1953 Nash Rambler

The Nash Rambler was one of several compact-sized cars automobiles introduced by independent automakers during the early 1950s, but its longevity greatly eclipsed those other attempts. It succeeded where others failed and it helped strengthen Nash's position within the U.S. marketplace as a maker of small cars. Considered to be the first successful modern American compact car, the Rambler's popularity reached new heights when in 1958, it was featured in the hit song 'Beep Beep.'

Produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, the Rambler was built from 1950 through 1954 in body styles that included a sedan, wagon, and fixed-profile convertible. When Nash-Kelvinator merged with the Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 1954, to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), production of the Nash Rambler - built by AMC in Kenosha, Wisconsin - continued until 1955.

The Nash Rambler Name
Nash planned on calling its new car the Diplomat, retaining a similar naming scheme to the company's other models. The 600 was renamed the Statesman, and the Ambassador was the company's flagship model. After learning that Dodge had reserved the Diplomat name for a planned two-door hardtop body style, Nash looked to its past and resurrected the Rambler name from an 1897 prototype and its first production model in 1902. Nash filed trademarks for the Rambler and Statesman names on May 22, 1950.

The Compact Nash Automobile
Rather than compete head-to-head with the 'Big Three,' Nash-Kelvinator's President George W. Mason's plan was to pursue a niche market unpopulated by the well-established Detroit marques. Unique designs helped distinguish the Nash automobiles from the rest of the market, along with mechanical ingenuity and reasonable pricing. Mason went after the compact car segment, of which there were few successful competitors in the post-war era. While not directly competing with the 'Big Three' in regards to the size and stature of the automobile, Nash's new model would intrude upon the lower-price segment of which Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth had a stronghold. It may have been smaller, but it was unusually well-equipped for a car of its size, and was (perhaps) the key to its longevity.

Due to its small stature, less material was needed to construct the Nash Rambler, and it benefited from better fuel economy compared to other cars of the era. Both of these were important factors as the world continued to struggle with material shortages caused by World War II.

Mechancial Specifications
The Nash Rambler had unibody construction with a 100-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 176 inches, and a height of nearly 60 inches. Despite its small size, it was designed to accommodate five passengers comfortably. Its design was penned during World War II by Nash engineers and it followed the design of the larger 'senior' Nash models, with an enveloping body, fender skirts enclosing the front wheels, and a rounded profile.

Beneath the bonnet was Nash's tried-and-true 176 cubic-inch (2.8 liter) L-head (flathead) straight-6 cylinder engine offering 82 horsepower. It had four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter one-barrel carburetor, and 7.25:1 compression. It had Hotchkiss drive (rather than the traditional torque tube used by the conventional Nash automobiles), and an automatic overdrive was optional.

Bodystyles
At its introduction, the only available body style was a fully equipped two-door fixed-profile convertible. A two-door station wagon was introduced two months later, on June 23, 1950. The fixed-profile convertible - the Convertible Landau - had a base price of approximately $1,800.

The retractable waterproof canvas top of the Rambler was cable-drive and electrically operated, and unlike traditional convertibles that used frame-free side windows, it retained the bodywork's doors and rear-side window frames.

The list of body styles eventually grew to include a two-door hardtop, a two-door sedan, and a two-door sedan delivery.

Standard Equipment
The Nash Rambler came standard with wheel discs, whitewall tires, turn signals, and an 184 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine that could deliver fuel economy up to 30 mpg. The interior was nicely equipped with a Custom steering wheel, Custom upholstery, foam seat cushions, electric clock, courtesy lights, and a radio and antenna.

Production
1950 - 11,428 units (Including 9,330 Custom Convertibles and 1,712 Station Wagons.)
1951 - 70,003 units (Including 28,617 Custom Station Wagons and 5,568 Station Wagons, 19,317 Country Club, and 14,881 convertibles.)
1952 - 53,000 units (Including 25,785 Country Club, 19,889 Custom station wagons, 3,108 convertibles, 2,970 station wagons, and 1,248 Utility wagons).
1953 - 30,260 units (Including 15,255 Country Club, 10,598 Custom station wagons, 3,284 convertibles, 1,114 station wagons, and 9 Utility Wagons (a.k.a. Deliveryman)).
1954 - 36,231 units (Including 9,039 Custom station wagons, 7,273 Deluxe Sedan, 4,313 Super Sedan, and 3,612 Custom Hardtop Coupe (among others)).

Updates
Styling updates credited to Italian automobile designer Battista 'Pinin' Farina were bestowed upon the 1953 Rambler with a similar appearance to the 'senior' Nash models. Cars with manual transmission were paired with the 184 cubic-inch inline-6, while a 195.6 CID inline-6 with 90 horsepower was paired with the optional 'Hydra-Matic' automatic supplied by General Motors.

The 1950 to 1953 Nash Rambler was offered solely in two-door body styles. In 1954, Nash introduced a four-door sedan and a four-door station wagon (known as the Cross Country) built atop a longer, 108-inch wheelbase. Initially, the four-door sedan was offered only in 'Custom' trim.

Equipment added to the options list for 1954 included Nash's exclusive integrated automobile air conditioning system, a heater, and a radio.

The Custom Trim
The Custom trim added additional accoutrements that included a 'Weather Eye' heating and ventilation system, and a radio. The convertible and hardtop body styles received a continental tire (external spare tire carrier).

The Super Trim
The Super trim was the lower-priced option and was devoid of several standard accessories, including the Continental tire, heaters, and radio.

The 1953 Nash Rambler Series 10

The restyled 1953 Nash Rambler wore a lowered hood, enclosed front and rear fenders, and a single bar front grille. The updates penned by Pinin Farina were inspired by the 1952 and 1953 Golden Anniversary Ambassador and Statesman.

A manual transmission was standard equipment, and the Dual-Range Hydra-Matic was a new option. The L-head inline-6 cylinder engine displaced 184.1 cubic inches and produced 85 horsepower at 3,800 RPM. The Hydra-Matic was paired with a 195.6 cubic-inch inline-6 cylinder engine and produced 90 horsepower at 3,800 RPM.

Bodystyle and Pricing
The two-door, five-passenger station wagon had a base price of $2,000 and a total of 1,114 examples were built. The convertible listed at $2,150 and 3,284 were built, and just nine examples were the two-door Deliveryman. The Custom station wagon listed at $2,120 and 10,598 were built, and the Country Club was $2,125 and 15,255 were built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2023