I realize that putting a car up on the internet for free is playing with fire, but this is The Autopian; we have the best car-community on the web. And so today I must finally say goodbye to a car that I thought would be my LA daily-driver.
My entire car-world has changed since I moved from Detroit to LA. Most of the rusty cars I hauled out west are either sold or on the chopping block, as better, rust-free vehicles are available here for pennies. I’ve also run out of time to wrench, and beyond that: I underestimated the chaos of LA traffic.
You see, when I lived in Michigan, I daily-drove a 1965 Plymouth Valiant for an entire winter, and — aside from that column-shifter getting stuck in first gear every few days, requiring me to slide under on the cold snow and unjam it — it was great. That slant-six was unkillable, and produced more heat than power, which is what I needed.
So when I decided to move to LA, a land devoid of ice and snow, I figured I’d continue driving a classic car daily. Worried about fuel prices, I decided that a Nash Metropolitan would be the perfect car, and it just so happened that a nice gentleman named Nate, a friend of a friend, was looking to part ways with his baby.
So I took ownership of the Nash (technically, it wasn’t a Nash after 1957 but rather just a Metropolitan, but that’s nitpicking), which needed a new crankshaft, new tires, brake work, and frankly lots of other stuff, as it had been sitting for years. The problem is that, pretty much immediately upon arriving in LA in early 2023, when the skies opened up torrentially, I realized that I needed something newer.
Not only was the traffic (especially during inclement weather) genuinely terrifying, but I have a job that requires me to on pretty much always. And given how much time I have to spend sitting in traffic, I simply cannot lost 80 minutes of my day commuting. I need something that’s safe at freeway speeds, and that has a bluetooth system that will let me take and receive business calls.
When I test-drove a 2014 BMW i3 from Turo, I immediately fell in love. And thus, I had a daily-driver; the Nash has sat in a parking lot for years as I tried determining what to do with it.
I actually found a buyer — a super nice woman for whom this would be a dream. I had planned to get it running for her, but then I got married and had a kid and moved into a house. Now there’s no time and the buyer doesn’t have the skills. A shop quoted her for the repairs at over $10 grand! That’s definitely too much; I could probably fix it myself for $1500.
But time. It is gone, and so I must now search for a suitable owner for a beautiful 1958 Nash Metropolitan filled to the brim with new parts (see video above).
Here’s the thing about this car. It belonged to an Autopian commenter named Nate who loved it with all his heart before having to give it away due in part to his age. Seriously, type in “Nate Nash Metropolitan” into Google, and you’ll find dozens of posts by “VWNate” talking about his Met. This thing was his baby; he loved it dearly.
I understood this when I accepted the Metropolitan, which is why I’ve been careful, storing it somewhere safe, and not just selling it or giving it away to some rando. No, this is a car that, if ruined, would deeply sadden Nate.
And so, I’m searching for a new owner who understands the responsibility that comes with this Met. It’s been converted to automatic, it needs some engine work, and it has a tiny bit of surface rust on the doors, but it is rock-solid, and filled with thousands of dollars worth of parts. To someone with the time, and a few grand in their pockets, this thing could be an epic classic weekend cruiser – or, if you live somewhere that isn’t LA or have Nate-levels of bravery, a daily driver.
So if you have the time, space, and a heart that wants to do right by Nate — who just wants the car fixed up tastefully, cared for, and above all, driven — then email me at david@theautopian.com. Subject Line: The Nash For No Cash.
All Images: Author unless otherwise stated
Is this project within the scope of someone who took one semester of high school auto shop?
“ which needed a new crankshaft.”
Doesn’t that essentially mean it needs an engine rebuild?
You are a true humanitarian DT.
You should give it away, with the stipulation that when it comes times for the new owner to quit, he/she will also give it away to the next owner, and so on and so forth.
I would volunteer myself, but it would be tragic to keep it in a garage 5 months of the year, and I know what midwest winters would do to a Metropolitan because I watched one decay in the neighbor’s yard because he didn’t have time for it, but wouldn’t sell it to me.
My son’s name is Nash. Even though he is only 5 he loves to help dad work on cars. Ill get some sort of Nash for him someday
It makes sense since you got it for free too…I always loved all the history behind this one. Here’s hoping to find a good home…good luck!
A suggestion: Don’t give it away.
Instead, pick a week about 8 months from now. Annouce the date, and call it “Save Nate’s Nash Week”. Invite those with an interest and skills who want to DONATE their time and effor to come to LA to fix it right. Then, once it’s running happily, get it polished up nicely and trailer it to Monterey for Car Week. Use it as your team transport. Invite Nate to join you. Write lots of articles so that those of us without the time or skill can enjoy the adventure with you. Then park it inside on Beau’s showroom floor between a pair of 911s.
Hmm…all it probably needs is a few coat hangers and some JBWeld.
Nah. Get in touch with Neil Young and see if he would want to electrify it? That would be so LA.
If he could just Crosby and Stills, they’d have the full quartet.
Wouldn’t that be a trio?
Think about it for a minute
At least I didn’t bring Nash The Slash into this, but now you made me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m229hY3Onak&list=RDm229hY3Onak&start_radio=1
What about donating to that “car restoration college” in Kansas or a local school that has an auto shop? Seems like an ideal Senior Capstone project for some enterprising (and skilled) youth!
That’s an interesting idea! There’s a high school/continuation school in Salinas (near Car Week locations strangely enough) that has a Classic Car Restoration program to give disadvantaged kids a unique set of skills for future employment.
Their program’s partially funded by the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Carmel Concours for a Cause to help keep car restoration alive in central California.
https://www.ranchocieloyc.org/programs/classic-car-restoration/
Oh man. I’d love to. I’m not the guy for this, but I wish I was.
Somebody here though. One of you maniacs is perfect for this project!
Don’t worry… it’s an EAAASY FIX… all it needs is an engine rebuild, the brakes completely redone and a few other minor things like converting it back to a manual
You can do it easily! After all, you fixed a scooter before, right?
This is just like fixing a scooter… but with more wheels!
Easy peasy!
Dude, I could do it, my dad is a television repair man he’s got a gnarly set of tools.
Most of it will buff at our anyhow Hamster
I probably COULD do it. But I don’t have that kind of time, nor do I possess the will to see it through.
If my Dad were closer to me I’d love to take it off your hands as his first car was a Nash Metropolitan. Alas, I don’t have the time to get this one running though
The Nash would be great for someone in Palm Springs with more time and skills.
I’d recommend you find your next owner there.
No way you can survive a Palm Springs summer with no AC.
People in PS don’t drive their classics in the summer.
They leave them in the garage while they go somewhere cooler.
I’m happy to hear you’re looking for it to go to the right person.
I know you’re planning to reduce your fleet, but there’s a nice looking Metropolitan in a driveway on Adams just south of Tienken if you’re still on the one out one in fleet management program. 🙂
I’d start with a Nash group, but it would probably just be for parts to support a nicer one, so maybe this is the best way to find someone
I think 50s/60s car values are going to fall off a cliff. This is a great example. Solid, easily repaired, worth noting, so nobody will fix it.
Was bound to happen as Boomers aged.
I would be the perfect person for this! I already do my daily drive on a motorcycle, no matter the weather, so driving a tiny car like the Metropolitan would actually be a step forward, safety-wise.
The only downside is I already have a project car in my garage. Let me talk to my wife and see if she’ll park her car outside, so I can get the Nash inside.
Or I wonder if I could enlarge the opening to our enclosed patio? The Metro would fit perfectly in there!!
Hmmmmm…
Enclosed patio? Just drive it into the kitchen!
They sell tent like car enclosures
But that has no comedic value. I vote the living room.
If my daughter didn’t live in a city where every person drives like they were making a desperate drive to the hospital because they have a pregnant wife in the back seat moments away from giving birth, I would make a case for her since she loves these things. There was a blue and white one down the street from where we used to live, and every time we walked by she tried to get me to buy it. Age 8 she’s telling me it would be ‘an ideal first car’.
I mean, I did just finish clearing out my garage
One of my aunts had a Metro as her first car, but that was back around 1979…different kind of traffic to keep up with back then.
Yeah I live in Texas, this thing could proabably Fast and Furious under some of the trucks around here. Well… maybe not exactly fast
The Languid and Mildly Irate
Think you should try to find someone that would renew it to look like the Metropolitan from the movie “UHF” by the character George Newman. If the person cosplays well as Weird Al, then you know you’ve find the right person David.
“MY MOP!!!” “You don’t understand…I’ve had that mop since I was 8 years old…we’ve never been apart!”
If only I had the time, money, and expertise for a free car. I hope you find a great owner who does it right.
If I could convince my dad to go ahead and retire, this would be a great retirement project for him, but he spends too much time wrenching on his log truck to take this on now.
I’d say I’m the right person, but unfortunately I’m left handed.
Hot take: the emotional albatross attached to this car is entirely self-imposed and voluntary.
Isn’t that the case with most of DT’s vehicles though?
Me: Honey, can I fly to LA, pick up a free Nash Metropolitan, spend $1,500 wrenching on it and drive it all the way back to Virginia?
My wife (I imagine): Sure. Why don’t you leave RIGHT NOW.
Oh. Wait. No. That’s not going to happen. Like, she probably would say yes. Then I would actually have to figure out how to pull this off.
Road trip? I’m hearing we’re going on a road trip! My lack of time off at the moment might be a problem though…
By the way, Brandon, thank you for being such a great Autopian — from the blogs you’ve written for us to looking at that 2dr XJ for me to your presence in Discord, etc. You are a legend.
+1 for Brandon.
Step 1: Watch a lot of Vice Grip Garage…
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Driving Nash.
Got step one covered. Will definitely be able to check the spark-o-later.
I’m surprised both David and Mercedes replied and neither one said “Sounds great, can you write?”
Oh, I can write. It’s my wrenching that scares me. Also the required neglect to my day job, my kids, my band, and and my comedy bookings. Somehow I feel like I have time.
Fear no wrench, my friend.
My Subi vomited brown coolant all over the street this weekend. Parts arrive today for what I hope is an improbably easy fix. I will share my experiences as the wrench turns, possibly tonight.
I’m already a fan of Sid! He doesn’t have to prove his writing chops to me. 🙂
I guess I just know from experience that I can put out a pithy comment myself but have a lot harder time going longer, at least without turning into Temu Torch.
I feel for you David. It’s going to be a heavy lift trying to find the right person to hand it off too.
I hope you’re able to find the right person to give it to! I know someone who was interested back when you first posted about it, but she also doesn’t have the space or resources to take it on.