Here’s another great find from my photo album scanning project, a 1950 Nash Rambler Landau—a two-door convertible on which the canvas top retracted from the windshield all the way to the rear deck, and was stowed in the trunk.
These were introduced in 1950 as a compact car to round out Nash’s offerings—the originally proposed name was Diplomat (to go along with Statesman and Ambassador), but Dodge had already reserved the name for a car under development. Nash instead went back to their roots and resurrected the Rambler name originally used both on a 1897 (!) prototype and the first production Nash from 1902.
The 173 cu in (2.8-liter) flathead six engine was peppy enough and could return up to 30 mpg fuel economy.
Also known as the Lois Lane car.
Hurry Lois!
The 173 cu in (2.8 liter) flathead six engine was peppy enough and could return up to 30mpg fuel economy.
curious why these old cars were so easy on gas and modern days 2.8 seems to be a real piggy on gas?
they’re not any lighter then?
at least partially the same reason as the Peugeot from earlier today, no accessories drawing power (and don’t forget the overly optimistic hp and gas mileage ratings of the time)
Manufacturers threw mileage numbers around with wild abandon back then. Yes, cruising at 40-45 mph, it would get 30 mpg. In normal driving: more like 20-25. And that is with slower highway speeds than today.
As others have noted, people drove slower back then. For one thing, there was no interstate highway system, so getting stuck behind slow vehicles or trucks wasn’t uncommon. Many people never drove much faster than 50 mph.
Also note that automatic transmissions in general were still relatively rare at that time, and not available on the Rambler until about three years after its introduction, if I recall correctly.
One as-yet-unmentioned contributor to Nash’s high fuel economy numbers was their prodigious use of the overdrive gearbox. My neighbor’s early 1960s Rambler wagon was equipped with one (as was my 1963 Chevy Biscayne).
I find it amazing just how out-dated these seemed even when new, compared to the Big Three. Right out of 1942!
Cutting out the wheel well openings would have been a plus, style-wise. Having the wheels covered makes it look very heavy and me wanting to fill it with water and take a bath…
It’s been a long time since I have seen one of these, but I did see a two-door sedan version as recently as a few years ago.
Beep Beep.
Hey buddy how do you get this thing out of second gear?
A Cadillac is not a car to scorn.
It looks like a chest freezer on wheels.
Our neighbor drove one of those in the early ’60s. I remember the roof rails hanging around even when the windows and roof were down. Funny little car…
A college contemporary had the 1951 2-door hardtop version of this. It had a split manifold with dual pipes and was LOUD. It had a nice interior – I think it was yellow with a white top. I never rode in it so I don’t know what it was like on the road.
Funny thing is that the current Fiat 500 Cabrio has the same type of soft-top: fixed side windows and roof rails, with the top retracting along tracks.
Looking forward to more of these, Ed.