Nash Metropolitan
1957 Austin Metropolitan Series III Hardtop (Nash Metropolitan) (Type HE6-HNK3H)
Imported in may 2015, current reg. (april 2020) is CN95727
Aarhus, Denmark, may 2016, at the classic car park of the 2016 CRAA car show.
The Metropolitan is quite an oddity in automotive history. Designed by US company Nash for the domestic market, but actually built in Great Britain by Austin, which was quite unique. At the launch of Series III, Austin aquired the rights to also sell the car in Europe, re-badged as Austin Metroplitan, thinking that due to the small size, the car would suit the european taste. Production for the UK- and European markets began in december 1956. Sales failed to live up to expectations, and production ended in february 1961 after roughly 9400 had been made.
The car in this photo was imported to Denmark in 2015, originating country unknown. The date of 1st registration is also unknown and has been auto-assigned by danish authorities to january 1st 1957. The (unfortunately messed up) vin code reveals, that it is indeed an early model - the "HE6" in the vin means that it's a hardtop version (HD6 for convertible), while "HNK3H" stands for Home Nash Kelvinator Series 3 H - this designation was only used for early models. The actual serial number is incorrectly listed with an extra digit, so the exact production date can't be determined, but it seems to be in either late 1956 or very early 1957.
The car was fitted with historically correct enamel plates upon import to Denmark - the leading X in the number would make it a car from the Aarhus area. In january 2020, the car was sold and now runs on standard modern plates CN95727.
#CarsOf1957 #ImportedToDenmark #CRAA
