The two-tone Nash Metropolitan is in my top five cars to own
So @iris lily, yesterday I walked by one (that’s been parked somewhat near me for years) and the owner was outside. He told me a tale that made me not such a fan!
OK, first off I say, is that good on gas? He says sort of, but the parts are hard to find, as it’s made in England. Ack, I have a rule never to own Italian or English cars.
But sadly, his car (which was clearly not in good shape anyway) had rust on the frame and was not running. He said when he inherited it a few years ago (from an aunt who used to drive it in parades) he took it to a detailing shop. While he left it there, they had trouble turning it on, not realizing it had a choke.
They tried to get the engine to catch until the battery failed. Then they tried to jump start it, but the car has reversed polarity so they fried the electrical system.
He says I can have it for $2500. 😆
I've been in the old car hobby for ~50 years. There are many variables when speaking about old cars with people. Restore means many things. Restored might mean like new, like the day it was built. For other people restored means they paid somone to give it a quick paint job without addressing many hidden issues (usually rust).
You ought to look at that car closer. And then compare it to the other cars available for sale to see if it is a good deal. Maybe it has terminal rust. Maybe it has some rusty spots that can be easily patched up.
Parts are not hard to come by most likely. This is the age of the internet. You just need to curate good online parts sources, and a good forum or three where you can see answers.
https://www.shopmetropolitanparts.comThere were more sources but that was what I found in a few seconds of searching.
Address the rust properly. Store the car inside in the future so the rust comes back slowly (it is unlikely you can kill all the rust so if stored inside the rust might not return in 25+ years but eventually, the car will need new paint). Educate yourself enough that you can make good choices even if you don't do the work yourself.
In old cars like this - it is likely that the generator regulator needs to be replaced and the generator possibly repolarized. Simple things. We owned a late 60s British sports car and the battery was installed reversed polarity (normally positive earth). The radio and the electric tachometer did not work. Once my father corrected this problem, he only had to repair the generator. The tach and radio came back to life. In my early 1970s Beetle, I could start and run the car in reverse polarity (normally negative earth, radio off) but the alternator would not charge. Did it on a zero money bet over beers with a gearhead buddy to see what would happen. Once the battery cable were correct again, it charged no problem, no damage.
Happy to discuss old cars with anyone that wants. Let me know.
My pentacle of cars was also 1999 or so. Our Honda is at ~320K miles. Wished it had more sound insulation and/or 6th gear but otherwise it is all I need most of the time and it still does daily driver duty for DW and I. We do have a nicer travel car that I fear owning too far into the future. Screens x2, fancy radio, fancy engine, fancy transmission, fancy windows, seats, etc. So far trouble free.
Am looking at EVs and might buy a used 3-4 year old Leaf Plus for the same reasons discussed here - touchscreen for the nav and radio but everything else uses buttons.
