1948 Nash Ambassador Series 4860 Custom Cabriolet 

The story of Nash Motors begins way back in the early 1900s with the Thomas B. Jeffery Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin.  Prior to the first TBJC automobiles being produced in 1902, the company spent ample time developing its prototypes.  The son of the company namesake came up with two radical innovations during the prototyping process, a steering wheel and front-mounted engines.  While normal today, at the time vehicles utilized tiller steering and nearly all had the engine under the seat.  Of course by the time TBJC production began, father talked son out of his crazy ideas. Steering wheel or not, the lengthy research and development proved successful; they sold cars as fast as they could build them.

For consignment, one of a mere 1000 produced in 1948, we give you a Nash Ambassador Series 4860 convertible.  The car here is the last of the full size convertibles produced.  This car  was once part of a collection based in Auburn, Indiana, and is an older restoration.  It still retains its shine, with nicely preserved chrome and trimmings and Stratos Blue factory matching paint.  It has Nash fog lights, a grille guard as well.  Under the hood is a rebuilt engine that is the correct unit and has been upgraded for modern day driving.  Headed For History, You'll Be Ahead With Nash!

Exterior
As with most cars of the era, the front end presents with a V shaped high bulbous hood meeting up with a small upper grille in the center of wide fenders that have a rectangular turn signal light next to the upper grille.  They are next to a single round wide bezel headlight on the ends of the front fenders.  Below is another grille, this one running the width of the car with horizontal ribs, that wrap mourned the front quarters.  The bumper has vertical grille guards and factory yellow lense Nash fog lights.  The massive hood runs into a split front windshield trimmed in stainless steel with shiny wipers and an air cowl vent.  The large front quarters run back to the doors where the design goes sans running boards and to the back quarters which are also rounded over and have a wide trimming on their leading edge.  Wide doors allow easy access to the passenger compartment and this area is covered with a nicely preserved tan canvas convertible top that has a plastic rear window.  When down, a black tonneau covering is present to cover the top.  A wonderfully rounded rear deck makes its way from the back of the canvas top, and down to the rear bumper which wraps around the rounded curvaceous back of the car.  Rectangular tail lights and the shiny bumper with vertical guards and the chromed trimmings and badging on the lid are excellently preserved.  Stratus Blue bathes the entire body and shows with a few minute flaws and a notable crack in the bodywork of the passenger's door.  15-inch Stratus Blue  steel wheels with Nash logoed dog dish caps and polished trim rings are shod in 7.00-15 blackwall radials for a more pleasant driving experience. 

Interior
Top down and a swing of the doors I am greeted with deep blue vinyl door panels with chrome upper sils.  These are just a tad loose and show some slight wrinkles from this looseness.  A split back bench has dark blue vinyl bolsters, some piping in dark blue, and in the inserts, a creamy tan broadcloth which is slightly soiled predominantly on the drivers side.  The rear bench is looking good and is very clean, matching the front bench.  Dark blue carpeting is on the floors and is also clean.  In front, the art deco inspired dash is in a slightly lighter blue than the benches and sports horizontal shiny ribs running through it.  Within the front are a trio of round shiny bezel gauges.  In the center is a wide ivory bakelite framed raised panel for the radio speaker.  Just below this an aluminum panel recently added that houses a few toggles for the fuel pump and small round black faced gauges showing water temp and oil pressure.  On the passenger's side is the glovebox, and a fuel gauge now resides on the door in lieu of what was a clock.  A big white bakelite steering wheel with a central Nash badged hub is fronting the dash.  The shift lever is on the column.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a 234.8ci LeMans Dual Jetfire inline 6 cylinder engine which has been restored.  It has a factory installed aluminum head as part of the Jetfire package.  On the side it is being fed by dual 2-barrel side draft carburetors.  There is a 3-speed manual with overdrive transmission with a 4.10 gear rear axle.  Handling the exhale is a factory header and Flowmaster muffler equipped single exhaust.  All is very clean and buttoned up on this alternator converted Nash mill.

Undercarriage
All stamped steel and solid steel framing is under this car with no invasive rust.  Although a light peppering of surface rust is making an appearance on the usual suspects, the chassis remains structurally solid, including the flooring and inner rockers.  New brake lines, no drips on the bottom end of the engine, new fuel lines and a new tank all work to make a very clean environment.  Independent coil spring front suspension for the front and leaf springs for the back provide the ride.  Drum brakes are on all 4 corners.

Drive-Ability
She fires right up and has a nice purr from the factory header and Flowmaster.  A nice smooth driver, smooth acceleration, and quick braking from the manual drums.  The top goes up and down easily, and its power actuated.  The radio, heater blower, and clock make check marks on our frown list as they are non functional.

1 of 1000 built a rear example, this one an earlier resto, but still holding its own.  A good driver and turn the key and go and show.  Why march in line with the norm when you can steal America's heart with a Nash?

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.