Advertising Last completed movie pages 1957 Metropolitan 1500 Hardtop Coupe [562]Class: Cars, Coupé — Model origin: 
— Built in: 
— Made for: 
![1957 Metropolitan 1500 Hardtop Coupe [562]](/i060514.jpg)
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Comments about this vehicle| Author | Message |
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◊ 2006-10-17 18:44 |
Austin Metropolitan![[Image: zing3zd2.9334.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/0is520/zing3zd2.9334.jpg) ![[Image: zing4kf3.429.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/0is520/zing4kf3.429.jpg) The Metropolitan was produced by Austin or BMC and also sold as US imports to Nash, Hudson, and AMC. (American Motors Corporation, the distributor of the Metropolitan in North America following the Nash/Hudson merger in 1956) -- Last edit: 2006-10-17 18:48:27 |
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◊ 2006-10-17 18:54 |
I believe in the UK it was sold as 'Metropolitan' only a separate brand made by Austin. As such it had a 'M' on the grill for Metropolitan but was not sold as a Nash. |
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◊ 2006-10-21 14:54 |
According to this page the brand is Austin: http://www.stevvia.demon.co.uk/history.htm |
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◊ 2006-10-21 15:24 |
The Metropolitan appears to come into the same category as the transverse engined 'Princess' a few decades later. Never actually badged as 'Austin' (as remarked in the web-site mentioned) they were built at Longbridge and sold by Austin dealers. Advertising said "the new Metropolitan made by Austin" much in the same way that the Princess carried Leyland and Austin-Morris logos in their publications. The following site refers to Metropolitan as the manufacturer http://www.britishmm.co.uk/history.asp?id=619 commenting... "Some were sold in Southern Europe and South Africa as well as in the UK. None of these ever carried any Austin or BMC badging but simply had Metropolitan badges with the letter M on the hubcaps and grill." It was recognised that this was a car designed for the USA and not part of the regular Austin line-up of models. -- Last edit: 2006-10-21 15:35:38 |
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◊ 2006-10-21 20:01 |
Sounds convincing for me. Let's keep Metropolitan, as you suggest. |
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◊ 2007-10-20 10:10 |
![[Image: carryonconstable11ey2.1285.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/0is144/carryonconstable11ey2.1285.jpg) ![[Image: carryonconstable12qb2.9066.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/0is84/carryonconstable12qb2.9066.jpg) |
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◊ 2020-07-19 14:55 |
More info from mix of book sources, confirming what's already been entered above. All Metropolitan production went to US/CDN until Austin got permission in 1956 to sell the Metropolitan elsewhere in markets which American Motors were absent. This was the first time RHD versions were sold, with UK launch in April 57 during the "Series III" period until Feb 59. The Series IV from Jan 59 seems to have only gone to US/CDN until a final short relaunch for UK (and other RHD markets?) in September 1960 before all production for everywhere stopped in February 1961. Book comments agree that they never had Austin badges, but suggest the Series III in UK at least was promoted as Austin Metropolitan, with the finale Series IV as just Metropolitan. Agree we should stay as we are, and ignore the 57-59 "soft" use of Austin name - not worth pursuing. Other markets from 1957 alongside ZA included HK and Australia with RHD. "Southern Europe" (above) is unclear exactly where, but we have examples in France and Austria at least, which would probably be 1957+ LHD. |
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