1954_nash_metropolitan/

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[64pontiac]

Only thing that car needs is a curved windshield......

[daemon2]

If you could do it I would love to watch!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rhino]

I'm always amazed at the lengths we all travel for the "right" project car.
I found my '68 in the middle of NE. You just found yours in my back yard. :lol:


... or even a Saturn Sky turbo four and six manual would be neat...

for years I've had an itch to do an early Vega with one of these turbo 4's. Sort of like a modern Cosworth.

I've always been interested in these little Metros. Can't wait to see what you do to her.

[radrambler]

:woot: I HAVE FINALLY INFLUENCED CHRIS!!! :lol: since age 17 weve been playing with cars.aproaching 41 I finally got a lil bit of outside the box build ideas to rub off....:D

I am excited to see this project (cough ) dailydriver come together. .

Ok.. time to spend your money .. where should i start... :rofl:

Tom

[64pontiac]

I didn't mean curve the existing glass.......but rather find a suitable windshield and graft it in.

[69MyWay]

:woot: I HAVE FINALLY INFLUENCED CHRIS!!! :lol: since age 17 weve been playing with cars.aproaching 41 I finally got a lil bit of outside the box build ideas to rub off....:D

I am excited to see this project (cough ) dailydriver come together. .

Ok.. time to spend your money .. where should i start... :rofl:

Tom

Yep yep and yep. The gears have been turning in my head. New direction for me for sure. Countdown to next Friday!

[Tuske427]

Very cool! Of course, that silly old song (Little Nash Rambler by the Playmates) is now stuck in my head "beep beep, beep beep, his horn went beep beep beep..."


Actually, I thought it would be fun to pick up one of these and put in an electric drive train ("Electropolitan") so I could use it by myself in the carpool lane here in so cal.

[69MyWay]

I thought about all sorts of things too - like if you ran it on methane...it would be a methropolitan.... LOL

Will be picking it up this Friday. I'm anxious to see the actual purchase and figure it will be much worse than I could imagine - but at least I'll have my expectations in-line.

I do feel like if the current seller had taken the time to bolt the hardware on, put a battery in it and get it to start he would have had more of an auction.

At a minimum that will be what I do when it gets home while I contemplate all kinds of fun engine swap ideas - not just with an eye towards power - but an eye towards modern technology and daily driver fun with some efficiency.

Beep beep - beep beep - right now I don't think the horn goes beep beep beep! You know, I could always put a train horn on it - NOW THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!

[454SSguy]

I thought about all sorts of things too - like if you ran it on methane...it would be a methropolitan.... LOL

Will be picking it up this Friday. I'm anxious to see the actual purchase and figure it will be much worse than I could imagine - but at least I'll have my expectations in-line.

I do feel like if the current seller had taken the time to bolt the hardware on, put a battery in it and get it to start he would have had more of an auction.

At a minimum that will be what I do when it gets home while I contemplate all kinds of fun engine swap ideas - not just with an eye towards power - but an eye towards modern technology and daily driver fun with some efficiency.

Beep beep - beep beep - right now I don't think the horn goes beep beep beep! You know, I could always put a train horn on it - NOW THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!



^^^ This.....

Everything about this car needs to scream "Seriously, what just happend?" , like from when you pop the hood to when honk the horn, to when someone calls off your timeslip at a local drag or AutoX event. :willy: :willy: :willy:

[69MyWay]

Got her home last night late. Twelve hours on the road to Independence MO and back. We did swing into KC and had lunch at Author Bryants in the original location. That was almost worth the trip right there.

The car is what it is. Rust is not bad, and easily fixable. Body is as rough as you would imagine. The car pretty much needs every soft and bright part if it were to be restored to original.

Got it home and put it on the lift this morning. I believe the first order of business will be to see if we can hear it run. The LUCAS wire harness is a disaster and the fuel has become solid as well as other things. Will drop the radiator at the rebuild shop this week and order up a new gas tank and rebuild kits for the clutch and brake hydraulics.

I'd like to take a spin or two in it in the original configuration so I have a real baseline.

Now...I found a guy today that has three of these AND has a complete 91 Mustang 2.3 with wire harness, computer, transmission, and drive shaft...etc. This could make for a very interesting swap. The car currently weighs 1,700 lbs. That would keep it down there too. I believe a turbo could be fitted to the 2.3 - but I will also have to upgrade the rear axle. Would most likely look at a S10 and have it narrowed.

Brakes are going to be an issue. I need to find out where I can send the hubs or who I can find to swap out to a different (larger) bolt pattern. Adapting to disc from that point doesn't look to be complicated.

More later

[69MyWay]

So tell me what is involved in adding a turbo to a 1991 Ford 2.3 mustang engine? I have a line on a complete 91 mustang take out but think adding a turbo would be the thing. Would have to narrow the axle and swap that too.

[69MyWay]

Okay, I found a Met with a 2.3 Ford and a C4 stuffed in. It is all motor from the radiator to the steering link (that runs above the trans).

I think this gives a great deal of insight into the potential of a EFI 2.3 and AOD trans or five speed option - then adding a turbo would be the real trick. There is a ton of room inside the fenders to run plumbling.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/tjm52071/Metropolitan/Mvc-009s.jpg

[69MyWay]

Rust...the great leveler of all that dare to venture out into the elements - rich, poor, big, small...and in-between!

Been tearing this thing down and letting the gears in my head roll around. I had hoped to have it ready for the blaster by Thursday, but it didn't happen. For the most part the nuts and bolts are coming out without too much trouble, but I did lose all of the door hinge bolts in the plate (had to drill out) and ended up pulling the whole front clip. You don't see Mets often without a front clip because it is welded and bolted on. After my wife pulled all the bolts I cut the welds and off it came. Now we can get down to business.

Still tearing down - have to yank the rear window, the battery box, and remove the door hareware/side glass - then I'm ready to fully assess.

[radrambler]

DUDE


WHERE IS THE CAR.. lol I'm sure it will be a cool ride when you get it back together.
daily driver right:lol:
One thing I know about you. You can make chicken salad out of chicken shiz. I've seen it.


:faint:

[69MyWay]

DUDE


WHERE IS THE CAR.. lol I'm sure it will be a cool ride when you get it back together.
daily driver right:lol:
One thing I know about you. You can make chicken salad out of chicken shiz. I've seen it.


:faint:


Ah...don't know yet for sure about anything. Never drove one before, so I have no idea what to expect (except slow on slow) when it is re-assembled.

Now - today I went a little far - going to have to do some surgical metal work around the rear quarters then section it back together. Hated to do this, but you can't take the quarters off without doing a lot of other damage due to overlapped panels. You can't buy new ones either, so I have to save these.

[radrambler]

Chris

Now is the time to widen the fenders and give it some tire..lol
Just saying:woot:

Tom

[intocarss]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/real3/DSC_0031-2.jpg

[69MyWay]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/real3/DSC_0031-2.jpg

Oh...now that is yellow...an the engine is as big as the car.

:thumbsup:

[Tiger]

I love those!
My idea would be a bmw m3 engine!?!?

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

Another shot at Las Vegas motor speedway last weekend.........jim

[69MyWay]

Ah ha! Looks like my thinking isn't far out from what some others have been pondering:

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/04/07/10-fuel-sipping-classics/?intcmp=features

[69MyWay]

So, time for some updates. I've been posting mostly at http://metropolitan.freeforums.org/

With that said - the future of the power plant...and more is not 100% determined, but at this moment this is NOT a G machine.

The car has come a long way - ended up cutting and replacing the floor, the rockers, the bottom of the A & B pillars...as well as the bottom of the actual hinge pillar point. Have also cut much of the other sheetmetal and removed teh rust.

I sprayed everything from the inside out with Herculiner and amd moving now to getting the outer body to bare metal and go back out from there.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/0dfc80375c445b826237b0c.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/43256914c78458b1af4d528.jpg/

[gnx7]

Any more updates? I love these little Nash Metropolitans.....

I remember when HOT ROD did one with a 455 and a B&M Mini blower in it.