One of the most frequent complaints from consumers today is that all cars look alike. Part of that is due to the SUV craze infecting the nation. The other reason is aerodynamics. With ever-tightening fuel economy standards forcing automakers to extract every iota of efficiency from their designs, it is not surprising that cars morph into the same shape with simple trim differences. In the late 1940s, Nash found a way to make an aerodynamic automobile stand out in any parking lot. For better or worse, Nash’s new postwar models were so aerodynamic that the public almost immediately dubbed them “bathtub” Nashes due to their upside-down bathtub shape. This 1949 Nash 600 two-door sedan is a great example of this innovative and somewhat maligned line of automobiles. Are you a fan of this unusual design, or do you feel customers were right to have preferred a more conventional shape?
Nash had previously introduced the “600” nameplate before the war in a line of low-cost but highly efficient cars. The 600 alluded to the claim that the car could travel 600 miles without adding gasoline if one drove prudently. These sharp sedans were good sellers for Nash, so when hostilities ceased and production returned the 600 was still available to more parsimonious customers. As with nearly every automobile company, Nash’s postwar product was not much more than a warmed-over prewar model. That would be the case through 1948.
For the 1949 model year, Nash swung for the fences. With unit-body construction and an aerodynamically designed and tested design, the “Airflyte” Nashes were radically different than their predecessors. Inside, customers were treated to a “Uniscope” instrument pod mounted to the steering column and the chance to order a front seat that folded down to meet the back seat to form a bed. If your extracurricular horizontal activities were centered around camping rather than short-term cohabitation, Nash even sold screens that fit into the window openings.
The radical look of the cars, complete with semi-enclosed fenders, was an acquired taste for customers. That was unfortunate, for these Nashes offered a proven drivetrain, huge interiors, the additional safety of unit-body construction, and were said to drive very well. They were also sold as either a 112-inch wheelbase series called the 600, or a more luxurious 121-inch wheelbase Ambassador series. The Ambassador also received a larger displacement version of Nash’s venerable inline-six. Still, customers were quick to judge and many believe sales were held back by the radical look.
The 1949 Nash 600 two-door sedan seen here appears to be a very nice example that is free of the rust that plagued many of its stablemates. The seller doesn’t offer much in the way of a description. All we are told is that it is a very clean car with no rust. We are also told that it runs well but will need some brake work before you hit the road. The worst news is that the car will not come with a title. It is not made clear if this is because the title is lost or if it comes from one of those states that refuse to issue a title on a vehicle over a certain age.
In all, this looks like a good way to get into a well-built postwar car that would be great for long trips. While we are not told if the car has the optional fold-down bed, it would still be a comfortable cruiser that looks different enough to start conversations everywhere. With bidding currently at $4,000 with two days to go, this 1949 Nash 600 two-door sedan for sale on eBay in Sherwood, North Dakota is surely worth saving. While the title issue is a problem, nothing is insurmountable. What is obvious is that Nash did make a great car in 1949 regardless of the public’s fickle tastes.
Hudson was way ahead of the times, this is a gorgeous car.
Huhson?
Brain fart, I did mean Nash.
I had been looking at Hudson’s prior.
True but this is Nash, pre-merger.
Makes me want to get my soap and wash rag out and ready for us.
I love it! I’ve never seen a Nash of this vintage in person, much less a two-door. The only concern for me is the strange tail-lights, if I was to drive this regularly I’d find some way to stick a high mount and/or other tail-lights on it to further wake up texting CUV drivers.
Looks like an older restoration. The interior looks way too good for its age. Also, is that a speaker in the front footwell? I would first try replacing the taillight bulbs with LEDs or the like. Or failing that McGyer up some sort of turn signal taillight panel to stick in the rear widow and get another period correct side view mirror for the right side.
This car would make a great automobile to travel old Route 66 in.
The 50 and subsequent Nashs had fold down seats that could provide a full size bed. These often were appreciated by younger folks for obvious, if questionable reasons! 😉
This was where one half of automotive design went during the 1940’s and it was ugly. GM never went here with production cats. This design type looks fat and ungrateful. The graceful Packards of that era became pregnant looking using this design philosophy. It is totally unbecoming on an automobile.
GM did go with a fastback 2 and 4 door sedans as additional body styles in their first postwar designs. They were more graceful than the bulbous looking Nashes and Packards. However, they petered out by 1951 or so. There may have been a headroom issue on the GMs. Sleekness comes at a price.
Dave Brown: When you say GM never went here with their designs, you must have missed the 1948 Pontiac Silver Streak Torpedo Back. The aerodynamic look of the post war Pontiac was very unusual for the day. My father bought one brand new in ‘48 and was a ‘’looker’ for the folks in our small, Canadian town.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am on the side of beauty for this Nash. Today’s SUV and CUV have both (as the writer notes) “infected” our landscape and they are all ugly look-alikes that I would be embarrassed to be seen in.
Ugly boxes 🎵 flood the roadways! 🎶 And they’re ALL made out of ticky tacky.🎵 And they ALL look 🎶just the same! 🎵 😉 👍
My Father had a 1951 Metallic Blue Nash Ambassador with an overhead six and it was a great cruiser. I drove it from MD to FL in 1955.
Wonder why.none of my buddies never wanted or drove a bathtub Nash (including myself)? Ugly then, ugly now. The only thing worse than having to drive a Nash would have been looking down at the weird “instrument cluster/pod”. they were actually good automobiles but just not as exciting as Fords, Mercs, Olds, Chevys, the cool cars of the 50s.
ROGER AUSIEDAVE, but for me put a 357 in it and away we go.!!!
I have always loved the fastbacks of that era. My enjoyment of The Adventures of Superman TV show highly influenced me as the first season featured Nash automobiles. To me, they were really neat looking!
I’m sure I saw this very car on an old Superman rerun last Sunday! It was in black and white so I can’t swear to the color, but the spotlight gives it away! Seriously, I always thought these were the ugliest cars ever conceived, but now in later years I could have my arm twisted into riding in one – maybe even owning one if I didn’t have way more projects than I’ll live to complete.
Could be. I Think Lois Lane drove a Metropolitan. I think this was before automobiles manufacturers provided cars for promotional recognition.
@Rick W, I haven’t seen the Superman TV show in quite a while but am pretty sure Lois Lane drove an early Nash Rambler convertible. Clark Kent drove a Nash-Healey, and Nashes were commonly seen throughout the show.
The only thing stylish about this in my opinion is the forward canted B pillar…
I don’t know why, but I find this tub strangely appealing, especially being a tudor model. It actually compliments the styling vs. a mordor. I think this would a hoot at car shows. Just sit back in your lawn chair and enjoy the comments and reactions of those passing by. 😁
The first family car I remember was a 1950 Nash AMBASSADOR four door sedan. The styling was almost identical to this one. Parents kept it until fall of 59 will only routine maintenance. Strangely only a bit of surface rust appeared on top of rear fenders. On two occasions, an emergency took the Nash up to 90 mph with ease. Probably would have remained in the family longer, but Mom’s arthritis made it difficult to park without Power steering. Charlie Nash and George Mason knew how to build great cars. The Nash was traded for a DeSoto. Another great Marque now gone.
BTW, when Chrysler decided to go with Unibody, a 50 Nash was purchased and studied. Point made!
Ford did the same thing when they decided to come out with the 58 Lincoln unibody. Got a late 50’s Nash to study.
I’ve always though that these Nash cars would have been bigger sellers if they had just opened up the wheel wells. it may not have been as aerodynamic , but it would have looked right at home with the bathtub GM cars of the same era. its odd looking now, and I’ll bet just as odd looking then ; it likely steered potential customers away
A 4 door Statesman tub just brought 4 grand on BAT in driver quality. It would be really fun (but a financial disaster) to build a restomod tub with a 6.2 Hellcat or something………
Weird as heck styling and interior. But strangely appealing…
Perfect description. To me, other than the Nash front-end, these look like they are a harbinger of what we have today. A bunch of jelly bean-shaped cars.
Great text.
The first paragraph says it all.
I agree with the SUV “craze” comment, but I wonder how many people can figure out why.
My personal reason is space. At 6’4″, and 230#, I cannot fit in today’s smaller cars, so I’m stuck with the SUV/minivan/pickup route to be able to get the headroom I need. Today’s cars have to have a specific minimum mpg, or they get hit with the dreaded gas guzzler tax. SUV’s and pickups are a different class, so they are exempt.
I was at a fair, and a local car dealership had new cars there. Sales rep tried sweet talking me into looking at one of the cars, and I told her there was no way I could COMFORTABLY fit in it. She was persistent, so I gave it a go. Front seat all the way back, but the steering wheel was to close to the door frame. No problem she says, and flips the tilt all the way up. I managed to sit down, but couldn’t get my head in thru the open, not until the seat back was reclined some. Once in, my head had to tilt down to clear the ceiling. No worries, just push the seat back further down. Ok, I’m in, but I’m almost in a lying down position to fit, which is not good for driving! She admitted defeat!
Andy B. I go 6’4″, two and a quarter.
My daily ride and my only ride..
Subaru BRZ.
You’d think they ran me down the assembly line and built the car around me. Lots of room between my knee and the door panel to clutch and steer. 4″ clearance from my numbskull to the headliner. But as you said I’m practically lying down. Plus, egress and ingress at age 63.., oh the indignity!
Pushing 62 in a few weeks…
Grandfather had one back in the day, nice road trip car !!!!!!
Love the musical horns set up! Must have been a dealership option 😂!!!!!!?
I was thinking the JC Whitney catalog, like the spotlight/mirror……….
Instrument cluster and quad air horns?! It doesn’t get much cooler…
I sure got a chuckle out of Jeff’s informative description of the reclining front seat. Legend has it that fathers of daughters “ that knew what cooks”; refused to let them go out on a date with a young man who showed up with one of these. That action was somewhat before my time; but I sure remember these from when I was a young kid. Neighbor up the street had the big four door and I swear you could pack a dozen of us into it and still have plenty of room for Ma and Pa. Anyway, my strange proclivity for arcane automobiles from post war to the mid fifties has had my interest piqued for this old Nash. I think she’s quite the looker and I am willing to bet that she’d draw some attention at a car show. Truly beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some BF commentators have said that she is ugly but I beg to differ. There is just something about that big fat rear end, pontoon fenders and skirts that that speaks to me. And I really don’t remember the last time I saw one of these in the wild. Especially a two door. But the downside is that the lack of a title would be a real headache to resolve with our DMV. And what will it take to repair the brakes? Can you source the necessary parts. Hopefully yes. The Dakotas are a long way from me so I can’t really see it prior to bidding and shipping costs will be prohibitive for this to make financial sense for me. Plus, unfortunately for me I can’t acquire anything else without letting something go and I don’t want to do that. So I will have to pass but GLWTS.
I want it, I want it, I want it… But the wife says, “YOU CAN’T HAVE IT”!
Remember the old song 🎵? I got a wife! She’s the joy of my Life, but I wish she would leave me alone? Or better yet give me a loan to buy my favorite car! 🤣
My dad was a dyed in the wool Nash Ambassador man. 1949,50,53, and 55. Good times!
That rear view? It’s like a UFO!
Ford did the same thing when they decided to come out with the 58 Lincoln unibody. Got a late 50’s Nash to study.
1950 was the best selling Nash of all time. They sold over 150,000 of these tubs.
Number one ugliest car of all time! Only redeeming quality is the folding bed/seats.
You’re just upset you can’t put huge “modern” tires & wheels on this to “show off”. Would be even worse with the 1964 Firebird IV & ’64 GM Runabout concepts.
This car must have the largest turning radius of any car ever! – i would not want to go down a narrow dead end street by accident in this car. lol
The Egyptians would have loved this resemblance to their Scarab “ Dung Beetle”.