(308) 234-1964

Classic Car Collection

Over 200 Classic Cars in Kearney, Nebraska

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1960 Nash Metropolitan

1960 Nash Metropolitan

Original price:  $1,650.00 (average)

On loan from:  Terry and Kevin Klatt, Hastings, NE

Number made:  13,103

Engine, etc.:  1500cc; 90 cid; 52 hp; Austin overhead valve 4 cyl.; 85” wheelbase; 1,850 lbs.

The Metropolitan was ahead of its time since most American automobile makers were building larger cars during the 1950s.  Nash Motor Company decided to produce a small, economical, fuel-efficient car.  When a concept car drew positive reviews, the decision was made to produce the vehicle.  It was designed to be a second car in a two-car family, useful for taking children to school, shopping, or driving to work.  The wheelbase was shorter than a VW Beetle’s.

Market research before production led to additions such as roll-up glass side windows, a more powerful engine, and a column-mounted transmission shifter and bench seats.

In October, 1953 production started at Austin’s Longbridge factory in England.  Bodywork was done by Fisher and Ludlow with final assembly by the Austin Motor Company.  It was more cost-effective to produce the car overseas than to invest in tooling costs in the U. S.  This was the first time an American-designed car to be marketed in North America was built in Europe.

Styling designs came from Pininfarina of Italy and in-house Nash designers.  Nash used the name Pininfarina in advertising its larger models but Pininfarina refused to allow his name to be associated with the Metropolitan.  He felt it would damage his reputation with other Italian car companies to be linked to such a small car.

The car came with several standard features that were considered optional on other cars:  map light, electric windshield wipers, cigar lighter, a “continental-type” rear-mounted and covered spare tire, and upholstery trimmed in leather.  “Options” included an AM radio, heater, and whitewall tires though all cars left the factory with radio and heater installed.

The Nash Metropolitan was available in either a hardtop or convertible body style.  Reviews called it a “big car in miniature”, “fun to drive” and an “ideal second car for a family”.

The Metropolitan was very economical but had dumpy styling.  Colors resembled Neapolitan ice cream.  The cars also had serious rust problems.

Metropolitans were the first postwar car marketed specifically to women.  The first spokesperson was Miss America 1954, Evelyn Ay Sempier, and the car was advertised in Women’s Wear Daily.

The Metropolitan was produced from 1954 – 1962.  In 1954 Nash-Kelvinator Corporation merged with Hudson Motor Car Company to form American Motors Corporation.

The 1960 AMC Metropolitan continued the Nash/Hudson Metropolitan under the AMC name.  At its highest point, 22,309 cars were imported in 1959 but sales fell because of buyers purchasing compacts.  Sales dropped dramatically in mid-1959.  Production continued until 1961 though there were enough cars produced to continue sales into 1962.

A total of 95,000 Metropolitans were sold in the U. S. and about 9,400 were sold in the United Kingdom.

Sources:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1958-1962-amc-metropolitan.htm
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z14156/Nash-Metropolitan.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_Metropolitan
http://uniquecarsandparts.com/lost_marques_nash.htm  (History)

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1915 Paige Touring

1915 Paige Touring Sedan, Fairfield, Model 6; 4-door, 7 passenger

Original cost: $1,395.00

Number made: 4,631 in 1914; 7,749 in 1915

Engine, etc.: 6 cyl.; 29.4 hp; 123 ½ in. wheelbase

Paige Automobile company, Detroit, Michigan, 1909 – 1928

Paige Automobile was started in 1909 by investor Harry M. Jewett, a wealthy coal company owner. He bought into a car designed by Andrew Bachle and promoted by Fred O. Paige who later became president of Paige-Detroit Motor Car Co.

Mr. Jewett had learned more about cars and called the 1910 Paige-Detroit “a piece of junk”. He eased Paige out of the company and cleaned house in the engineering department. The “Detroit” part of the name was dropped and the company was reorganized.

The new Paige came out in 1911. The first car was a two-seater powered by a three-cylinder, two-stroke engine that displaced 2.2 liters. A four-cylinder, four-stroke model was offered a few years later. A six-cylinder engine became available in 1914.

The company progressed nicely, such that by 1916 it was known for its chic and graceful styling, using the slogan “The Most Beautiful Car in America”.

Their most famous car was the Paige Daytona built from 1922 – 1926. It was a sporty car that set many speed records. The Daytona 6-66 Speedster was advertised as “The World’s Fastest Car”, reinforced when a stripped down production model exceeded 100 miles per hour at a Daytona sand-beach track. In doing so, it broke every existing stock car record for speed after traveling a mile in a mere 35.01 seconds at a speed of 102.8 miles per hour.

Jewett stayed with the company until 1927 when, after losses mounted to $2.5 million, he sold out.

One more model year was produced before the company folded.

The Graham brothers bought the Paige-Detroit Car Company for four million dollars. The following year, Paige-Detroit cars became known as Graham-Paiges.

Sources: Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805 -1942. Beverly Rae Kimes, et al. 3rd ed. Krause Publications, 1996.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/z19652/Paige-Model-6-51.aspx

http://www.wcroberts.org/Paige_History.html

http://www.wcroberts.org/Paige_History/1915_Paige.html  (Information about 1915 models)

 

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1931 Ford Model A Coupe

1931 Ford Model A Coupe

On loan from: Paul Hammond of Broken Bow, Nebraska

Original cost:  $490

Number made:  79,816

Engine, etc.: 4 cyl., 200.5 cu. in.; 40 hp.; 2,257 lbs.; wheelbase: 103 ½ in.

This was a two-owner car before Paul Hammond bought it from his brother, Lloyd. Lloyd bought it in 1956 and drove it to high school in Anselmo, NE. Lloyd wanted to keep the car in the family and Paul bought it a year before his brother’s death in 2014.

A frame-off restoration was done about ten years ago by Lloyd Hammond and his daughters. Lloyd was president of the Quail Model-A Club in Denver, CO and moved back to Broken Bow when he retired in order to be closer to family.

When Lloyd went into the military, the car was parked across the front of his parents’ garage. Paul and Lloyd’s father couldn’t see well so when he saw the Model A (from running into its fenders), he knew he was far enough into the garage that the door would close.

Lloyd had a pop bottle opener mounted on the dash board. Each time there was a school dance, there was always a pile of pop bottle lids on the floor of the car.

Ford began production of Model A’s in 1927. It replaced the aging Model T and was eagerly awaited by the public. It was stylish and elegant and much more sophisticated and complex than the Model T. Prices ranged from $385 to $570 for the various models.

The Model A Coupe, also called the A-Model Ford or the A, and A-bone among hot-rodders and customizers, was the second huge success for the Ford Motor Company.

With a 4-cylinder water cooled L-head engine of over 200 cubic inches, its top speed was over 60 mph, and it got a remarkable 40 miles-per-gallon of gas.  The transmission was a conventional 3-speed sliding gear manual unsynchronized unit with a single speed reverse.

The Model A had 4-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The 1930 and 1931 editions came with stainless steel radiator cowling and headlamp housings.

Ford had produced one million Model A’s by February, 1929 and reached its 20-millionth in 1931. A total of 4,320,446 Model A’s were made.

Production of Model A’s ceased on August 31, 1931. They were replaced by the Model B.

Sources:  Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805 -1942. Beverly Rae Kimes, et al. 3rd ed. Krause Publications, 1996.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z5912/Ford-Model-A.aspx
http://www.classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=712&year=1931&model=8160
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1930_Ford/dirindex.html (4 original brochures, 1930 models)

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1940 Cadillac Convertible Sedan

1940 Cadillac Fleetwood Convertible Sedan, Series 40-7529; 4-dr., five-passenger

This vehicle has been adopted by Jeff Knapp of Kearney, NE.  (Ask how you can adopt a vehicle.)

Original price: $3,945.00

Number made: 45

Ours was the first 1940 “75 Series” Convertible Sedan made: “Manufacturing number 1”.  It is a rare and valuable car.

Engine, etc.:  Ninety degree, L-head, 8 cyl.; 140 h.p., 346 cu. in.; synchromesh manual transmission; 141” wheelbase; 5,110 lbs.

Options:  Radio: $69.50; heater: $26.50 – $52.50; seat covers: $8.25/seat; fog lights: $14.50/pair; windshield washer: $6.50.

Cadillac continued its “projectile” or “torpedo” body style of 1939 but in 1940 the grill was slightly revised with fewer bars of bolder, more substantial design and the introduction of a pair of louver bars on the side panels of the hood.  By now sealed beam headlights, turn indicators, and running boards were offered as no cost options.

Cadillac offered five different wheelbase lengths ranging from the 127 inch Sixty Special sedan to the 141 inch Series 40-75 town car, the longest.

This was the last year Cadillac offered side-mounted spare tires.

The Cadillac Series 75 was the automaker’s flagship V-8 from 1936 onwards.  The Series 80 was similar in appearance but had a V-12 engine.  The V-8 produced 135 hp while the V-12 had 150 hp.

Fleetwood was Cadillac’s in-house coachbuilder though it was doing very little custom work by 1940.  Fleetwood dated back to 1905 when it was formed in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.  In its early years, its best customers were Packard, Pierce-Arrow, and Cadillac.  Cadillac purchased the company in 1925 and sales and design offices moved to Detroit.  In 1929 a new Fleetwood plant was built in Detroit.  Production was eventually absorbed by General Motors Art and Colour and Fisher Body.  The Fleetwood name persisted for many decades, however, often referring to limited/low-production styles.

Sources:

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z12307/Cadillac-Series-75.aspx

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Series_70#1938.E2.80.931940

http://www.classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=391&year=1940&model=3850

E-mail from Paul Ayres, National LaSalle-Cadillac Museum and Research Center, certifying the car was the first made of the “75 series” and one of only 45 made in 1940. (Copy in Classic Car Collection files.)