
Address.
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)
e-mail: bexhill100@bexhill100mc.co.uk

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