1948 Nash

Sedan

6 - Cyl.

Manual

RE60286

Gasoline

1948 Nash Ambassador Custom I am offering for sale from my collection what is certainly one of the nicest 1948 Nash Ambassador Customs available anywhere. This car is in excellent condition cosmetically and mechanically and presents beautifully from any distance. Quite simply a gorgeous car in perfect running condition. The exterior is cosmetically excellent with only very minor flaws. This Ambassador Custom was comprehensively restored in the mid 1990s and then displayed in a museum setting until 2007. I am the second owner since the Nash left the museum and I have spent 2 years doing what was necessary to ensure the mechanics of the car were as good as the appearance. The odometer shows 64,000 miles which I believe to be correct but I CANNOT guarantee that and therefore am making no assertion as to the exact mileage. Most of the major chromed components including the bumpers were re chromed during the restoration and remain looking almost as new. Hood ornament is flawless. There is very minor pitting evident on the door handles and the spot light. Otherwise all exterior bright work is almost perfect. All glass is good with no cracks, chips or delamination. The paint is very good quality and shows a few minor chips and scratches, but very few. This car has been driven on a regular basis (about 4000 miles the past 2 1/2 years) and the occasional rock chip is to be expected. There is one bubble in the paint on the rear right fender at the top. This is due to a prep work flaw when the car was painted and is NOT rust. In fact, there is absolutely no rust anywhere on the car and no evidence of past rot or repairs. No body filler. There is also one very small dent on the top of the front right fender that is difficult to see. Easier to "see" by touch than by sight. Other than that small dent and the paint bubble, the entire exterior is close to flawless. The Ambassador it fitted with its original Fulton Sun Shield which is also in great condition. The spot light works perfectly and is very bright. The "eye brow" chrome headlight surrounds are period correct but can easily be removed if the new owner wishes. These are an aftermarket accessory available in 1948 but were not installed at the factory. The car rides on a nearly new set of correct Coker 5-710 x 15 Firestone 3 1/4" white wall tires. A fifth new tire from this set is in the trunk and has never been on the ground. The interior is in beautiful condition and shows little wear. The only obvious wear can be seen on the front carpet, especially on the driver's side. Even this is relatively minor. The carpet in the rear passenger compartment shows virtually no wear. There are no holes, tears or stains in the fabric portion of the upholstery, and the (correct) vinyl shows no cracking or signs of wear. The woven fabric hand grip "loops" in the rear are original (not reproductions) and in very good condition. The rear seat can fold to create a bed.......a feature Nash was well known for. The dash is lovely and retains 100% of the original factory applied paint. As one would expect, there is some discoloration to the top of the dash from years of exposure to the sun, but this does not detract from the overall appearance. The top of the dash could easily be repainted, but I personally prefer it in its original state. There is an old yellow decal from Waukesha County, Wisconsin promoting safety ("Safety Preserves Happiness") on the drivers side of the dash that is probably as old as the car is. I happen to like it and have left it in place. It could very easily be soaked off with a wet sponge and removed if the new owner wants to take it off. The period correct Nash tissue dispenser does have a bit of surface pitting but looks quite nice. All gauges and controls are original and work perfectly, and I mean ALL of them. Fuel gauge is accurate as is the speedometer. The ammeter registers normally and the temperature gauge and oil pressure gauges are fine. The heater and defroster both work well and the blower is strong. The wiper motor was recently rebuilt by the well known Ficken Wiper Service in NY and the wiper blades are correct and nearly new. The radio (correct Zenith Model 6MN082) has been completely restored to factory specs and plays beautifully. The Art Deco styling of the 1948 Nash dashes is famous in American automotive design history, and the crown jewel of the dash arrangement is the radio with its distinctive deco lettering. Here is a link to a very interesting and in depth article from HEMMINGS CLASSIC CAR that describes in detail the significance of the 1948 Ambassador Custom interior and the importance of the designer, Helene Rother: http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2005/07/01/hmn_feature4.html I've included a photograph of how beautiful the dash and radio look at night. Gorgeous! The original Jaeger clock has also been restored and keeps excellent time. Of interest is the original cardboard hang tag attached to the back of the clock with instructions to the new owner for operating the "Jaeger Magnetric" clock. The Cruising Gear (over drive) works normally and engages every time. Horn sounds LOUD. Nash's well known "Conditioned Air" system works just fine and provides nice air circulation in the passenger compartment. Note that "conditioned air" was a Nash trade name for their filtered air circulation system. It is NOT the same as air conditioning as we now know it and the air is NOT cooled. All lights work both inside and out including the turn signals. Everyone's favorite is the translucent green knob at the end of the turn signal stalk that blinks brightly when the directional indicator is engaged to remind you the turn signal is on. The inline six cylinder, cast iron block, 234.8 CID engine runs beautifully. The car has the correct one barrel Carter model YF carburetor and starts easily every time. Runs like a charm and is very reliable. As mentioned earlier, this car is driven frequently, at least once a week, and has been kept in excellent mechanical condition. I enjoy driving my cars just as much as I appreciate looking at them, so they must be kept in good mechanical order. The engine bay is neat and tidy but has not been detailed The 3 speed manual transmission shifts smoothly. Little or no fluid leaks and excellent oil pressure. No blow back or black smoke. On very hot days the car has never overheated even after long drives. The shop manual and original owner's manual are included in the sale. In 1948 the model 4870 Ambassador Custom was the flagship of the Nash fleet and only about 4000 were made. Very few survive and to find one in this condition is extremely rare. I've never seen a better example of this particular model. Besides looking good, the car is quite spacious inside and the "suicide" doors make it especially easy for passengers so enter and exit the car. Great for taking family or friends on road trips or tours. I am NOT a dealer but simply a private individual with a passion for American cars from the 1940s - mid 60s. I'm also very honest and have done my best to describe the condition of this Nash as fully and accurately as I can. Any errors of fact or omission are accidental and not intentional. I've described the mechanical condition of the car as it is today. Remember, this car is 63 years old and any mechanical component or system can fail without warning. That is true of any old car. If you are interested in the car I would encourage you to come and examine it in person and take her for a drive. I live only 20 minutes from a major international airport (Raleigh-Durham "RDU") and would be happy to pick you up just about any time before the end of the auction. I will also cooperate with any independent inspector you choose. I am more than willing to deal with foreign buyers and have experience working with individuals overseas. Please email any questions and I will do my best to answer them promptly. If you are serious about the car I will send you my phone number on request so we can discuss it in detail. Rarely will you have the opportunity to purchase such a fine example of a rare and desirable car in this condition. I do reserve the right to end the auction early. The buyer will be asked to pay $1000.00 good faith deposit by PayPal within 48 hours of the auction's conclusion. The balance will be due by cashier's check or wire transfer within 7 days. All shipping arrangements are entirely the responsibility of the buyer. Good luck and happy bidding!