BRETT ABRAHAM’S 1958 NASH METROPOLITAN
Calling up memories from 50 years ago, Brett can still recall the time when, as a teenage petrolhead living in Epsom, he stood on Manukau Road watching Nash Metropolitans cruising past.
“I always thought this quirky, iconic motoring oddity would one day be a desirable car to own,” said Brett.
Fast forward to the late 1990s and with Metropolitans seemingly less plentiful in New Zealand than they were 50 years ago, Brett managed to locate one for sale down in Dunedin and it was promptly purchased. A few years later, Brett got the opportunity to buy a beautifully restored 1946 Mercury, so his first Metropolitan was sold to release funds for his latest purchase.
However, Brett and his wife always missed the little Nash so a second example was purchased in 2018.
“The restoration of this car had been started and stopped by three owners prior to me,” said Brett, “but luckily one of those owners was a well-known Auckland panelbeater and, along with his son, had carried out an expert and thorough body restoration.”
With the Metropolitan’s body properly restored, a fresh coat of paint was applied and baked onto the car, returning the Nash back to its original two-tone colour scheme of Caribbean Blue over Frost White. One of the car’s other previous owners had imported a brand-new wiring loom from the USA but, alas, this loom was for a left-hand drive version, so all the wires for the dash instrumentation and steering column were on the wrong side!
“A masterful reorganisation of the loom was sorted for me by Hope Hickman Auto Electrical in Auckland,” said Brett.
With the body and electrical system sorted, the next task involved some extensive mechanical work. The differential had a dreadful whine that was eventually remedied by Diff Specs in Drury, Auckland; while brake, steering and suspension issues were remedied by Crystal Motors of Mt Eden.
Fortunately, the Nash’s upholstery only needed a tidy up but in order to fully refurbish the car’s interior, a new headlining in the original cloth was installed.
This required the removal and re-instatement of the three-piece rear screen.
“It’s no mean feat to get that glass back in with all the stainless-steel inserts in the rubbers,” remarked Brett.
“I have gone over the top with detailing the car,” continued Brett, “especially in the engine bay. I also managed to locate in Texas a rare Continental Kit spare wheel hubcap with the Nash logo embossed into it. I still haven’t plucked up the courage to tell my wife what it cost to buy, import, restore and chrome plate that!”
Built in 1957 and originally sold new in Hamilton, Brett’s Nash has been continuously registered since it was first registered on April 28, 1958 and still sports its original black plates. All the bugs are now ironed out and Brett and his wife are now able to enjoy driving it with total reliability.
[Brett’s latest project is the restoration of a rare 1983 XE S-Pac Falcon ute – the only example built to this specification level by Ford Australia. As a consequence of this, Brett’s lovely little Metropolitan is for sale. If anyone is interested, email your contact details to: editor@classicdriver. co.nz and they will be passed on to Brett.]