Lot 786

Auburn Spring 2016

1948 Nash Ambassador

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$63,250 USD | Sold

United States | Auburn, Indiana

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Identification No.
R470808
  • 235-cid overhead valve inline six-cylinder engine
  • Column-shift three-speed manual transmission with overdrive
  • Very rare - only 130 made in 1948
  • Body-off restoration to high standards
  • Maroon with wood-ash framework and mahogany panels
  • Full maroon leather interior
  • Interior features – radio, clock and heater
  • Goodyear wide whitewall tires
  • Spare tire and jack
  • Bumper guards
  • Original owner’s manual and sales brochure

One of the first postwar offerings from Nash was the top-of-the-line 1946 Ambassador Six. In anticipation of high sales following World War II, Nash offered the Ambassador in two lines; Super and Custom. The Suburban model fell under the Super Line. The addition of the Suburban version introduced wood-paneling to the exterior of the car. The construction utilized an ash wood framework with mahogany panels; deserving of the popular “woodie” moniker that follows the entire gamut of wood-bodied cars. The Suburban was produced from 1946 to 1948, during which time roughly 1,000 examples were built. In 1948 roughly 130 were made. These have become very rare cars, from the 1946 to 1948 model run, less than 20 are known to exist today.

This very rare example of a 1948 Nash Ambassador Suburban Sedan is offered in a beautiful maroon with wood-paneling in a "sedanette" type style. The car sits on Goodyear wide whitewall tires that are mounted on color-keyed steel wheels with trim rings and center caps. The car has been through a body-off restoration that was executed to a high standard throughout.

This Ambassador Six is a 60 Series that is in the Super line; it is powered by a 235-cid overhead valve inline six-cylinder engine paired with a column-shift three-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The interior is adorned with maroon leather upholstery and features a clock, radio and heater. The dashboard exhibits a lovely design that incorporates horizontal spines with engine-turned flats and Art Deco-inspired instrumentation.

Front and center, the dash fascia is dominated by a Weather Eye “conditioned air” unit; this was the trade name for the Nash Motors-designed fresh-air system for the passenger compartment heating, cooling and ventilating. Nash's Conditioned Air System heater was now marketed as the "Weather Eye" and consumer sales literature explained that the thermostat's "mechanical eye" watched the weather, hence the name. The use of the Weather Eye name for automobile passenger heating and air conditioning systems continued in American Motors (AMC) vehicles.

The car has many details that add to the whole of the presentation; from the sleek radiator ornament to the style of the horizontal grille “strakes” that continue the interior design theme. Uncommon and elegant; this Nash also comes with a spare tire and jack along with original owner’s manual and sales brochure.