When was your Met made?

Month

Start #

End #

Sales

Information

Oct-53

E1001

E1065

*

Start of series I production (“A” series 1200cc).  Commencing E1001

Comm. Engine – 1G 880854

Cars designated as “NKI Custom”

Colours P-903 Spruce Green, P-904 Canyon Red, P-905 Caribbean Blue or P-906 Croton Green contrasted with P-907 Mist Grey (Hardtops only).

For Conv. P-903 with Tan top, P-904 & P-906 with Black top and P-905 with Black or Tan top.

First US Shop manual printed "A" series models (NAS53 1480 10M 10-53)

US Flat rate manual schedule of repair times printed (NAS53 1502 5M 10-53)

Nov-53

E1066

E1270

*

Dec-53

E1271

E1770

*

24 Hour test at Raleigh N.C. E1008 performed speed endurance.

E1013 performed an Economy trial.

Shipments for 1953 – 743

Jan-54

E1771

E2848

*

“Metropolitan” name adopted

Feb-54

E2849

E3883

*

Installation of “NKI Custom” stopped after E2869

First printing US Owners' Handbook {RD51190 (Ser. 8110842)}

First US Parts Book issued (F2421)

Mar-54

E3884

E5059

862

"Metropolitan" public release (19th March 1954)

Unveiled at Chicago Auto Show by Evelyn Ay (Miss America 1954)

"Metropolitan" nameplate fitted after E4097 and retro-fitted to all earlier production

“E” prefix added to Chassis No. (Comm. E-4781)

Price $1445 (hardtop) $1469 (convertible)

First US brochure printed (NSP54 1633 350M 3-54)

First US Postcard printed (NSP54 1508F 150M 3-54)

AMA official specification for 1954 Metropolitan compiled

Apr-54

E5060

E6263

981

P-906 “Croton Green” dropped from production because of colour matching problems

Reprint US brochure (NSP54 1633-1-300M 4-54)

“Mechanix Illustrated” magazine Road Test

“Popular Science Monthly” magazine Road Test

May-54

E6264

E7677

1,194

Nash & Hudson merge to become "American Motors"

Overriders (bumper guards) fitted from E6796.

Jun-54

E7678

E9095

1,499

Second printing US Owners' Handbook {RD51190 (Ser. 8110842)}

Jul-54

E9096

E10429

802

Start of Hudson Metropolitan production.

Introduction of “M” hubcap, plain Horn button & Spare Wheel Cap (Comm. E10007) for Hudson models

Hudson Grille Medallion not available; was fitted retrospectively.

US Flat Rate schedule of Repair times (NAS54 1502 25C 7-54)

“Motor Life” magazine Road Test

“Motor Trend” magazine Road Test

Aug-54

E10430

E11223

767

End of Series I production (“A” series 1200cc).  Final number E11002

Final figures:   Hardtops     – 5700 (Nash), 385 (Hudson)

                     Convertibles – 3751 (Nash), 166 (Hudson)

Start of Series II production (“B” series 1200cc) Commencing E11003

Nash Folder printed (including Metropolitan) -

"What's the Truth about car values today" (NSP54 1766 250M 8-54)

First Hudson Brochure printed (AM5458 250M 8-54)

Hudson Postcard printed (AM5462 125M 8-54)

Hudson Salesman's book printed (AM5459 8-54 4M)

“Road & Track” magazine Road Test

Sep-54

E11224

E12591

937

4.55:1 (41/9) Rear axle replaces 4.625:1 (37/8) (Comm. E11944)

“Motor” magazine Road Test

Oct-54

E12592

E13616

726

George W. Mason (President of Nash Motors) died. Succeeded by George Romney.

“Autocar” magazine Road Test

Nov-54

E13617

E14258

626

US Shop manual printed for "B" series models (NAS55 1812 10M 11-54)

AMA official specification for "B" series models compiled

Dec-54

E14259

E15078

671

Total Registrations 1954 - 7,018 Shipments for 1954 – 13,162

Jan-55

E15079

E15623

628

Release of 1954 American Motors annual report

Feb-55

E15624

E16399

610

Hudson Showroom book printed (HM55 1128 1300 2-55)

W.S. Berry presents to A.S.B.E.  "Engineering ventures in Personal transportation"

Mar-55

E16400

E17239

728

“Auto Week” magazine  - Metropolitan top selling Foreign car 

Apr-55

E17240

E17896

715

“Car Life” magazine Road Test

May-55

E17897

E18626

883

Nash folder printed (NSP55 1858-1-200M 5-55)

Third printing Owners' Handbook (812061)

Jun-55

E18627

E19441

744

Jul-55

E19442

E19923

770

Hudson brochure printed (HM55 1449 25M 7-55)

Aug-55

E19924

E20154

*

Sep-55

E20155

E20441

*

New colour scheme proposed for Series III models :- P909/908 White top/Black lower

P905/908 Caribbean Green top/Black lower, P911/908 Coral Red top/Black lower

P910/908 Sunburst Yellow top/Black lower but obviously never implemented.

“Motor” magazine Road Test

Oct-55

E20442

E20714

*

Nov-55

E20715

E21007

*

End of Series II production - Ending with E21007

Final figures:  Hardtop      -- 5480 (Nash), 3436 (Hudson) Total 8916

                    Convertible  – 719 (Nash) , 370 (Hudson) Total 1089

Cumulative   15001 (Hardtop) , 5006 (Convertible)

Dec-55

E21007

E21007

345

Release of 1955 American Motors annual report

Total Registrations 1955 - 6,807

Shipments for 1955 – 6,096

Jan-56

E21008

E21613

313

Start of Series III production (B series 1500cc engine) (Commencing E21008, Engine  1H 140001)

Colours P-905 Caribbean Green,P-910 Sunburst Yellow , P-911 Coral Red &

P-909 Snowberry White as contrast. All Convertibles had Black tops.

Rear Axle 4.22:1

First printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

Feb-56

E21614

E22267

264

US Parts Book issued (F-16056)

Mar-56

E22268

E23456

324

NKI Series 1, 2 & 3 Parts List issued (9048B)

Apr-56

E23457

E23551

519

Announcement of 1500 Metropolitan (Series III)  (9th April 1956)

American Motors brochure (M-56-5274) issued

AMA official specification for series III Metropolitans compiled

Price $1527 (Hardtop)  $1551 (Convertible)

May-56

E23552

E24398

657

“Motor” magazine Road Test

Jun-56

E24399

E25241

688

Jul-56

E25242

E26021

792

Aug-56

E26022

E26602

863

“Motor Life” magazine Road Test

“Motor Trend” magazine Road Test

Sep-56

E26603

E27401

715

New Rear Axle assembly introduced (Comm. E26993)

New Steering Box introduced (Comm. E26873)

James W. Watson appointed “Sales Manager – Metropolitans”

Oct-56

E27402

E28301

691

Austin licensed to sell Metropolitans outside US & Canada

Nov-56

E28302

E29183

689

New Gearbox rear extension & Prop-shaft flange introduced (Comm. E28706)

Dec-56

E29184

E29926

630

Start of UK Metropolitan production (Comm. Car No. 148643, Body No. 28698)

Brake Master Cylinder changed from 3/4” to 5/8” (Comm. E29284)

New Front & Rear wheel slave cylinders introduced (Comm. E29284)

Release of 1956 American motors annual report

First UK Owners' Manual printed (1468)

Lucas 1956/57 Catalogue for Series II & III (CCE700A) issued

Total Registrations 1956 - 7,145

Shipments for 1956 – 9,068

Jan-57

E29927

E31101

585

Second printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256) Dated 1-57

Introduction of AMC Metropolitan Club.

Feb-57

E31102

E32815

572

New Steering Idler introduced (Comm. E31763)

Mar-57

E32816

E34157

1,011

Style of Cigar lighter changed (Comm. E34077)

New Accelerator linkage arm (Comm. E33240)

First UK brochure printed (1406 23/25 (7026) 3/57 - 100)

NKI Series 1, 2 & 3 Parts List issued (9048C)

Lucas 1957 Austin Catalogue (CCE903F) issued

Apr-57

E34158

E35815

852

Series III Metropolitans released in  UK

Austin Price List 1168 R  Hardtop GBP713 17s 0d  Convertible GBP725 2s 0d

Colours changed to P-910 Sunburst Yellow, P-912 Berkshire Green, P-913 Mardi-Gras Red with P-914 Frost White as contrast .  All Convertibles had Black tops. (Comm. E35133)

“Motor” magazine Road Test

May-57

E35816

E37653

1,036

US Met Letter Vol1. No1 printed

New UK brochure printed (1406A 35/10 (8203) 5/57 - 39)

UK Body Parts book issued (1506)

“Sports Car Illustrated” magazine Road Test

Jun-57

E37654

E39066

1,084

New Fuel Tank outlet unit introduced (Comm. E38569)

Austin Price List 1168/T  Hardtop GBP713 17s 0d  Convertible GBP725 2s 0d

“Autocar” magazine Road Test

Jul-57

E39067

E40288

1,333

UK brochure printed (1406A 35/10 (9103) 7/57-50)

1956/57 Production for UK & Overseas – 1,866

Aug-57

E40289

E41071

1,336

US Met Letter Vol 1. No2 printed

UK Workshop Manual (97H 1467) issued

New UK Owners' Manual (97H 1468A) printed.

Austin Price List 1168/U Hardtop GBP713 17s 0d Convertible GBP725 2s 0d

Sep-57

E41072

E42172

1,361

Third printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

Oct-57

E42173

E43378

1,017

High compression (8.3:1) engine introduced (Comm. E43116)

Final Low compression engine 15ANL 220200

First High Compression engine 15CNH 57102

Fourth printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

New UK brochure printed (1406B 35/10 (10877) 10-57 -50)

Nov-57

E43379

E44514

826

Dec-57

E44515

E45553

778

Glove Box door fitted as standard. (Comm. E44800)

Full-flow Oil Filter introduced (Comm. E45245)

Release of 1957 American Motors annual report

UK brochure printed (1406B 35/10 (12506) 12-57 -50)

Total US Registrations 1957 - 11,791

Shipments for 1957 – 15,317

Jan-58

E45554

E47006

647

One piece rear glass introduced (Comm. E45672)

Tubeless tyres introduced (Comm. E46555)

Colours P-915 Autumn Yellow replaces P-910 Sunburst Yellow; P-908 Classic Black added.

US Met Letter Vol 2. No1 printed

J. W. Watson at SAE presents "The Trend towards more Intelligent Motoring"

Feb-58

E47007

E48247

673

New Water pump introduced (Comm. E48083)

Mar-58

E48248

E49373

928

New Door locks, handles and Door lock pillar introduced (Comm. E48848)

UK brochure printed (1406C 35/10 (14501) 3-58 -50M)

UK  Parts book issued (97H 1506)

Lucas 1958 Catalogue for Series III (CCE700B) issued

Apr-58

E49374

E50067

1,037

US Met Letter Vol 2. No 2 printed

May-58

E50068

E51205

1,289

Jun-58

E51206

E52177

1,149

UK brochure printed (1406C 35/10 (16111) 6-58 -50M)

Jul-58

E52178

E53222

1,169

Fifth printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

Lucas 1958 Austin Catalogue (CCE903G) issued

1957/58 Production for UK & Overseas – 5,797

Aug-58

E53223

E54059

1,177

US Met Letter Vol 2. No 3 printed

UK brochure printed (1406C 35/10 (17109) 8/58 -50M)

UK Schedule of repair times (AKD 1023)

UK Schedule of Repair charges (AKD 1024)

“Motor Life” magazine Road Test

Sep-58

E54060

E55342

1,117

New Handbrake assembly introduced (Comm. E54326)

US Flat rate schedule of repair times (AM1509 2.5 9-58)

Austin Salesman’s Guide  1170/G printed

“Small Car Illustrated” magazine Road Test

Oct-58

E55343

E56648

1,217

UK Motor Show brochure printed (1697)

Service Notes Index issue 1 printed

Nov-58

E56649

E57785

949

Steering modified to improve turning circle (Comm. E57528)

Austin Salesman’s Guide  1170/H printed

Dec-58

E57786

E58627

891

US Met Letter Vol 2. No 4 printed

Release of 1958 American Motors annual report

Total Registrations 1958 - 12,243

Shipments for 1958 – 13,128

Jan-59

E58628

E59671

*

End of US Series III production Total 38,040 (32,711 H/T, 5,329 Conv)

Cumulative Total 58,047 (47,712 H/T , 10,335 Conv)

End of UK Series III production (Ending Car No. 174167, Body No. 208264)

Start of Series IV Production (“B” series 1500cc + Trunk (Boot) Lid,

Comm. E59048)

Sixth printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

Feb-59

E59672

E60736

*

US Parts Book issued (F-16059)

Series IV Metropolitans withdrawn from UK sale.

UK brochure printed (1406C 35/10 (21147) 2/59 -25M)

UK BMC service literature book printed (AKD 858B)

Mar-59

E60737

E62152

*

Series IV folder printed (AM-59-7282)

Seventh printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

US Met Letter Vol 2. No 5 printed

US Magazine "American City" print "Mets for Police" article

Apr-59

E62153

E64128

*

Public release of Series IV Metropolitans (2nd April 1959)

Hardtop $1672.60 Convertible $1696.80

Canadian Folder printed (50M/4/59)

May-59

E64129

E65903

*

Service Notes index Issue 2 printed

Austin Price List 1168/NN  Hardtop GBP707 6s 8d  Convertible GBP732 2s 6d

Jun-59

E65904

E68255

*

US Met Letter Vol 2. No 6 printed

Jul-59

E68256

E70416

*

1958/59 Production for UK & Overseas - 660

“Foreign Car Illustrated” magazine Road Test

Aug-59

E70417

E72185

*

US Series IV brochure issued (AM-59-7282-1)

Sep-59

E72186

E74602

*

New cranked Dip-stick introduced (Comm. E74192)

US Met Letter Vol 2. No 7 printed

Oct-59

E74603

E77017

*

UK Motor Show brochure printed (1822)

Austin Salesman’s Guide (1170/I) issued

Austin Price List 1168/SS  Hardtop GBP707 6s 8d  Convertible GBP732 2s 6d

Lucas 1959 Austin Catalogue (CCE 903H) issued

Price: $1,673 hardtop; $1,697 convertible

Nov-59

E77018

E78828

*

Dec-59

E78829

E80963

*

New Windscreen (Windshield) Glass & Rubber surround (Comm. E79088)

US Met Letter Vol 3. No 1 printed

Release of 1959 American Motors annual report

Total registrations 1959 - 14,669

Shipments for 1959 – 22,209

Jan-60

E80964

E82603

*

Eighth printing US 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

UK BMC Service voucher book printed (AKD1011A)

Feb-60

E82604

E84445

*

Canadian Folder printed (10M/2/60)

Mar-60

E84446

E86462

*

US Met Letter Vol 3. No 2 printed

Apr-60

E86463

E88362

*

“Fifth Avenue” show car displayed at New York Auto Show

NKI Series 1, 2, 3 & 4 Parts list issued (AKD 1090)

“Automobile Topics” magazine Road Test

May-60

E86363

E90072

*

Jun-60

E90073

E91544

*

Lucas 1959 BMC Catalogue (CCE 900J) issued

Jul-60

E91545

E92291

*

Start of UK Series IV production (Comm. Body 208312, Car No. 114001,

Engine 15FNH 33474)

US Met Letter Vol 3. No 3 printed

Aug-60

E92292

E92713

*

Metropolitan again available on UK market.

GBP707 6s 8d (Hardtop), GBP732 2s 6d (Convertible)

Sep-60

E92714

E93324

*

Austin Press Guide (1977) issued - Metropolitan presented to Princess Margaret

Total yearly (Aug. 59 – Sept 60) US sales – 13,538

Oct-60

E93325

E93850

*

US Met Letter Vol 3. No 4 printed

Nov-60

E93851

E94367

*

UK BMC Service voucher book printed (AKD1011B)

UK Schedule of repair times printed (AKD1023A)

UK Schedule of repair charges printed (AKD1024A)

Dec-60

E94368

E94742

*

Release of 1960 American Motors annual report

Total Registrations 1960 - 11,748

Shipments for 1960 – 13,874

Jan-61

E94743

E95192

*

Feb-61

E95193

E95592

*

Princess Margaret’s Metropolitan stolen in London.

US Met Letter Vol 4. No 1 printed

US Flat rate schedule of Repair times (AM1509 2M 2-61)

UK Parts book issued (AKD 1803)

Mar-61

E95593

E95968

*

Apr-61

E95969

E95981

*

End of Series IV Metropolitan production (Officially E95981)

Series IV Total 36,934 (27,866 H/T, 9,068 Conv.)

Cuml. Total  94,981 (75,578 H/T, 19,403 Conv)

1960/61 Production for UK & Overseas – 1,069

Total UK & Overseas Production 9,396 (Final Body No. 209384, Car No.150301)

“Cape Cod” show car displayed at New York Auto Show

May-61

*

Ninth US printing 1500 Owners' Handbook (8112256)

Jun-61

*

Service Notes Index Issue 7

Service Notes Index Issue 8

Jul-61

*

Aug-61

*

US Met Letter Vol 4. No 2 printed

Sep-61

*

Lucas 1961 BMC Catalogue (CCE 900K) issued

Total yearly (Aug.60 to Sept.61) US sales – 9,130

Oct-61

*

Nov-61

*

Dec-61

*

Release of 1961 American Motors annual report

Total Registrations  1961 - 8,567

Shipments for 1961 - 969

Jan-62

*

US Met Letter Vol 4. No 3 printed

Feb-62

*

Total Registrations (to Feb 62) – 887

Shipments for 1962 - 420

PRODUCTION STATS

The starting serial number was 1001. (After the first 3, 000 or so units were built, the prefix E was used with the serial number) Starting motor number was IG-881459.
 

No production information available beyond March 1961. A few dealers sold 1961 Metropolitans during the 1962 model year. Official final serial number E95981. Estimated final figures: Series IV hardtop 27,856; convertible 9,065. Cumulative: hardtop 75,569; convertible 19,399. Total 94,968.

An estimated 4,356 Series I and II Metropolitans were sold by Hudson dealers and bore the Hudson grille nameplate.