I won’t deny I feel that today’s post is a cute one; something impossible to avoid when showcasing old Metropolitans. As told previously at CC, these were modest sellers during their 1954-1960 production run. But that doesn’t take away that they left quite an impression, and have enjoyed a significant following ever since.
This is a short collection, as old images of Metropolitans don’t appear that often (Modest seller, remember?) Still, no reason not to have a short gallery. And it covers tiny Metropolitans sitting nicely either next to their owners, admirers, or just in the streets. Unlike previous posts, the years in this collection vary widely, going from the 1950s to the 1970s. The latter photos a sign that the car had become a collectible from early on (like the lede photo, dating to 1975).
Is there anyone who doesn’t smile when one of these comes into view?
Oh do I remember those women’s bathing suits from a community pool we belonged to in Maryland between 62-66. When told we were moving to Los Angeles in June 1966 I asked why since I liked where I was. Ok, we moved. Within the month we arrived the wife of a co-worker of my father took us down to the beach at Santa Monica. I can tell you that is not the bathing suit I saw there. I saw bikinis, from modest to skimpy, and decided, at the age of 12, that I would stay in Southern California. To this day I have seen far more bikinis that Metropolitans. I can live with it. That teenager, with glasses, could use seeing a few bikinis to cheer him up.
My parents drove one of these before my sister was born. But unlike their other cars no pictures survive.
Modest seller it was, but in numbers high enough to justify its continued existence over its quite long run. It filled a niche, a cheap alternative to the 2-seat T-Bird. And like the 2-seat T-Bird, it did have fans that kept and bought them with enthusiasm right from the time they stopped selling them.
My older brother had one or more of these in the late 70s in Southern California, when they could be picked up cheaply. His experience with his first car, a ’57 MGA was very useful, as it had the same engine, transmission and other components.
I drove his once for a bit, and it was indeed an amusing ride. I’d prefer a genuine MG over it, but it certainly got some attention wherever it went.
Jensen Healey coming down the street in the last photo. Is that California ?
One caught hiding behind a Morris Minor at the Robin Hood pub near Loughton, Essex, England in July 1962. Their bright, two-tone colours suit their look.
Looks a “mo dern”, ride next to the two “brit mobile’s”.
In the 90s a friend had one in Turquoise and White, very like the one in the 3rd photo, We had our cars at the Pavilions car show here in Scottsdale. Oddly all our cars were large late 50s and 60s iron. all but the Metropolitan. The met took the lead up Pima rd to our planned dinner in Carefree. A Scottsdale motor cop saw this tiny metropolitan being chased by a half dozen Imperials, Lincolns and Cadillacs. and he decided to check us all out pullng slowly alongside all of us and was then apparently satisfied nothing was amiss. we figured it was probably looking like a Housewife being chased by the Mafia.
In the 7th pic, the house has an ice door next to the grade entry, so the iceman could fill the icebox without going inside. A rare feature seen on the better class of house.
The houses in our decidedly middle class Toronto suburb had similar boxes by the side doors, but they were for milk deliveries. We didn’t need any more ice, but this kept the milk from freezing. Our house was built in 1955, but we did not have milk delivered, although a couple of neighbours did.
The milk hatch. We had those in Wisconsin too. One rare occasion when we locked the house & forgot the key, my youngest brother was still small enough to crawl through the milk hatch and open the door for the rest of the family.
Photo with gentleman in red plaid jacket:
Amused by the dual hood scoops.
A sporting touch….wonder if they came from the Whitney catalog.
I assumed that first photo was pretty much from the present day, rather than 50 years ago.
There is a vehicle in the background. That would help identify the time frame. However, I can’t make it out.
Also, the basket by her feet looks older. Today, it would be a plastic bag like Walmart.
True; I hadn’t noticed the van – well spotted. Could it be a Dodge ?
Think it’s a “mopar” van.
The lady with the pup is a great pic.
The “80’s”, street scene shows the car’s size “relative” to the compacts of the day.(has a shiny, “Datsun Z” in it too!
May not be “present day”; not the “50’s” either. (the lead pic)
It’s supposedly from 1975, according to the original uploader.
Nash would be a fun car for around town. those a recent six car pile up auto accident proved there nothing like a large SUV, when comes to walking away, we lived anoth driver died. .
In high school in the mid-60s I got a ride home in one of these driven by the mother of a friend. I got to ride in the back, and I am glad it was a short ride. I always enjoyed the look of these. They livened up the streets in those years.
I think I’d a sat on the back bumper , as opposed to the “back space”, inside.
SO cute ! .
I miss my ’59 Fixed Head Coupe, these cars weren’t designed to go on freeways but were very fun to drive so I modified my ’59 to where it’d cruise all day long at 70 MPH , I used mostly factory parts as many MG’s & Austins used the same running gear .
Most owners didn’t realize they were made in England .
I have just recently found andother ’59 FHC that’s been sitting some years, I may go check it out .
-Nate
I have been a car guy since I was a toddler. In the fall of 1957 when I was in third grade, my Dad’s job took us to a new town in another state. I have a brother who is a year younger and there were lots of kids in our subdivision. On this particular day I had been sick, so my usually not overprotective mother made me stay inside while everyone was out playing. Since we were new to the town, the Welcome Wagon lady came by to welcome us to the community. She was talking to my Mom when she noticed that I was admiring her Metropolitan through the window. She asked me if I liked it and I told her I did. Then she asked Mom if she could take me for a ride! Mom said yes and off we went. Of course I smugly smiled and waved at the other kids as we passed by.
There is one in showroom condition in the Freehold, NJ area that I see often. It is black and white with a continental spare.I spoke with the owner once when I saw him getting in the car at a local store. A gentleman in his early 80s, he nick named this `59 fixed head coupe ‘the Dutch rabbit’ because his wife has a pet Dutch rabbit, a black and white breed in the same colors as his car. He even has a small stuffed Dutch rabbit on a little base he put on the dashboard.A very classy, elegant looking car. I`ll take one in a heartbeat!
A re-enactment friend of mine has one, loves the car. I keep bugging him to find a Hudson grille badge for the car and swap it out. In all my years in the antique car hobby, I’ve never seen a Hudson Metropolitan.
One of the girls in high school had one. She carried as many boys in and on the car as she could. Police were not amused.