The Nash Metropolitan is an endlessly flexibile classic, with some enthusiasts using them as hot rods, others rat rods, and still others restoring them back to better-than-new condition. Like so many things that are fun, there are limits to their practicality, but this example here on eBay looks like a solid buy for a project at $950 or best offer.
Said to be a California high desert car, it looks impressively solid and straight with no signs of past corrosion issues. The seller is moving it along after realizing he won’t have the time to do this project any justice, and based on the background in the photos, it looks like he has more than a few vehicles taking up his spare time.
The interior has already been stripped, presumably to eyeball the floors and make sure no major holes were present. The battery box and trunk floor is said to be in similar, rot-free condition, and but no word on whether the seller is including any interior parts in the sale. If it was a desert find, there’s a good chance it was weather-beaten beyond salvation.
Isn’t that hood bulge a riot? Well, some cars actually have swapped-in powerplants that make these tiny Metropolitans fierce competitors on the drag strip, but that’s just one way to tackle this blank canvas. The seller is willing to meet the new owner within reasonable distances to Quincy, California, and he’ll also help with arranging shipping for non-locals. Anyone tempted by this project? How would you restore it?
I dig it! This seems to be a nice price for a solid project. My mother, and subsequently her younger brother had one of these as their first car. I’ve always wanted to do one up like a 7/8 scaled hot rod Chevy, with a turbo Buick V6. This is neat.
Grant, Back in the early 1970’s J.C. Whitney Catalog offered an engine mount conversion for the Metropolitan 4 cylinder MG/British Leyland engine to a Buick V-6.
My first car was a GMC S-15 Jimmy with the fuel-injected 2.8L V-6 (different engine family, I know). It was a DOG in there, but I always thought that paired with a five-speed and swapped into one of these it would make a nice, peppy-yet-efficient commuter.
The Buick engine, now that would just be crazy fast. I like it!
Whenever someone sprays fresh primer over obviously unfinished bodywork you can usually figure it’s been done to cover a multitude of sins that would otherwise scare you away.
There was that one time I went to the alleged car restorer’s place in the early nineties, and saw primer shot directly over *moss*–so, brakeservo ain’t wrong.
And besides that, they put the old Laquer primer on it, so that has to come off. Just saying.
I see a big outward Dent on r. rear quarter and a couple suspicious spots around the back and rockers. That said for a met not bad. Most are toast. At 950 price, even with shipping, is not bad. If I had the disposable income, the I would be making a play for it.
I like the little Buick on the lift behind the Nash. Might have a 215 V8 in it!
Wow! Any Met where you can still see the front fender bottom bolt is worth fixing. Those are usually long rusted away (along with the rockers), at least where I live. This one is remarkably solid. Too bad someone jacked it up wrong on the passenger side, but it’s still a solid start for a project.
First car I ever brought back to life was a ’56 Met convertible. I’d love to have another one. Thankfully this one is too far away from me – I have too many projects already but I wouldn’t be able to resist the $950.
I can see how the seller won’t have time to get to this. That big project behind it will take a lifetime.
– John
nice project car the daredevil guys used to love these and other little cars for clown cars Being a buick guy I see a neat 62 skylark in the back ground I believe
The hood bulge is an earlier style hood. Pre-57 hood and swapped onto this 57 model
I’m with the rest, I like the little Buick.