O Scale Motor Vehicle Chronicle March 18

History of American Motors Part I Nash Kelvinator

Nash Motors was founded in 1916 by former General Motors president Charles W. Nash who acquired the Thomas B. Jeffery Company. Jeffery's best-known automobile was the Rambler whose mass production from a plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin began in 1902.

Nash’s innovations included a straight-eight engine with overhead valves, twin spark plugs, and nine crankshaft bearings in 1930. The 1932 Ambassador Eight had synchromesh transmissions and automatic centralized chassis lubrication, and its suspension was adjustable inside the car. A long-time proponent of automotive safety, Nash was among the early mid- and low-priced cars to offer four-wheel brakes. The car was sometimes called the poor man’s Duesenberg
The Nash was a success among consumers that meant. month after month all the cars that could be produced were sold before they left the factory floor."

For the 1925 model year, Nash introduced the entry-level marque Ajax. A car of exceptional quality for its price, the Ajax was produced in the newly acquired Mitchell Motor Car Company plant in Racine, Wisconsin. Mitchell was the manufacturer of Mitchell-brand automobiles between 1903 and 1923.

LaFayette Motors was the producer of a large, powerful, expensive luxury car. The company started in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1920, and later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The principal stockholder in LaFayette Motors was Nash Motor Company. The high quality, high priced LaFayette cars did not sell well.
In 1924, Nash absorbed LaFayette Motors and converted its plant to produce Ajax automobiles. The LaFayette name was reintroduced in 1934 as a lower priced companion to Nash. LaFayette ceased to be an independent marque with the introduction of the 1937 models. From 1937 through 1940, the Nash LaFayette was the lowest priced Nash, and was replaced by the new unibody Nash 600 for the 1941 model year.

Before retiring, Charlie 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. The resulting company, as of January 4, 1937, was known as the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation. Nash as a brand name continued to represent automobiles for Nash-Kelvinator.
The aerodynamic 1949 Nash "Airflyte" was the first car of an advanced design introduced by the company after the war. Its aerodynamic body shape was developed in a wind tunnel. The "cutting-edge aerodynamics" was the most "alarming" all-new postwar design in the industry since the Chrysler Airflow.
In 1950 Nash Introduced the Nash Rambler Compact

1951 saw the introduction of the Nash-Healey sports car, a collaborative effort between George Mason and British sports car manufacturer Donald Healey. They were built in England with Nash power-train components.
For 1952 they introduced a new Pininfarina of Italy deigned full sized Nash.
In 1954 they introduced the Austin built sub-compact Metropolitan and a Slightly larger 4 door Rambler along side the smaller 2 door Ramblers.

They also introduced a simpler air conditioning system. Today that basic system is used by every other automaker.

The big event in 1954 was the Merger with Hudson to form American Motors

Here are some 1/43 Pre AMC Nash Models.