At a time in American automotive history when most consumers and manufacturers believed that bigger was indeed better, Nash attempted to buck the trend. Believing that a small, efficient car could be successful among the vast array of large vehicles offered by the Big Three at the time, Nash put the NKI into production in 1953, and the following year, the car became known as the Metropolitan. Interestingly enough, this would be the first car designed by an American company to be manufactured overseas for the United States, and Metropolitan sales were counted against England’s war debt to the United States.

While its proportions may have been distinctly un-American, the Metropolitan still boasted familiar American style, making the car much more approachable to the American consumer. More importantly, it felt like an American car from behind the wheel as well. Boasting a soft and luxurious ride, the interior was well appointed, and it included a number of conveniences, such as an AM radio and windshield wipers. With the Metropolitan, buyers retained everything they loved about American cars but in a more manageable and efficient package.

Finished in Caribbean Blue over a black and white houndstooth interior, this Metropolitan Convertible looks truly spectacular. Having spent the majority of its life in rural Illinois, the car was treated to a ground-up restoration, and no stone was left unturned in bringing this Metropolitan back to its former glory. The engine was fully rebuilt, and the car was fitted with a new top and a brand-new interior. Needless to say, it presents beautifully.

An interesting piece of American and English automotive history, the Nash Metropolitan is fondly remembered today as a car that dared to be different. Beautifully restored, this particular example would be ideal for the collector looking for something different that will attract just as much attention on the road or at shows as an American car of twice the size.