Editing Nash Metropolitan (section)

===Series I===
{{Infobox automobile
|image      = Metropolitan convertible red by lake.JPG
|name       = Series I
|production = 1953–54
}}
[[File:NashCarDealership.jpg|thumb|Nash dealership with a Metropolitan visible, 1954]]
[[File:1957 Hudson Metropolitan hardtop in yellow and white at 2019 AACA Hershey show 4of7.jpg|thumb|Hudson emblem on Metropolitan grille]]

Production at Austin's [[Longbridge]] factory started in October 1953 (Commencing [[VIN]]1001). Nicknamed the "baby Nash", the cars were tiny. They had an {{convert|85|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheelbase, overall length of {{convert|149.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of only {{convert|1785|lb|kg|abbr=on}} for the convertible and {{convert|1825|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} for the hardtop, thus making the Metropolitan smaller than the [[Volkswagen Beetle]]. The two models, a convertible and a hardtop, were powered by the [[Overhead valve|OHV]] {{convert|1200|cc|CID|abbr=on}} [[straight-4]] Austin 'A40' series engine (as used in the [[Austin A40 Devon]]/Dorset) [[rear-wheel drive|driving the rear wheels]] through a three-speed [[manual transmission]]. The initial order was for 10,000 units, with an option to increase the order if sales were sufficient.

The new car underwent rigorous testing at the Nash Proving Grounds, but the first assignment for newly hired Assistant Technical Advisor, Carl Chakmakian, was to conduct supervised testing to achieve advertising and sales training objectives.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/carl-chakmakian |title=Carl Chakmakian: AMC's Sultan of Speed |work=Hemmings |date=23 September 2018 |access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> In December 1953, two new NKI-branded (serial numbers 1009 and 1013) were driven {{convert|800|m|km|0}} from their arrival port to the new [[Raleigh Speedway]] in North Carolina to conduct two days of speed endurance and fuel economy evaluation.<ref name="Raleigh-Speedway">{{cite web|url= https://www.raleighspeedway.org/nash-metropolitan-at-raleigh |title=Nash Metropolitan at Raleigh |date= |work=Raleigh Speedway History |access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> The tests were run and certified by NASCAR officials that included [[Bill France Sr.|Bill France]].<ref name="Raleigh-Speedway"/> With two drivers from Shreveport, Louisiana, Roxy Dancey and Herschel Buchanan, one car finished the 24-hour endurance run achieving {{convert|1469.7|mi|km|0}} at an average speed of {{convert|61.2|mph|km/h|0}} and {{convert|21.1|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on}} overall.<ref name="Raleigh-Speedway"/> It had eleven pit stops to change drivers, add fuel and oil, and make tire changes because of the track's abrasive aggregate surface and fast corners.<ref name="Proving">{{cite web|url= https://www.raleighspeedway.org/secondary-sources/2010_proving_the_metropolitan |title=Proving the Metropolitan |first=Patrick |last=Foster |work=Hemmings Classic Car |date=September 2010 |via=raleighspeedway.org |access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> The car did not need any service or parts other than the tires.<ref name="Raleigh-Speedway"/> The second car was subjected to a non-stop 24-hour fuel economy test with drivers changing every three hours while the car was in motion, and refueling was also accomplished in motion three times by attaching a gas can to the side window drained into the car's tank.<ref name="Proving"/> The car averaged {{convert|41.7|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on}}.<ref name="oldcarbrochures1954"/>

The new model was initially to be called the "NKI Custom", but the name was changed to "Metropolitan" just two months before its public release. New chrome nameplates with the "Metropolitan" name were made to fit into the same holes as the "NKI Custom" script on the passenger side front fender. Nash [[Car dealership|dealers]] had to rebadge the early cars that came with the "NKI Custom" name. Still, some factory manuals had already been prepared and distributed to service departments with the NKI name.<ref name="foster05"/> The first examples badged as Nash went on sale on 19 March 1954 in the U.S. and Canada. ''Autocar'' said that "at a production rate of less than 400 cars a week&nbsp;... it was hardly going to be a runaway best seller."<ref name="graham">{{cite magazine|url= http://www.metropolitan-library.com/Autocar5815.jpg |last=Robson |first=Graham |title=A Motoring Cuckoo? |magazine=Autocar|date=May 1981 |page=24 |via=Metropolitan Library Website |access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref>

In surveys, Americans had affirmed a desire for economy cars, but in practice, they bought the Metropolitan in relatively small numbers. Although Nash merged with Hudson in 1954 and marketed the car as a Hudson Metropolitan in 1955, "demand never took off from the original level", primarily because the Metropolitan was slow by North American standards.<ref name="graham"/> In the first month of sales, 862 Metropolitans were sold in U.S. and Canada, while in the first six months, a total of 7,042 were sold. A further order was placed with Austin.

Available exterior colors were P903 "Spruce Green", P904 "Canyon Red", P905 "Caribbean Blue", or P906 "Croton Green", with P907 "Mist Grey" as a contrast color for the hardtops. P906 "Croton Green" was dropped as a color option in April 1954. Cars incorporated the Nash logo on their grille badge, hubcaps, horn button, and spare wheel cover. The [[suggested retail price]] (MSRP) for Series I (also known as NK1) models was US$1,445 (hardtop) and $1,469 (convertible). Adding a radio and a heater pushed the price above $1,500: at the time, the Volkswagen Beetle was priced at $1,425.<ref name="AMS-1974">{{cite magazine|title=Vor 20 Jahren: Erster US-Kleinwagen (a page of extracts from the same magazine's edition of exactly twenty years earlier) |magazine=Auto, Motor und Sport |volume=9 |page=21 |date=27 April 1974 |language=de}}</ref>

In May 1954, [[Nash-Kelvinator Corporation]] announced that it had merged with the [[Hudson Motors|Hudson Motor Company]] to form [[American Motors Corporation]] (AMC). Thus, by August 1954, Metropolitans become available through Hudson dealers. These Hudson Metropolitans carried a Hudson [[Grille (car)|grille]] badge, [[hubcap]]s incorporating an "M" logo, a "bulls-eye" horn button design, and a plain spare wheel cover. Braking performance was {{convert|90|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} from {{convert|45|mph|km/h|0}} to a full stop.<ref name="oldcarbrochures1954">{{cite web|url= http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Metropolitan/1954_Metropolitan/1954%20Nash%20Metropolitan%20Foldout/1954%20Nash%20Metropolitan-02-03.html |title=1954 Nash Metropolitan Foldout |pages=2–3 |website=oldcarbrochures.com |access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref>