1959 Nash Metropolitan

I need to figure out how to get rid of the white bars above and below, but I think this is perhaps one of the best shots of my Met that I have. She is a beauty, and I oftentimes forget this somehow. But on warm sunny days such as the one when I took this picture, I remember. My Met is my love.

I think it appropriate to tell the story of my Met now. So here goes. At the young impressionable age of about 13, I saw a car. It was a Metropolitan. It was so cute, and small. The two-tone paint and turquoise color had me smitten. I'd never seen such a vehicle, and I fell in love. It was parked in a driveway along NE 102nd, near where the Curcuit City is now. I was riding with my father in our 1971 International Travelall, and I asked him what kind of car it was. He correctly identified it, and from then on, I was on the lookout for them. On very rare occasions, I'd see one parked here, or there. Through high school I can remember wanting one. I even wrote on a folder I had, "I want a Nash Metropolitan." My father and I went to a car show, the roadster show I think it was, and they had Metropolitan keychains. I got a yellow one, and carried it with me for several years to come as a reminder to myself of the car I hoped to own.
During my junior year of high school I got a part time job working at the Dairy Queen across the street from my high school. I started earning an income other than what was gained from mowing lawns and other odd jobs. Prior to having money, I didn't spend money, so I saved a lot of what I first made. It came time that I simply decided that I wanted to buy a car. The Metropolitan was the only thing I considered. I didn't get my driver's license until I was nearly 18 because in the back of my mind I didn't see a reason to drive if I wasn't driving a Metropolitan. I did get a permit, for an ID more than anything, but I'd started to learn to drive. I'd become a frequent reader of the classifieds "Antique and Collectors Vehicles" section. Half seriously I called about a Metropolitan listed. My father and I went out to see it. It was in a barn out in Troutdale. The owner wanted $1600, and it needed a LOT of work. I wisely passed on it.
It was a sunday, in February. After church, I walked over to the Plaid Pantry and picked up the Auto Shopper, free car classifeds. There were two Metropolitans listed. The first was the one I'd already seen, but I called anyway because I didn't know this at first. I recognized the man's voice, and our conversation ended quickly. The second one however, I called, got an answering machine, and left a message. I remember that later that day we were on a long distance phone call, with my sister I think. This was in the early days of us having call waiting, and my parent's refused to click over. This was before *69 too or caller ID. I found out later that night that it was the man with the Metropolitan calling me back and he couldn't get through, because we didn't answer. I remember I was so mad.
But he did call back, and as it was February, it was getting dark early. Amazingly the car was located just down by the golf course on NE Tillamook. My father was on the phone with me, and we asked if I could come out and see the car. He said that he'd charge the battery, and we'd bring some flashlights. When we arrived, there the Met sat running and warming up, headlights on. My father and I introduced ourselves, and I began looking at the car. This was the first Metropolitan I ever really looked at up close, and touched. She was is good shape overall, and road worthy. After some talk the man offered me a ride around the block, and I was eager as ever to go for a ride. The 3-speed transmission on the dash was new to me. The car ran well, and I had made up my mind. My dad had waited at the man's house, and when we got back from our around the block ride, we got out, and he pointed out some of the minor defects. Then we talked price. I was a bit concerned about price as he was asking about twice what I had. My father thought it wouldn't be a problem for me to get a loan, and I easily agreed to spend more money than I'd ever had at the drop of a hat. We shook hands on the deal, and made arrangements for him to get the title and for me to get the money.
On Tuesday of that week, just two days later, my dad and I went to pay for and pick up my new car. I had never held that much money before, and I counted it out for the man. He handed me the title and I signed a paper or two, and my dad drove the Met home, because I didn't know how to drive. I was thrilled, I felt like I was riding in a parade float. We parked in the garage, and there she sat for a few months until I had her mechanically worked over and re-shoed with new tires. I would start her up in the garage and drive her back and forth in the driveway. After she was at Sports & Vintage Cars for two weeks being restored, I drove her home and parked her. That was the first time I drove my Met. And she's been lovingly cared for ever since. She appears now as you see her in the pictures on this page.

"SMALL 1" was my first car. I bought her several years ago, before I even knew how to drive! My father had to drive her home. It has been about three years now that I've had her. I plan to keep her for many more years. This one is a keeper for sure.