The Nash brand was born as early as 1916. The Nash banner included the Rambler model, which became profitable for both the company and the middle class of the time.
Giving customers more than they ask for
A visionary, Nash turned to Nils Erik Wahlberg, an aerodynamics engineer, to test his cars in wind tunnels. He even took the opportunity to introduce the idea of modern-day ventilation by offering air conditioners and heaters.
After three years, Nash Motors was already producing 27,000 vehicles per year. An upscale brand was created in 1920, but LaFayette would prove to be a financial disaster. Luckily, Nash was still profitable and especially very productive with 50,000 vehicles sold in 1923.
The year 1925 marked the arrival of the Ajax, with a price tag of $995. Nash introduced a new naming concept in 1926, however, and his Ajax models were renamed Light Six.
Less than five years later Nash started production of his eight-cylinder, dual-ignition engines that could generate 100 hp at the time.
At the end of that pre-war period, in 1937, the company recorded its best-ever sales figures, selling 85,949 vehicles.
Transforming the automobile
Nash Motors was the instigator of numerous technologies such as the defrosting system and the “Bed-in-a-Car” feature that allowed the front seats to be folded back to create a relatively comfortable bed for two adults. Most significant of all was the introduction of the first unibody car in 1941, the Nash 600. According to the rumours back then, it got its name from the distance it could travel on a single tank of gas, i.e. 600 miles with 76 litres.
The Airflyte was introduced in 1949, becoming the first post-war vehicle of the brand. Its low aerodynamic drag was ingenious, but problems with the body configuration forced important changes to be made in 1952.
The fall of an icon
The Airflyte model marked the beginning of the end for the brand. The Rambler was updated in 1954. After the death of Charles W. Nash in 1948, Mason took the reins of the company and made several relatively unsuccessful association attempts. In 1954 Nash Motors merged with the Hudson Motors Car Company and became the American Company.
From that moment on the survival of both brands was threatened, and in 1958 the names Nash and Hudson were dropped in favour of Rambler.
photo:Luc-Olivier Chamberland
Giving customers more than they ask for
A visionary, Nash turned to Nils Erik Wahlberg, an aerodynamics engineer, to test his cars in wind tunnels. He even took the opportunity to introduce the idea of modern-day ventilation by offering air conditioners and heaters.
After three years, Nash Motors was already producing 27,000 vehicles per year. An upscale brand was created in 1920, but LaFayette would prove to be a financial disaster. Luckily, Nash was still profitable and especially very productive with 50,000 vehicles sold in 1923.
The year 1925 marked the arrival of the Ajax, with a price tag of $995. Nash introduced a new naming concept in 1926, however, and his Ajax models were renamed Light Six.
Less than five years later Nash started production of his eight-cylinder, dual-ignition engines that could generate 100 hp at the time.
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At the end of that pre-war period, in 1937, the company recorded its best-ever sales figures, selling 85,949 vehicles.
Transforming the automobile
Nash Motors was the instigator of numerous technologies such as the defrosting system and the “Bed-in-a-Car” feature that allowed the front seats to be folded back to create a relatively comfortable bed for two adults. Most significant of all was the introduction of the first unibody car in 1941, the Nash 600. According to the rumours back then, it got its name from the distance it could travel on a single tank of gas, i.e. 600 miles with 76 litres.
The Airflyte was introduced in 1949, becoming the first post-war vehicle of the brand. Its low aerodynamic drag was ingenious, but problems with the body configuration forced important changes to be made in 1952.
The fall of an icon
The Airflyte model marked the beginning of the end for the brand. The Rambler was updated in 1954. After the death of Charles W. Nash in 1948, Mason took the reins of the company and made several relatively unsuccessful association attempts. In 1954 Nash Motors merged with the Hudson Motors Car Company and became the American Company.
From that moment on the survival of both brands was threatened, and in 1958 the names Nash and Hudson were dropped in favour of Rambler.
photo:Luc-Olivier Chamberland
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