Thanks TTF---I had not seen that video in several years. It's long and most people never see it through. One oddity (since I own a '59) is the Nash Metropolitan on the assembly line...Most miss it since it's at the end of the video.
The mfgr methods are somewhat archaic by todays standards, indeed, for the world standards of the time. One reason for the failure of the auto industry in the UK?
They are not alone as I've been at THREE US auto plants that closed, GM South Gate, GM Van Nuys and, Ford Pico Rivera...Now with the recent closing of US auto plants and bankruptcy filings, the US could very easily go the same way.
One thing for sure, I've owned more than my share of British cars. Love them all. Still race a Mini and a Lotus Cortina. I'm just finishing the restoration of a '59 Met and looking around for another Sprite or Midget (mom will shoot me). Even my '23 T trackroadster is powered by a two litre Cortina/Pinto engine (much modified, however).
I DON'T like the BMW (New Mini)...It's just not British enough to suit me. Hmmmm, maybe a '58 Mk I Jag?
The old machinery was one of the reasons for their decline - they couldn't afford to replace them,had to make do...had to make cars that could only be made on those machines,stuck in a circle going nowhere.
I was surprised to see the rust proofing,there was no sign of BMC cars being rust free! Mind you most of our BMC vehicles were assembled here in New Zealand.Also,robot spray painting??!!
Driven and worked on almost everything BMC,never worked for a BMC dealer,but there was just so many of them over here.Those Austin trucks transporting the Mini's were great to drive,one of the first big trucks I ever drove.And a Nuffield tractor was almost the end of me once....
When I was a kid, working in a ma & pa auto parts store, this guy would come in every other Saturday (guessin' it was payday) and bought six cans of Krylon 1501 Glossy white, and Six cans of Krylon 2101 Cherry red (I can still remember the p/n's nearly 40 years later). The owner of the store gave him the "case price", ($ .69/can in 1971 dollars!)
This went on for months! He said he was 'painting a classic car' but wouldn't tell me what it was - I thought he was BS'ing. Just before I left the job to return to school, he came by in the sweetest Nash Metropolitan, Cherry Red over White.
Although my expectations were much lower in those days, I remember being hugely impressed (me having some real bodyshop experience and all). Slick as a whistle, no orange peel anywhere.
Just for you, TTF...However, the cost of the paint is a bit over $800 so far. Taking chrome stuff in this week. Hard time finding whitewall tires ended up with some 180/70/13 Hankooks. A littler bigger, still look good, though. Replaced the 4.22 with 3.9's and fresh rebuild on engine. Upholstery shop next week, maybe.
Yes,B block,with a 3 speed box...1st was removed as 4 gears was considered too complicated for it's intended market.Spent a lot of time in one as a teenager,as a passenger.It ended up on it's slab side on a gravel road.
Given the amount of gear available ex-B series, I imagine you could have had some perverse fun with a Metropolitan.
MGB engine and o/drive box, perhaps? That fine narrow track would have made exciting cornering.
Actually they are powered by MGA 1500 and 1600 (late versions). Mine is a single carb 1500. Stock and as you would expect, kinda weak on hp. Rides like a small boat on rough water. Gets <30 mpg average.
But---It generates more spectator interest and comments than ANY of my cars...People are funny!
Indeed. My sister has a '58 Metro up in Washington. She loves it. I need to get up there and visit. The narrow track and overall design never attracted me. My Stude Hawk, on the other hand...
Yeah, cutting through the BS, it gets around 30 overall. That's mostly town driving. If you 'cruise' on the freeway without stop and go, it is capable of nearly 40 but no one actually drives that way in a vintage Met. Last I cked it was about 28...still a lot of just moving it around on the lot to keep it out of the way of other work, though. The engine has about 500 miles on it and all this may change as it runs in.
I changed the final drive from 4.22:1 to 3.9:1 and changed the spedo drive gear to "get it close". In other words, "it's close"....Now for what the odo reads..."its close"?
Cool. even the 3.9 will have the engine revving, but you're limited with only a three speed trans. Cars like the Metro were typically given really awful trans and gearing choices here in the US.
The Ford Econoline was another - we had one with the Dagenheim 4-speed: first was too high, and fourth was too low.
You mentioned that the trans is morphed from a four-speed. Can the Metro be given four speeds without hacking it up?
Dunno. I bought the car some ten years ago as a fun driver. We have done just that and, now it's time to move it to someone else. It's a kickass car and gets as much or more attention than any car I have ever owned, especially the girls...It's a "chick magnet" for sure.
As to the gearbox??? Well I guess the Ronald Reagan approach would work...Throw enough money at it !
I've seen several 're engined' versions, Toyota 4's and five speeds are popular as is the MGB. MGB mated to the stock three speed makes a very good driver if you update the suspension a bit. Four/five speeds require bucket seats to clear the gearchange lever. All in all, keeping it original and authentic, as I have, should bring a dividend on the open market. We will see.
I should have thought that the engine should accept of the boxes fitted to a B-series - MGA, MG Magnette (ZA or ZB), Riley 1.5 (~1955 to '62), Wolseley 150) (~1955 to '62), with a suitably revised prop shaft.
If we talk about production line cars then it is fair to say the Brit Car industry is in trouble.
If we are talking top of the range cars, race cars, kit cars etc then the UK is the place to be.
e.g.
I think all will agree that, post War, the UK, as it pertains to automotive racing, performance, etc., was and, to a certain extent still is, at the forefront of engineering innovation. Somehow, it never translated to the production industry until it was too late. Now I'm curious to know, are there any home industry or are all owned by other countries?
