In article ,
wrote:
On Sun, 08 Jan 2017 11:29:00 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:


The Nash Metropolitan was hideous then as now. A UK designer's attempt
at a scaled down US car incorporating all the worst aspects of them.


********, I suppose because it was assembled by Austin you assume it
was designed here as since the days it all went pear shaped in the
late 60's it has become fashionable to knock anything done by BMC and
the firms that were part of it.

You suppose wrong. BMC lost the plot in several different directions - and
before the late '60s. The Farina series being a prime example of an ugly
vehicle badge engineered to produce 5 nearly identical cars.

The Nash Metropolitan was designed in the US by Americans
with some influences from some larger Nash cars that had an input from
Pininfarina.

And Farina refused to have that 'influence' made public. Not surprising
given the hideous result.

Fisher& Ludlow who made the body pressings and Austin who provided
mechanicals and assembly did so purely as contractors , Fisher were
still independent when negotiations started but became part of BMC by
the time of production in1953.
Austin only sold a version for non competing markets from 1956.

If you look at the original Nash concept drawings and what it ended up
looking like in production, you'll see what I mean. I assumed that was by
the design being modified to make it possible to actually make it. US
designers had little experience of monocoque construction so had to leave
it to one who had - ie Austin and Pressed Steel. Just how and where it
went so badly wrong looks wise I dunno.

--
*Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.*

Dave Plowman London SW
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