Lot details Registration No: Un-Reg Chassis No: 141050 Mot Expiry: None
Soon after the turn of the twentieth century Charles W. Nash went to work for David Buick. By 1910 Nash was running the latter's company and two years later he assumed the presidency of General Motors. Forced to step down when William Crapo Durrant wrested control of GM back in late 1915, Nash convinced colleagues James Storrow and Walter P. Chrysler to launch an unsuccessful bid for Packard. Undeterred Nash struck out on his own acquiring the Thomas B Jeffrey Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin for a cool $9million (though, within nine years he had raised the company's worth to $137million). An inspirational leader, Nash attracted various former Buick and GM employees to his cause including chief engineer Nils Erik Wahlberg. An early advocate of wind tunnel testing and among the pioneers of `through-flow' ventilation, Wahlberg - like his boss - was keen to keen to produce cars that exceeded customer expectations. Debuting in 1918, the first Nash was aimed squarely at the managerial, professional and retailer set. Based around a conventional channel section chassis equipped with all-round leaf-sprung suspension and rear-wheel drum brakes, it was powered by an overhead valve straight-six engine allied to three-speed manual transmission. Introduced for the 1922 model year, the 690-series cars were powered by an improved 248.9ci (4079cc) straight-six OHV engine and could be had in saloon, coupe, touring and roadster guises. Progressively refined - gaining a scuttle vent during 1923 - the 690-series remained in production until the 1925 model year.
Believed to retain the same black paintwork and leather upholstery with which it left the Kenosha factory, this particular example was purchased by Ted Reed shortly after his May 1952 acquisition of the Nash dealership in Eugene, Oregon. Used as a showroom exhibit from the 1950s - 1970s and dry stored thereafter, the Tourer has only recently been imported into the European Union. Exuding a wonderful patina the Nash is in need of an extensive engine overhaul and general recommissioning but has the makings of a fantastic project. Promising plentiful performance once up and together, the five-seater is seemingly bound to prompt conversation wherever it goes.
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