Back in those days Nash and Hudson were definitely higher end cars. They could compete directly with Chrysler, Oldsmobile, and Buick. The sad part is that very few realized how really great they were. Only now in these awesome videos do we see that greatness and quality. 🥰
Ditto! When I was 11, my parents bought a brand new 1952 Nash Statesman Country Club (2-door hardtop), yellow with a black top. I would love to have it now!
This Nash is so beautiful, made in Kenosha, Wi, by workers who took great pride in detail. Those ropes behind the front seats were for blankets and/or coats. The ribbed window trim is extruded aluminum.
It's interesting to read the history of Nash and other smaller manufacturers. They all had to be unique in some fashion in order to distinguish themselves from their larger competitors.... sometimes comically so; but this model seems to have been beautifully executed. Thanks for sharing this one.
When I was a child I had a 1/4 scale model car just like that one only it was light blue. Loved that toy to death. It was all plactic and did not survive being played with. Wish I still had it.
Engineering wise, the Nash seemed to be more advanced than many other cars of that era. The robust overhead valve 6-cylinder engine has been around, performance shops are still tinkering with it. Some shops are getting as much to 700 hp or better out of it.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I grew up with our family car, a 1953 Nash Statesman. Same Pinafarina designed body as the ambassador slightly less appointed as the next model down. When we went on vacation, my brother and I often slept in the car, my parents got the cabin or motel room, my father made some arrangement with the cabin court owner which saved us some money, but allowed us to stay longer. In 1959 I learned to drive the car and took my state drivers exam with a state trooper in the passenger seat. On snow and ice, 3 speed stick on the column, 4th overdrive accelerator engaged. Bigger than the Cadillacs of 53 & 54, with those Farina front wheel skirts the Statesman and Ambassadors had the turning radius of a fire truck. Thank You so much.
My younger years were with a 53 Statesman also, straight shift. I learned to drive in it also and took my driver's license test in it. When my Daddy traded it in, 1960, I think, I took the flying Lady hood ornament off before the car left,..I still have that hood ornament.
@@MrSelf-pg2kt Wow what a classic hood ornament glad you still.have it. If my flaky memory serves I believe the ornament was designed by renounced pinup artist Alberto Vargas. If so his signature is somewhere cast into the ornament or bracket.
@@MrSelf-pg2kt Me too, many times paste waxing the Statesman gave me a chance to know the lady well. Thanks for the correction I do remember the name cast, just remembered the wrong name.
Thanks! Great to see that car. The detail under the windows first appeared on the 52 models and was adapted to the Metropolitan when it was introduced in 1954. Nash did extraodinarily well at Le Mans for a couple of years. The 54 Nash is credited with being the first with A/C all up front. (Pontiac is said to have a similar design that year - I have never seen one). The car was styled by in house designer Ed Anderson and his crew with consultation on the design from Battiste "Pinin" Farina. All Weather Eye refers to the Weather Eye system with the A/C included.
those things under the sidewindows were called saddle sides. they were supposed to be reminiscent of a saddle. mercury used them in 1955 and 1956 on the upper trim level models.
My Grand Dad liberated a 53 in the same color from a farmer’s barn. Paid $50 for it. Back in 1971. Took me two days to clean all the bird crap off it. Shined up real good. No rust, nice interior. Had a standard 6 with a 3 speed OD. No AC, but otherwise a twin to this one including the color and hood ornament! It only had about 70,000 miles on it. Grand Dad drove it about 6 months before he passed away. Car got sold to someone and now it’s lost to the sands of time.
We had a 1952 plain Jane statesman six cylinder stick. We would dream of the Le Mans engine and white walls. We drove that car all through the winters with no problems . In my later years, I also had a 54 and a 57 and enough ramblers to start used car a lot. Had a 60 ambassador with a 327 AMC that would beat anyone back in 1962 and 1963. Known by all as rambler Joe.
The ribbing below the door windows began with the 1952 Statesman and Ambassador and continued onto the Metropolitans. The wire wheel covers were used on many makes of 1950s cars, including Plymouth and Pontiac (all that was switched out was the center cap!) And the LeMans option referred, as you mentioned, to dual carburetors such as used in the Nash-Healey sports car, "Weather Eye" was Nash's name for its modern heater system; "ALL-Weather Eye" was their name for their new air conditioning system, which was the first air conditioning system with all the components under the hood. Other makes still has the compressor in the trunk, which led to air being forced into the car through plastic tubes at the rear of the car!
Wow that's a gorgeous Nash. Must be a top of the line model. Nash didn't hold anything back on this one. My car is not exciting and mostly plastic but it does have a cult following at least 😖😂
I remember when dealers covered their windows with brown paper until the 'unveiling' of the new models and on the advertised date, with people waiting on the sidewalk, the paper would come down and we got the first view of the new cars.
I was a muscle car nut in the 60's and had zero interest in any Nash, they just didn't appeal to me at the time--but now I'm older and wiser and this car is excellent! I overlooked an interesting car because it didn't seem sexy or fast.
The skirt was built into the fenders. *LeMans is pronounced: Lay-Man. The last letter, an "s", is ALWAYS SILENT! &;...->See Below, Too: *A little more sporty; or, sportier; is correct;..."More Sportier", is NEVER correct!
@@jaydee4009 In any; &, every country, that it is said, it is said incorrectly. As from the French language, it is always silent; and, thus: NOT pronounced!
You are wrong. First of all, it's not even supposed to be one word. That's the Americanization of it. Secondly, we pronounce the "s" all the time - with a "z" sound. Think of the car by Pontiac it's pronounced "Luh-mahnz." In other words, this isn't France.
