Classic Shop Talk - The Nash: A lot of Car for the Money

While all but forgotten today, the Nash motor vehicle had a production run of nearly 50 years. Never a threat to the big three, the hardy Nash was still able to win over millions of drivers with such automotive firsts like the seat belt, unibody construction and an innovative air conditioning system that was much ahead of its time.

Never sexy, the inverted bathtub-shaped Nash was able to sustain itself in an extremely competitive industry by culling its reputation as being a solid, reliable mode of transportation. Due in large part to the philosophy of the cars founder, Charles W. Nash, who was maniacal about finding ways to hold down production costs, consumers got a lot of car for the money.

Charles Nash
Like many of the auto industrys pioneers, Charles Nash hailed from humble beginnings to make a success for himself by hard work, great instincts and a little luck. After a series of odd jobs “ sheep herder, carpenter and grocery clerk “ Nash had the good fortune to land a position at the Durant-Dort Carriage Company where, within six months of his arrival, he was named the plants supervisor. more, at the factory he met the enigmatic owner of the enterprise, William Billy Durant, who would later found the General Motors Corporation.

After a momentous ride on an automobile for the first time during a visit to New York City, Nash switched gears from carriage maker to car maker joining Durant and David Buick when the pair opened the Buick Motor Company in 1903. By 1908, Nash was installed as the companys president and his lifelong relationship with the automobile began in earnest.

1922 Nash Roadster Model 42

Nash accepted a position as the head of Durants General Motors Corporation in 1910, but due to philosophical differences with the fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants Durant, he resigned in 1916, vowing never to work for anyone else again. Making good on that promise, Nash bought out the Kenosha, Wisconsin-based auto maker Jeffery Motor Company that same year, changed its name to Nash Motors Company and ran the company most of his working life. He served as president of the firm until 1930 when he retired as the Nashs president but stayed on as chairman of the board until his death in 1948.

Like rival Ford, the Nash Motor Company took on the ideology of its founder. In Nashs case, to produce a no-frills, well-built car at a price the average American could afford. And while Nash never had the capital to challenge the primacy of the big three, he established a wide net of loyal buyers who appreciated the value his cars brought to the table.

1925 Nash

The Nash was popular because it had the reputation for being a soundly built, medium priced car that was very reliable, said Dr. Charles Hyde, Professor of History at Wayne State University and the author of the upcoming book ˜Storied Independent Auto Makers: Nash, Hudson and American Motors. There was nothing fancy here, none of the pizzazz some of his competitors were offering. Nash was content to fill the mature market niche which happened to be very profitable.

How was Nash able to keep his prices so affordable "In a word" frugality. Nash Motors did a fraction of the advertising his competitors took for granted as vital for car sales and, unlike his rivals, he never acknowledged the prevailing notion that putting his cars through the racing circuit “ Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday´- was fundamental for success in the car business. Ever the hands-on manager, legend has it that Nash would personally turn out the lights after the work day to save money on electricity.

Just as important was Nashs propensity for quality and value, were the plethora of ground breaking innovations that characterized his cars. For instance the Nash “ under the tutelage of designer Nils Erik Wahlberg “ was the first automaker to use wind tunnel testing to measure a cars drag.

Other Nash Motor Company firsts included twin spark plugs, synchromesh transmission, electric radio, clock and antenna; wire wheel covers; back up lamps; hand held spotlight; plastic window screens; luggage carrier; curb feelers; door edge guards; exhaust extensions; vanity mirror and outside mirrors.

Perhaps the Nashs most unorthodox idea was the "Bed-In-A-Car" concept, which allowed the car's interior to be converted into a sleeping compartment. A great feature for long-distance travel or a romantic rendezvous.

Among the models that rose out of the Nash family of cars were the top-selling entry-level Ajax, the Nash Roadster and Touring car, the powerful Ambassador series and well received Nash Airflyte. Nashs stab at the lower priced category, the Lafayette, never sold well and was eventually dropped from the companys lineup.

Nash Six Touring 1927

In a shrewd move made in 1938, Charles Nash merged his company with appliance maker Kelvinator Corporation forming the highly lucrative Nash-Kelvinator Corporation. In 1954, Nash Motor Company absorbed the Hudson Motor Car Company coming together to form the American Motors Corporation which produced a variety of cars with limited success such as the Gremlin, Pacer, and Javelin. AMC went away in 1987 when it was acquired by Chrysler. As for the resilient Nash, it disappeared from showrooms in 1957 to make way for newer models that, unfortunately, couldn't duplicate its predecessors momentum.

Maybe a little stodgy but always dependable, the Nash was one of the car industrys most durable and well-loved creations.

Jack Nerad, Executive Editorial Director and Market Analyst for Kelly Blue Book, put it this way: The Nash always did a superior job of creating vehicles for the vast American middle class -- vehicles that were solid, honest and hard-working just like the citizens who bought them.

For more information about other iconic figures, go to MotorCities National Heritage Area at www.motorcities.org

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The Nash: A lot of Car for the Money