Ground-Up Restoration: 1960 Metropolitan Convertible

I used to own a red-and-white Metropolitan. It was a ’57 hardtop (although I wished it had been a convertible). It was a fun car to drive and always got a lot of attention at car shows. Roland, the seller of this 1960 Metropolitan convertible, bought the Met back in 2005, says it was rebuilt from the ground up, and has a lot of receipts. He’s driven this award-winning Met over the years with car clubs and has shown it extensively at regional and California car shows. It was trailered to shows and has always been garaged. It is located in Beaverton, Oregon and is listed for sale here on craigslist for $18,000 or best offer  (the owner says he has a written 2008 appraisal for $26,000). The seller also shares, “I’m selling because we no longer show or drive the car.” Kudos to Curvette for spotting this classy little Metropolitan and sending it our way.

Mardi Gras Red and Frost White were a popular two-tone color combination. Based on the photos, the paint is shiny, and the chrome and shiny stuff are gleaming in the sun. It has the white convertible top boot (I’m assuming the white convertible top is folded down; there are no photos of it) and two additions that debuted in 1959: a rear-access trunk lid and vent windows. The red rims, period-correct whitewalls, and the chrome hubcaps with the red  “M” on them complete the package. The only thing I’d add is the vinyl rear tire cover, which is available in white or black.

The Met’s original black-and-white interior now matches the car’s exterior, creating a pleasing red-and-white color combination. The seller describes the bench seat as being upholstered in “ultra leather,” and it appears to be in great shape. The red and white theme is continued on the door panels, red seat belts have been installed, and the Met’s original black metal dashboard is now white. It also appears to have an aftermarket smaller steering wheel.

Under the hood is the rugged, economical Austin 1500-liter four-cylinder engine in all its olive-green glory. The seller says it has been professionally rebuilt, and the odometer reads 6,000 miles. It is mated to a 3-on-the-tree manual transmission. Although the seller (and countless others) call it a Nash Metropolitan, the Nash and Hudson brand names were discontinued by American Motors Corporation in September 1957. These cute little subcompacts were then marketed under the Metropolitan name and sold through Rambler dealers. 13,874 Metropolitans were shipped to the U.S. and Canada in 1960. Most were hardtops with an estimated 3,100-3,500 convertibles produced. That’s a small number, and this is a nice-looking example of one.