While we live in a world populated by a handful of automakers, that wasn’t always the case.  Inspired by the multiple divisions of General Motors, automakers who are no longer with us tried to build sales and gain profitability by starting multiple nameplates.  These additional nameplates were often sold by new dealerships eager to peddle offerings that were a little different in price and styling.  One such short lived marque was Nash’s LaFayette.   While there are few of these interesting cars still around, eagle eyed reader Darrun has found for us a running and driving example being sold on eBay in Wanda, Minnesota.  With bidding only to $3,100, this 1939 Nash LaFayette could be quite the bargain for someone who wants a very distinctive prewar car.

Named obviously for the Marquis de LaFayette, who helped us out during that whole American Revolution thing a while back ago, LaFayette Motors started out in 1920 as an independent manufacturer that later curiously had Charles Nash as its president.  Nash was at the time also president of Nash Motors.  In 1924, Nash Motors bought out all the outstanding stock and took over the company.  Soon after, according to autospanna.com, the name was retired and the factory began to punch out Ajax automobiles.  The name came back as a separate division of Nash in 1934 with the goal of producing smaller, more fuel efficient, and cheaper automobiles to fill a niche.  The division was later absorbed into the Nash brand as a lower cost car from 1937 through 1940.  It then morphed into the Nash 600 economy car.  Confused yet?

What isn’t confusing is that this car may be a real bargain.  With its distinctive vertical grille and integrated headlights, this LaFayette is a good looking car.  Add to that an overall shape that looks very much like a 1940 Ford tudor, and it is difficult to figure out why the bidding is so low on a running car.  A big reason is that less mechanically inclined prospective buyers generally choose cars that have club support and a fair amount of aftermarket parts available.  Add to that the fact that there just aren’t that many people around that remember these cars in the first place.

Despite all of this, an adventurous soul who is a bit resourceful could probably have a blast with this car.  The seller tells us that the car has 31,330 miles on the odometer and that it runs OK.  The filling station oil change stickers on the door jam might be able to confirm this mileage figure.  While we are not told if the car is in original condition, the faded paint and slightly tattered interior allude to that being a possibility.  The only non-original part we are told about is an electric fuel pump.  Sometimes this change is made to reduce instances of vapor locking.  This is a situation where the carburetor is struggling to get enough fuel due to engine heat vaporizing the gasoline coming in through the fuel line.

While the driver’s seat and door panel seem to have taken the brunt of the wear, the rest of the interior is in remarkably good shape.  The window surrounds are solid and rust free, and the glass looks to be in good shape.  We are warned by the owner that the passenger side windshield is turning white.  This is most likely due to the safety glass delaminating.  Replacing the glass will also necessitate replacing the rubber weather stripping it sits in.  Luckilly, Steele Rubber Products has the weather stripping needed for this fairly rare car.

Under the hood sits an inline six cylinder engine that put out 99 horsepower.  This was a fair amount of horsepower for an economy car of the time.  Ford’s Flathead V-8 put out just 85 horsepower in comparison.  The picture above shows that some ignition modifications have been made, as the coil looks to be a later model in a non-standard mount.  Otherwise, all the necessary parts and pieces seem to be present.

While this LaFayette is not restored to perfection, it looks to be perfectly useable as it sits.  Some work cleaning the car and getting it to run better than “OK” would result in a very good looking and fun car.  As more and more older collectors, or their heirs, liquidate their collections, we will continue to see cars like this one enter the market.  I just hope we have enough new collectors to take them in.