Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Cars have genes.
Cars have DNA, or at least they did before they lost their souls to environmentalism and globalism.
I've been appreciating the entertainment value of the American Bantam for a long time. When Polistra needs to drive, she drives a Bantam.
I'm reading Patrick Foster's book on the Nash Metropolitan. The Metro had the same genes as the Bantam. Basically an Austin Seven, rebodied and rerigged for American tastes.
And the Metro stirred exactly the same entertainment senses as the Bantam. It was used by businesses who wanted a small economical CUTE vehicle. Cuteness evokes pleasant feelings.
Radio stations had used the Bantam in the '30s, and used the Metro in the '50s:
Circuses used Bantams as clown cars, and amusement parks turned Metros into rides:
Newspapers and other businesses also enjoyed Bantams and Metros for city delivery of small items. Businesses understood that the Metro was a miniature business coupe. No back seat, trunk area lockable and accessible from inside. Its size made it an ideal replacement for motorcycles in dispatch and messenger service. Carry a reporter or a report. It couldn't quite fit in the same small space as a motorcycle, but it was much safer and comfier in rain and snow, and the storage area was secure.
Nash could have done more to attract the business coupe market. Austin made bucket seats for its domestic Austin and Morris cars, so the Metro could have offered a bucket option cheaply. The business user could remove the right seat for more storage area and access, similar to panel trucks and vans. Fans of "sporty Euro" cars would also appreciate the buckets.
Emphasizing business use would also enable a more appropriate name. Metropolitan was certainly a better name than Mason's original choice, NKI for Nash-Kelvinator International. But it didn't fit with Ambassador and Statesman. Courier would suggest the business purpose and match the other names.
Nash also tried to appeal to police departments. The Metro had one unique advantage for parking patrol. Because it was built in England for sale in both countries, RHD editions were available at no extra cost.
Very few cities responded, and surprisingly Kenosha WASN'T among them. Normally the police would only buy an offbeat car to support local industries. Cops preferred Fords for good reasons.
Hmm. Is that the same '56 Chevy in both pictures?
Circuses used Bantams as clown cars, and amusement parks turned Metros into rides:
Newspapers and other businesses also enjoyed Bantams and Metros for city delivery of small items. Businesses understood that the Metro was a miniature business coupe. No back seat, trunk area lockable and accessible from inside. Its size made it an ideal replacement for motorcycles in dispatch and messenger service. Carry a reporter or a report. It couldn't quite fit in the same small space as a motorcycle, but it was much safer and comfier in rain and snow, and the storage area was secure.
Nash could have done more to attract the business coupe market. Austin made bucket seats for its domestic Austin and Morris cars, so the Metro could have offered a bucket option cheaply. The business user could remove the right seat for more storage area and access, similar to panel trucks and vans. Fans of "sporty Euro" cars would also appreciate the buckets.
Emphasizing business use would also enable a more appropriate name. Metropolitan was certainly a better name than Mason's original choice, NKI for Nash-Kelvinator International. But it didn't fit with Ambassador and Statesman. Courier would suggest the business purpose and match the other names.
Nash also tried to appeal to police departments. The Metro had one unique advantage for parking patrol. Because it was built in England for sale in both countries, RHD editions were available at no extra cost.
Very few cities responded, and surprisingly Kenosha WASN'T among them. Normally the police would only buy an offbeat car to support local industries. Cops preferred Fords for good reasons.
Hmm. Is that the same '56 Chevy in both pictures?Labels: Entertainment
¶ 3:52 PM
