Lot Ended
Description
Restored
in New Zealand in the mid-1990s this factory RHD is a stunning example of a smooth and powerful vintage saloon with
room for all the family.
Charlie Nash was president of Buick and
later chairman of General Motors of Detroit until he resigned in 1916 to build a
car under his own name. Nash Motors prospered and grew as the company bought up
smaller firms and progressed up the sales charts, eventually amalgamating with
the giant Kelvinator domestic appliance group in 1937.
The firm expanded
throughout the late-Twenties with a series of advanced six-cylinder cars
introduced in 1924. These were of varying sizes but always with magnificent
smooth, seven-bearing crankshaft engines, usually with overhead valves.
Four-wheel brakes were fitted from the start, and the bodywork was always
stylish and frequently updated, with a wide range of sedans, roadsters, coupes
and tourers available on three lengths of chassis.
The car on offer is a
four-door sedan and was one of the large number of North American cars exported
to New Zealand in the inter-war period and therefore benefits from having its
steering wheel on the right.
The engine is a smooth and powerful
six-cylinder unit of 3,010cc. The sturdy crankshaft runs in seven main-bearings
and the block and crankcase are integrally cast in cylinder. The chassis is of
strong but conventional construction, using semi-elliptic springs front and
rear, with four-wheel brakes and a three-speed gearbox with central lever. A
handbook included with the car even gives instructions for removing a new Nash
from its delivery crate!
The car remained in New Zealand until imported
to the UK in 1995, having been completely restored in Christchurch prior to
leaving the Antipodes. The interior is magnificently finished to a very high
standard, and the car is well equipped with period items, the twelve-sided
wooden steering wheel being of special note. The paintwork in red and black is
to very nearly to concours standards, and the whole car is in totally
exceptional condition with exemplary panel fit.
From 2005 – 2012 it was
used on various vintage events. In 2012 it was offered for sale via Brightwells
and the buyer continued to look after it well, with various invoices on file for
routine service items (oil and filter; spark plugs and leads; fuse box;
reconditioned klaxon horn; new light bulbs all round; new set of tyre inner
tubes etc).
Laid up in c.2019, it was bought by the current owner from
Brightwells in June 2023 at which point it was in need of recommissioning. In
the last two years our vendor has changed the oils (engine, gearbox,
differential) and oil filter; greased all the lubrication points; replaced the
plugs, points, condenser and coil; cleaned the carb and the petrol tank and
fitted a new 6v battery.
Running quite well as we have moved it around
on site, with healthy oil pressure, we think the carb still needs a little bit
of finessing to improve the starting and smooth running.
A super
alternative to the ubiquitous Ford Model A but better built and with a ready
spares network in the States to keep it in tip-top running order,
this stunning Nash is every bit as good as it looks in the
photos.
Consigned by James Booth –
james.booth@brightwells.com