1948 Nash Ambassador Owner Seeks Help by Greg Zyla

Q: Greg, I own a 1948 Nash Ambassador 4-door sedan and am trying to locate vent window gaskets for both the front and rear. Some one told me that Nash bought bodies from other companies, so if it is true, do you have any idea where I can find out who made the body and help me locate the rubber? I can't seem to locate them under "Nash" anywhere. Thanks for your help. Diane S., Casselberry, Florida.

A: Diane, all Nash bodies produced during the post World War II years from 1945-1948 were of U.S. origin and built by Nash-Kelvinator in Kenosha, Wisconsin. During these years, actual car production was up following war effort manufacturing of $600-million worth of aircraft engines, munitions and cargo trailers. Nash, by the way, was one of the first manufacturers to get back into car production full-time in late 1945, churning out 6,145 cars. In 1946, they built 94,000 cars, and then escalated to 101,000 and 110,000 in 1947 and 1948, respectively.

As for the bodies being built by other companies, the only Nash cars I know of built elsewhere are the 1954 to 1962 Metropolitan and the rare Nash Healy sports car, built from 1951 through 1955 (only 506 ever built). Both non-American Nash efforts were British in nature and assembled overseas.

However, the most rare American-built Nash is the 1946-1948 Ambassador Suburban. It is a prewar-style Ambassador fastback four-door trimmed with wood similar to Chrysler's Town & Country. Although not a big seller because of the price (over $2,000) and time it took to assemble real wood on the side, the "woodie" Suburban did attract consumers to Nash showrooms, and was an excellent example of the Nash marketing effort during this period. Some say only 15 or so Suburbans have survived, as only 272 were built in '46, 595 in '47 and just 130 in '48. Nash merged with Hudson in 1954, and became American Motors in 1957.

As for your vent window gasket needs, you are in good shape if you can wait a bit longer. The Nash Rambler Rubber Company, (www.nashramblerrubber.com), will carry what you need very soon. Hope this all helps!

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