Finding a car in a barn after decades of sitting is incredibly satisfying, but some on Craigslist came across a dozen such vehicles, all untouched for over three decades. One is a 1959 Nash Metropolitan, a short-lived economy car born in England.
Few people remember the little Metropolitan, but this isn’t necessarily a surprise. It never sold in huge numbers, as the total output during its entire lineup includes only some 95,000 units in the United States and Canada.
1959 was the model’s best year, with over 22,000 cars sold in the two markets. Otherwise, the Metropolitan was quite a shy presence – in 1961, for instance, its total sales included just 969 vehicles.
The decklid was the most notable change introduced in 1959 – the year when Series IV officially saw daylight. It may sound strange, especially for those who never heard of Nash Metropolitan, but the previous model years came without a decklid.
The only way to access the trunk was from the rear seats, so if someone was sitting in the back, you had to ask them to get out of the car to reach the luggage area. The car was fitted with a 55-horsepower engine, so its focus was providing an economical drive to the supermarket.
The Nash Metropolitan you see in the pictures is, therefore, quite a rare find, not because only a few of them are still in existence but because the parent company produced only a handful of units in the first place. Unfortunately, we get very scarce information about the car, so it’s hard to tell whether this Metropolitan can still get a second chance.
Based on the provided photos, the car is still complete, and I’d expect the typical rust problems for a car sitting for decades. You should inspect the undersides and the trunk, as these areas are typically quickly invaded by rust. The engine is likely still there, but you won’t determine if it’s running without an in-person inspection.
This Metropolitan’s only option is a full restoration, but it’s hard to tell how challenging the project would be without first seeing the car live. We’re not getting a look at the interior either, but chances are it’s dirty and moldy, so a thorough cleaning will likely be needed.
Unsurprisingly, this Metropolitan isn’t selling for big bucks, especially because they aren’t desirable. 1959 was the year when the Impala’s popularity was already rising in the United States, so most people would rather go for a classic Chevy than a Nash Metropolitan for a restoration job.