- Seller: David B (Contact)
- Location: Killingworth, CT
- Mileage: 54000 Shown
- Chassis #: D135047
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: Inline 6 – Flathead
- Transmission: 3 Speed manual
I grew up with a Kelvinator refrigerator in the kitchen, so I knew the name well and saw it several times a day. As a kid, I knew about Nash cars but never put the two together: Nash-Kelvinator. Their merger occurred decades before I was born, and this 1953 Nash Rambler Custom Convertible was also born about a decade before I was. This unique convertible is located in Killingworth, Connecticut. You can find this one listed here as a Barn Finds Exclusive!
First things first. As with any vehicle linked to a TV show, it’ll come up that a similar car, a 1951 model, I believe, was used by Lois Lane’s character on the 1950s Adventures of Superman TV show. The seller refers to this car as Betty, a friend of Lois Lane, and she’s been a project to get up and running again, but it was successful. As a general reference, Hagerty is at $13,500 for a #4 fair-condition car, so this one appears to be a deal at the seller’s asking price.
Here’s the unique convertible top, or what the car looks like when the top is down. Nash originally referred to this design as a landau, and you can see why; it isn’t a full convertible as we know them now. In fact, this two-door convertible body style was the only one available when Nash debuted the Rambler in the spring of 1950. They were produced from 1950 to 1954 for Nash, and after the merger with Hudson, the Rambler name remained in use through the 1960s. You can see some work is needed on the body of this cool Nash.
The interior is simple, or I should say, uncomplicated. The 1953 Nash models were reworked to take after their older siblings, the senior Nash Airflyte models, and they offered a dizzying array of body styles. When all is said and done, though, nothing says desirable like a car with a convertible feature. The seller mentions this car has a replacement top, and there’s a small tear in it that I’m sure can be fixed. OEM or replacement tops can be tough to source, so I’d fix this one, not that the top would be up that often anyway.
This car has had a lot of work to get it running and driving. They tell an incredible story of how there was no head gasket and the oil pan was installed backwards! Once those were fixed, it started and runs as it should, albeit maybe needing some time to work in the piston rings. This is Nash’s 184-cu.in. L-head inline-six with 85 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. The three-speed manual transmission was also disassembled to replace a faulty bearing, and it shifts like a dream now. The overdrive works, but can be finicky. There is still some tinkering to do on this unique car, including sourcing a replacement gas tank, but what an eye-catcher and fun-in-the-sun ride it’ll be once it’s done. Check it out on Barn Finds Classifieds!
A cool, underpowered by today’s standards, car. I just drove a 4 cylinder, non-turbo, rental Nissan Sentra, at 80 mph for four days on Western Interstates, easily going up to 95 mph to pass on two lanes. Even the semi’s were going 75 mph. This Nash would be a danger to itself and others cruising along at 55 mph. But around town, it would be fun.
Top speed for a ‘53 Nash is about 80. Should cruise at 60+. I’d be fine driving it on the highway- as long as you’re not there doing 95 in your
Rent-A-Riceburner.
@Charlie
The speed limit on route 15 in Utah is 85 !
It slows down to 75 in Arizona and once you get near Vegas it’s 65, but everyone does 75/80 anyway.
charlie, freeways are for appliance-like commuter vehicles only, not for any classic or vintage vehicle, no matter how much horsepower they have or how fast they can cruise. With 99.99999999999% of everyone texting while driving (just a guess from what I see), do you want to be nailed by some clown not paying attention, or run over chunks of blown tire scattered around everywhere, or boards, or other road debris with your vintage or classic vehicles? I don’t, I stay off of freeways with any vehicle older than 15-20 years old or so.
Not every vehicle was made to go freeway speeds, or has to go freeway speeds; that’s a mindset that I hope goes away eventually. As you said, driving an old vehicle around town or on two-lane roads is perfect. You aren’t going to jump in your ’53 Nash and drive to Portland, Maine, or San Diego on the freeway, or I hope nobody does that.
NOTHING but NOTHING says Lois Lane like this model Nash…albeit a smaller earlier version. I literally get a visceral reaction seeing it lol. I guess that means I am officially old. Oh well what a ride its been in terms of cultural memories of early TV…now where did I put that vhs tape of Steve Mc Queen in Wanted: Dead or Alive?
I miss AMC.
Am I showing my ignorance by asking ‘what’s that in the trunk?’
The ad mentions the need for locating a replacement gas tank, so I’m guessing what’s in the trunk is some sort of a temporary fix.
There is an auxiliary fuel cell in the trunk. Yes, parts are difficult to source, but not impossible.
As a former Rambler owner, be advised that parts for these cars are scarce. Not like having a Mustang or Tri-Five Chevy, for sure.
Our family owns 6 Nash cars and rarely have trouble finding parts. Just me experience.
My godfather had a newer Nash. I’m guessing an early 60s Nash Rambler. Always hated the dashboards on these as they were so different. Always hated the convertible with the “B” pillar and window frames still there when the top was down. As a kid I couldn’t understand the logic. As a 72 year old adult, I still don’t understand the logic.
I did like the continental tire on these and other Nash’s.
This is certainly a unique car for cars & coffee in 2025
I had a 59 Rambler American that was a coupe but resembled these Nash Ramblers. Thru 1960 they were little “inverted bathtubs” like this, then in 1961 they became “boxy” but same size. I had a 62 two door and a 63 wagon of the boxy variety. The 196 flat 6 was a decent engine, then they went to the same size OHV engine. I said it here before that in 1975 I drove the little 59 Rambler TOWING the rear of a Ford pickup made into a trailer, full of stuff from N CA to PA. It took me about 2 weeks with a couple of breakdowns going the southern route to avoid snow in the Rockies in March. I made it unscathed.
the last Nash was produced in 1957.
@Dave in PA
Hi Dave,
I just moved from Vegas to Baltimore in January. I took route 40 instead of 70 or 80 for the same reasons. To avoid the mountains and snow. Took me 5 days. Could have done it in 4 but had a minor overheating problem in New Mexico which delayed me about 7 hours
Hi Angel,
Welcome to Baltimore where we dodge bullets and drivers who ignore redlights and stop signs. Drive your vintage car on any road of Baltimore at your own risk. Not to mention the carjackings.
See you at the local car shows.
@Tai Shan Li
I was here one week driving on these absolutely horrible streets when the mechanic said my passenger side front strut was leaking. Oh, and you really should replace both at the same time. Cost: $1000
I hate this city. One week and it destroyed my car. The potholes are basically as big as house basements. Speed bumps everywhere, potholes on every street, patches that aren’t worth a damn!
Besides the front struts I think everything with the suspension is destroyed. My car used to have such a nice ride. Now it’s jarring.
Tai, I tend to learn about local car shows AFTER the fact. Since they won’t let me post my email on here, maybe you can let me know when and where they are on this site.
We are supposed to be getting a chat room for such things. What’s the hold up guys!?
I forgot to say: “BEEP BEEP”. Harrison knows why.
It looks like this Nash took styling cues from a Kelvinator, and a Morris Minor tourer.
Nash took styling cues from that famous Italian designer whose name sounds like Farina.
Hi, Dave in PA!!! Yes, Harrison knows why. And Angel Cadillac Queen Diva needs to tell the next Rambler driver she sees how to get out of second gear!
@Harrison
😂
@Angel.
You can see vintage car shows by going online and typing, car shows in Maryland. Do the same thing on Facebook. That is how I find them. You have described Baltimore very well. The streets are in such bad shape because so many people who live in the city of Baltimore pay little or no taxes because of the poverty level. Poor people from the south moved here around WW2 for factory jobs, and eventually those factories closed. Middle class people after the war moved to the suburbs and poverty was the name of the game in the city limits. Neighborhoods changed significantly by the 1970s. So not enough money to fix streets adequately.