Nash 1917-1957 - Innovative and self-supporting
Summary
There have been around 10,000 car brands and designers - most of which have disappeared. One of these vanished brands is Nash, active from 1917 to 1957. With a wide range of models, Nash joined the American style and technology trend, held its own against the large corporations and survived the crisis of the early 1930s relatively unscathed. Nash caused a sensation in the 1940s with its streamlined bodywork. Sub-brands of Nash - Rambler and Ambassador - were elevated to private labels in the 1950s, which meant the end of Nash.
Estimated reading time: 3min
Preview (beginning of the article)
Charles W. Nash (1864- 1948) , who had climbed the career ladder at General Motors and played a leading role, took over the Jefferey Motor Co. in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1916 and founded his own brand there. With a wide range of models, Nash joined the American style and technology trend, held his own against the large corporations and survived the crisis of the early 1930s relatively unscathed. Along the way, he launched Nash and the LaFayette luxury brand. The 1941 Nash Ambassador 600 was one of the first US designs with a self-supporting body. The streamlined bodies of the 1949 models caused a sensation; even the front wheels of these models, which were named Airflyte, were enclosed. Thanks to its subsidiary Kelvinator, the brand also became a pioneer of automotive air conditioning and cooling systems. In addition, it had introduced reclining seats that could be adjusted to form a bed at an early stage.
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