UPDATE 9/4/2019 – This Nash Cross Country just keeps getting more and more interesting! So, the seller, Robert, happened to see this feature on his car and has left a few comments about it. He also sent over a few photos of it shortly after pulling it from the barn he bought it out of. And as you can see in the photos, it was one dusty barn find!
You really never know what you might come across while just driving around! Take Reader Matthew B who spotted this clean looking Nash Rambler Cross Country while passing through the Tri-Cities area in Washington. He stopped for a closer look and was able to speak with the seller. So, he decided to share his sighting with us in hopes that one of his fellow Barn Finders would save it!
From Matthew B – Wanted to share an amazing survivor I ran across while driving through the Tri-Cities in Washington. This 1954 Nash Rambler Cross Country is an amazing survivor, it has 37k original miles and minimal rust. Not sure of the original history but the owner tells me it always had seat covers on it from day one and it shows. The seats and door panels are immaculate. This was a father/son project that was never started. What a beautiful piece of AMC history! – Matthew –
If you love the looks of this Nash Ramblers, you can thank Battista “Pinin” Farina, of the famed Italian design house Pininfarina, for that. You typically wouldn’t associate a name like Pininfarina with an American built family hauler, but the people at Nash knew they needed all the help they could find if they were going to compete with the Big 3.
Matthew didn’t ask how much the owner wants for this Nash, but he snapped a photo of their phone number, so if you are interested in buying it give them a call! It looks like it could be a fun driver with minimal work. So, are you a fan of these Cross Country Wagons?
Special thanks to Matthew for sharing his find with us! If you come across a great barn find, please send us photos here!
what a beauty! classic and unmistakable bathtub design and tons of room inside.
bought an 80-acre farm about a dozen years ago with one of these in sedan form (along with several other old vehicles) backed into sinkholes.
loved the gorgeous art deco flying goddess hood ornament and planned to remove it, polish it and mount it on my desk.
somebody trespassed and loaded/hauled some of the cars away while scrap prices were still high and i lost the opportunity.
been keeping an eye on eBay auctions for one
The hood ornament was styled by George Petty (1894 – 1975), a popular pin up artist of the ’30s, 40’s and ’50s.
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/06/pin-up-artist-george-petty-with-model.html
Photo tip #1: Place camera lens against the glass when attempting interior view. Results in no outside reflection on the glass to distort the image.
Wow! Talk about rare as hen’s teeth. Never seen one before. Prolly never will again, for that matter. Would love to own it but sadly, don’t know where I’d keep it.
This was my Dad’s car when I was 5-6-7, except his was black with the white mask and tan interior. I didn’t understand what the “Farina” meant until years later. The square holes on the luggage rack accommodated flat leather straps to hold down your gear.
If I win the lottery tomorrow I know where my first stop will be. This is one of the best features ever on BF. Great find.
I have the original leather straps unused Robert FYI he cars owner 509-948-1993
What was the asking price on the car?
10 large.
For me Nash produced some of the most bizarre models ever but each and every one of them has an attraction that I can’t understand. One of those “it’s so ugly it’s beautiful” scenarios.
Now this is right up my alley! My Mom
had a ’53 Statesman and what a great
car it was too! It was everything a single
mom could want–room, ride, and good
gas mileage to boot. Wagons like this
were a common sight in my hometown
until the mid ’60’s when severe body rot
and lack of parts sent many of them to
the crusher. As for this wagon here,
want it? You bet I do! But sadly, like
so many of us in the Barn Finds universe,
I don’t have the room for it. Hence, it
has been relegated to nothing more
than dream status.
The owner says it was to be a project, but it looks great to me just as-is. Not sure where the “project” bit comes in, unless it’s all mechanicals which should be easy. Nice car!
I bought the car to work on with my son he wanted to work on my 1962 VW ragtop insted. The car does not need that much. Owner Robert 509-948-1993
I would imagine the turning circle on this must be ridiculous – to keep the front tires from hitting the front fender skirts. Wonder if the skirts improve mpg.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Automobiles_with_front_and_rear_fender_skirts
It’s bad, but not quite as bad as you might think. A narrow track was used in front to give the wheels some room to turn inside the enclosed fenders.
So cool. Looks to be in great shape. Anybody call about the price????? or Transmission. I can’t see how many pedals.
If you look at the last picture showing the steering wheel and dash, you can see there are 3 pedals. Unless one of the pedals is for a hill holder or starter pedal then I would say that it’s a 3 or 4 on the column manual transmission.
I would cut some wheel openings into it first thing…
Why? Go buy an old truck.
My moms 60 American had the same dash. Why change it?
Nash did commission Pinin Farina in the early 1950s, but I’ve read the styling was actually done mostly in-house using touches taken from the prototypes supplied by Farina. (Putting an “Anderson” badge on the cars for Nash designer Edmund Anderson would not have had quite the same marketing impact as “Farina”.)
The trademark dip in the roof on Rambler wagons permitted the company to use the same doors and roof panel as the sedans. An extension was welded to the back of the roof to cover the cargo area.
Just talked to Robert the owner, nice man anxious to sell, he and his son are focusing on a VW convertible for now. Anyhow, The Nash Wagon has 37,700 mi with only minimal surface rust. Paint is original and decent. It has an original clock and radio and he assures the interior is in great original shape. The transmission is a 3 speed with overdrive. That’s all good, now the bad: He’s selling the car ‘as is’ and the engine is stuck. He said he filled the crankcase with marvel mystery oil, but thats it. Price is a healthy 10 grand……….. Leiniedude, this has your name all over it! I’ll help you tow it home…………..
I don’t think that filling the crankcase with Marvel oil is going to help. Surely it should be put into each cylinder if the motor is stuck?
True ken, I was thinking the same thing. Won’t hurt but won’t help any stuck ring issues which is a common stuck engine problem. This should be a flat head engine also, oil in the plug holes would work………Are you listening Robert? I really think this is a great collector car in incredible original shape. I personally have a deal cooking on a Corvair convertible I think I’m going to buy and I don’t have room for 2 cars at this point.
I would fill each cylinder with diesel fuel. It’s worked for me for years.
That’s a great idea….. I’ve also gone out and bought a couple cans of WD-40 and squirted half a can in each plug hole to free up sticky piston rings……….
Marvel was put through each spark plug hole and top of engine filled Robert
She is a beauty Buddy! Going to look at a E39 525i 5 speed today. Maybe if it does not work out I will grab a chain and give you a call! Thanks for the church key, it really took a beating on my birthday! Keep me posted on the Corvair!
When I lived in Calgary in the 80’s I found a ’53 Statesman for sale. I really wanted it bad, but my father didn’t want that “piece of junk” in the driveway. One man’s garbage, is another’s treasure. Beautiful car.
I saw one of these beauty in one of the old Andy Griffith Show recently! I would love to look at it in person, but sadly it’s too far away. I would love to buy it! I love those “bath tub on wheels”, started with he Porsche 356 series? A great S.U.V. then and I’m sure it had a comfy ride?
One photo shows the front seat with the ever-popular mexicali blanket over it. Presume that to be even more added protection for the original, immaculate seatcovers. Do notice some rust percolating up near the belt molding and most areas where clips may be present. Also, the paint sweep on the rear liftgate looks like something a Magic Eraser could take care of. Nice find, too much $$ for a non runner.
It’s primer it will come off just left it there.
Saw a very similar one, not for sale, outside an inn in Newfane, VT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAaM0mb0BAI
Anybody know what their turning circle was? And how much it went down when they opened up the wheel wells the next year?
Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, CA, near LAX, has its twin. It is amazingly well put together, far more “finished” on the inside than the Chevy/Fords of the time – Cadillac quality. Since there is already one in a museum, and they do take it out to drive it with passengers, around the block, make a driver out of this. Dual master cylinder and shoulder belts.
Too much for a non runner? I agree, what do you think?
You have to start somewhere cash talks!
I love the looks of this car; I have a 1955 Nash Rambler Super with a same engine, flathead 6, 3 + overdrive (on 2nd and 3rd) is like having 5 speeds if you understand how it works. These are presently undervalued, extremely solid unibody cars; I put 4 Michelin radials on mine and it tracks very well, brakes though are definitely not on par with today’s brakes…..someone suggested switching to dual lines, good idea. The Petty hood ornament is a beauty. The asking price seems a bit high considering the engine is stuck. But invest 8 or 10K in addition to the purchase price and you have a gorgeous rather unique car.
A little note on Radial tires on older cars;
If the car was sold new with tube type tires and rims, you will need to run radial spec tubes as well. Hard cornering without tubes can cause the tire to pop inward off the rim.
Also note that with the flexible sidewall of a radial tire, it can cause the rim to flex more as well, making full wheel covers rotate slowly around the rim, and they can cut off the valve stem!
Sorry Robert, but that is one ugly car….I hope there are guys out there that are not as “Shallow Hal” as me and can love that thing.
I’ll grant you this color does not flatter its lines; I have seen one in 2 tone light beige/brown freshly done, all accessorized and I tell you it was extremely attractive.
amazing grill/nose, like the earlier models due to NO chevron roof (dors fitted sedans & wagons w/o that dip) wanna see that great interior too Robert. U keep in garaged?
It was in a garage when I bought it then stored in my garage / shop have it out so people will see it with the for sale sign in it. Only been out for a month don’t want to keep it outside.
How the heck does this thing turn? 5 degrees of steering angle much?
Chevy Guy: That’s what I’d like to know. The next year they opened up the wheel wells to allow for a tighter turning circle. I’d love to know the turnng circle of both
Well here it is 1-8-2020 and I’ve purchased the car. Cant wait for it to be transported to me here in CT!!
Great! I was hoping someone would buy it soon because this is a kind of unique car especially considering the year, 1954, the last year for the closed fenders up front. This car is of unibody construction, which eliminates almost all major rust issues, is extremely solid on the road and very practical, a no non-sense automobile in size and has descent performance from its flathead 6 and 3 + overdrive on 2nd and 3rd, making it a useable 5 speed. I own the 1955 (open fenders) 4 door “Super”, drive it regularly, can’t be happier. That roofline sets it apart at first glance, the proportions are attractive; To me this is not the best color for this car, but that’s a minor detail, personal too. Charles Nash was a very smart fellow in a very American way, from “rags to riches”……wishing you great moments with your new purchase.
You got a good one. Keep us posted on progress with freeing the engine.