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The Bexhill 100 Motoring Club

PO Box 159

Bexhill - on - Sea

East Sussex

TN39 3XE

Bexhill 100 Motoring Club

Copyright 2011-2012 Bexhill 100 Motoring Club

Bexhill on Sea - The Birthplace of British Motor Racing (1902)

Bexhill 100 Motoring Club official website
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Austin Nash Metropolitan 1956

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I was designed by William J Flajole an American for Nash-Kelvinator Corporation (Also called the Hudson Metropolitan by American Motors) who agreed that the design would be manufactured by Austin in England due to the high costs of manufacture in America.I was born at the Austin Longbridge Plant in 1956 so I am currently 61 years old. I had siblings who were topless and others that were right handed but I had a lid and was dressed in Red and White. Being left handed, I was immediately shipped off to America where I resided in California. I stayed in the warm sunshine in California until I was packed up and shipped to UK in 2000 and was re-registered here with the number RSL 232.I do not know who shipped me here or where I lived when I came to England but I had another owner and lived in Harwich until 2012.  

I then moved with my new owner to Blackpool and had fun driving down the street with lots of flashing lights. I only stayed with this owner until 2014 when I moved to Halesworth near Ipswich until I was bought by Martin Rhodes my current owner this year, and came to live in Sunny Bexhill on Sea.I now have a new livery of Blue and White both inside and outside and lovely white wall tyres. I have had the same 1500cc engine since at least 2012. I have a nice shiny stainless steel exhaust, an electric fuel pump and an electronic ignition system.I was delighted to join the Bexhill 100 Club in June this year and went to my first meeting at the Seafront this weekend for Bexhill MotoFest 2017. To my great surprise and delight I was awarded the Leslie Fuller Memorial Trophy on the day which I will treasure until I will return it at Halloween. I cannot believe my luck having been in the company of so many lovely cars that I thought deserved it much more than me. I would very much like to thank everyone for taking the time to look at me and sincerely hope to join all the other amazing cars in the months and years to come.

Engine

BMC 'B' type

4 cylinder in-line, 8 overhead valves

Displacement: 1,489cc

Bore: 73.025mm, Stroke: 89mm

Compression ratio: 7.2:1

Valves: 2 per cylinder

Main bearings: 3

Carburettor: Zenith downdraught

Power output: 78bhp at 4,100rpm

 

Performance

Maximum speed: 75mph

Acceleration: 0-50mph 15.3secs

0-60mph: 24.8secs

Overall fuel consumption: 29mpg

 

 

Brakes

Girling Hydraulic, Front & rear: 8in drum

Friction lining area: 76.8sq.in

 

Construction

Pressed steel monocoque

 

Transmission

3-speed manual, column change, Ratios: top 4.22,

2nd 6.288, 1st 11.985, rev 14.264, Syncromesh on 2nd & top

Clutch: Borg & Beck s.d.p.Propeller shaft: open Hardy spicer

Final drive: Hypoid bevel, Rear wheel drive

 

Steering

Cam and lever, Turning circle L: 35ft, R:36ft

Lock to lock 2.87 turns

 

Suspension

Front: ind. coil & wishbone. Rear: semi eliptic leaf

Wheels

4 stud, 13in, pressed steel

Tyres 520 x 13 tubless

 

Dimensions

Wheelbase: 7ft 1in

Track front: 3ft 9.25in

Track rear: 3ft 9in

Overall length: 12ft 5in

Overall width: 5ft

Overall height: 4ft 8in

Ground clearance: 6in

Kerb weight: 17cwt

Fuel tank: 8.75gals

Sump: 7pints, Gearbox: 4.5pints, Cooling: 13.3pints

 

Austin Metropolitan Production

1956 -1961, longbridge

Total RHD production: approx 9,390 cars

Total 1953-61 production: approx 95,000

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