Editing Nash Motors (section)

==Era of George Mason and Nash Kelvinator==
[[Image:Nash Special Six Coupe 1929.jpg|thumb|right|Nash Special Six Series 430 Coupé 1929]]
[[Image:Nash Convertible Coupe 1929.jpg|thumb|right|Nash Standard Six Series 422 Convertible Coupé 1929]]

Before retiring, Charles Nash chose [[Kelvinator]] Corporation head [[George W. Mason]] to succeed him. Mason accepted, but placed one condition on the job: Nash would acquire controlling interest in Kelvinator, which at the time was the leading manufacturer of high-end refrigerators and kitchen appliances in the United States. As of 4 January 1937, the resulting company was known as [[Nash-Kelvinator]]. As a brand name, Nash continued representing automobiles for the merged firm. This was the largest merger of companies in two different industries until then.

In 1938, Nash introduced an optional conditioned air heating/ventilating system, an outcome of the expertise shared between Kelvinator and Nash. This was the first hot-water car heater to draw fresh air from outside the car and is the basis of all modern internal combustion engine car heaters in use today. Also in 1938, Nash, along with other car manufacturers [[Studebaker]] and [[Graham-Paige|Graham]], offered vacuum-controlled shifting, an early approach to removing the gearshift from the front floorboards. Automobiles equipped with the Automatic Vacuum Shift (supplied by the Evans Products Company) had a small gear selector lever mounted on the dashboard, immediately below the radio controls.

In 1936, Nash introduced the "Bed-In-A-Car" feature, which converted the car's interior into a sleeping compartment. The rear seatbacks were hinged to go up, allowing the back seat cushion to be propped up into a level position. This also created an opening between the passenger compartment and the trunk. Two adults could sleep in the car with their legs and feet in the trunk and their heads and shoulders on the rear seat cushions. In 1949, this arrangement was modified so that fully reclining front seatbacks created a sleeping area within the passenger compartment. In 1950, these reclining seatbacks were made to lock into several intermediate positions. Nash soon called these "Airliner Reclining Seats".

In 1939, Nash added a thermostat to its "Conditioned Air System", and thus the famous Nash [[Weather Eye]] heater was introduced. The 1939 and 1940 Nash streamlined cars were designed by [[George W. Walker|George Walker]] and Associates and freelance body stylist Don Mortrude. They were available in three series - LaFayette, Ambassador Six, and Ambassador Eight. For the 1940 model cars, Nash introduced independent coil spring front suspension and [[sealed beam|sealed beam headlights]].

Introduced for the 1941 model year, the Nash 600 was the first mass-produced unibody construction automobile made in the United States. Its lighter weight compared to body-on-frame automobiles and lower air drag helped it to achieve excellent fuel economy for its day. The "600" model designation is said to have been derived from overdrive-equipped examples of this car's ability to travel {{convert|600|mi|0}} on a {{convert|20|USgal|1|adj=on}} tank of gasoline. It would achieve {{convert|30|mpgus}}. The 600 models used an unusual steering/front suspension system with extremely long [[Kingpin (automotive part)|kingpins]]. Inadequate lubrication became a problem for these systems, commonly resulting in premature failures. The design of the cars was improved by new front ends, upholstery, and chrome trim from 1942 through 1948. The larger Ambassador models shared the same bodies with the 600 but placed this unibody structure on top of a conventional frame, resulting in a robust design.

Post-[[World War II]] passenger car production resumed on 27 October 1945, with an Ambassador sedan first off the assembly line. There were a few changes from the 1942 models. The extended, slimmer upper grille bars and a projecting center section on the lower grille were most noticeable. The 600 models featured a conventional front suspension and steering system. Postwar Nashes were six-cylinder only; eight-cylinder engines did not return. The large Ambassador engine thus was the seven main bearing, overhead-valve, {{convert|234|cuin|L|adj=on}}, six-cylinder developing {{convert|112|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}}.

Nash was considering the potential of offering a [[pickup truck]] and developed a [[prototype]] built on the existing chassis with a modified 600 front end and cab along with an outsourced cargo bed.<ref>{{cite web |title=1946 Nash P1 Pickup For Sale |url= https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1279308 |website=carandclassic.co.uk |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> For the 1946 model year, Nash introduced the Suburban model that used wood framing and panels on the body. It was similar to the [[Chrysler Town and Country (pre-1990)|Chrysler Town and Country]] and Ford Sportsman models. Suburbans were continued in 1947 and 1948, with 1,000 built over the three years. In 1948, the Ambassador convertible returned with 1,000 made.