The Nash Statesman is a full-sized

automobile A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, peopl ...

that was built by

Nash Motors Nash Motors Company was an American automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin from 1916 until 1937. From 1937 through 1954, Nash Motors was the automotive division of Nash-Kelvinator. As sales of smaller firms declined after 1950 in ...

for the 1950 through 1956

model year The model year (sometimes abbreviated as MY) is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured. ...

s in two generations. The Statesman series was positioned below the top-line

Nash Ambassador The Nash Ambassador is a luxury automobile produced by Nash Motors from 1927 until 1957. It was a top trim level for the first five years, then from 1932 on a standalone model. Ambassadors were lavishly equipped and beautifully constructed, ear ...

and above the

Nash Rambler The Nash Rambler is a compact, front-engine, rear-drive automobile manufactured and marketed by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation for model years 1950-1954 — as a sedan, wagon, and notably, a fixed-profile converti ...

First generation (1950 and 1951)

Nash developed its post–

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

automobiles using an advanced unit-body construction with

fastback A fastback is an automotive styling feature, defined by the rear of the car having a single slope from the roof to the tail. The kammback is not a fastback design with a roofline that tapers downward toward the car's rear before being cut of ...

aerodynamic styling under the Airflyte name, reflecting a popular styling trend in the 1950s. The cars were available as a two- or four-door sedan. A distinguishing feature of all Nashes are the "skirted" fenders. Although the turning circle could be compromised, the front track is narrower by nearly three inches: the front is just under while the rear track is . The base Nash 600 was renamed Nash Statesman for the 1950 model year. The

wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...

of the Statesman was shorter than the companion Ambassador line. This was achieved by using a shorter front "clip" (the portion of a car from the cowl forward) than was installed on the Ambassador. Statesman and Ambassador hoods along with front fenders are not interchangeable. From the cowl rearward, the two series' dimensions were identical. Two-door models included Nash's exclusive "Airliner Reclining" front seat, which was optional on the four-door sedans. These seats could be converted to form a bed. Statesman engine designs were based on the

L-head A flathead engine, also known as a sidevalve engine''American Rodder'', 6/94, pp.45 & 93. or valve-in-block engine, is an internal combustion engine with its poppet valves contained within the Cam-in-block, engine block, instead of in the cyl ...

Nash Light Six engine that was designed in the 1920s and continued into the 1940s in the Nash LaFayette and Nash 600. It is characterized by the lack of intake and exhaust manifolds. The Statesman models were comparatively lighter resulting in fuel efficiency as reported by owners and testers. Nash Statesman models were offered in three trims, the top-line Statesman Custom and the entry-level Statesman Super as well as a base fleet-only model for commercial and institutional use. The Statesman models, along with the Ambassador line, were the volume and profit leaders for Nash. File:Nash Airflyte Statesman 1951 im Museum Öhringen (1).JPG, 1950 Nash Statesman Super 4-Door Sedan File:Nash For Sale (5067927197).jpg, 1950 Nash Statesman Super 2-door File:1951 Nash Statesman - Flickr - dave 7.jpg, 1951 Nash Statesman 4-door Sedan

Second generation (1952 through 1956)

A new design was introduced for the 1952 model year featuring a large "envelope-bodied" sedan with enclosed wheels that were characteristic for Nash. The all-new

notchback A notchback is a car design with the rear section distinct from the passenger compartment and where the back of the passenger compartment is at an angle to the top of what is typically the rear baggage compartment. Notchback cars have "a trunk w ...

Statesman design coincided with Nash's 50th anniversary and included styling by

Pininfarina Pininfarina S.p.A. (; ; short for Pininfarina Società per Azioni) is an Italian automotive design, car design firm and coachbuilder, with headquarters in Cambiano, Turin, Italy. The company was founded by Battista "Pinin" Farina in 1930. On 14 ...

, the Italian designer. The 1954 models included the outside mounted "continental" spare tire increasing trunk space and making emergency tire changes easier. The 1956 models received larger and slanted front parking lights, as well as larger tail lamps. The final Nash Statesman models were built during August 1956. Starting in 1957 all full-size Nash models were Ambassadors. File:1954 Nash Statesman Custom sedan at 2015 Macungie show 2of7.jpg, 1954 Nash Statesman Custom 4-Door Sedan File:Flickr - Hugo90 - 1956 Nash Statesman Super.jpg, 1956 Nash Statesman Super

Notes

References

* *

External links

Statesman at The Crittenden Automotive Library, including detailed pictures of a 1950 Statesman Super

Nash Car Club
* {{Nash Motors 1950s cars Cars introduced in 1949 Full-size vehicles

Statesman A statesman or stateswoman is a politician or a leader in an organization who has had a long and respected career at the national or international level, or in a given field. Statesman or statesmen may also refer to: Newspapers United States ...

Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Sedans Streamline Moderne cars