1954 Nash Rambler

In 1950, Nash Motors added a third car to its model lineup. The luxury Ambassador and full-size Statesman were joined by a smaller model, named the Rambler.

Nash was betting that Americans who had served overseas during the war and been exposed to smaller European cars might want an alternative to the twenty foot long chrome-slathered barges then popular in Detroit. The Rambler was indeed a small car, riding on a 100-inch wheelbase, nearly a foot shorter than that of a current Honda Accord.

It was initially offered only as a 2-door coupe with a retractable roof (not really a convertible because the door frames were still there), but in subsequent model years the line was fleshed out to include hardtop coupes, sedans, and two- and four-door wagons. 

The Pininfarina-inspired styling was revamped for the 1953 model year. This Spanish Red 1954 Rambler hardtop coupe would have been powered by an 85 horsepower 184 cubic inch flathead inline six if it had a 3-speed manual. Upgrading to a Hydra-Matic slushbox (sourced from GM) got you a 90 horsepower 196 cubic inch version of the same motor.

The eccentric front wheel skirts looked cool, but seriously impeded turning radius and they would be gone for 1955. Also gone for 1955 was Nash's existence as an independent auto manufacturer. In the summer of 1954, Nash and Hudson merged to form the American Motors Corporation, so as to better compete with Ford and GM, who were engaged in a savage price war at the time.

This car was photographed in April of 2015 in Indianapolis, using a Nikon Coolpix P7000. No, I don't know why a car whose body was built in California with an engine from Wisconsin and registered in Indiana has a Confederate flag front license plate.