1930 NASH Ambassador Eight

by John Koziol

 

In 1930, Nash built almost 55,000 cars, mainly in its factories in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  It offered three basic models, a single six, a twin-ignition six, and a new top-of-the-line twin ignition eight.  This production number placed Nash Motors in twelfth place nationally for the year.

 

The new Nash Twin Ignition Eight, which is the subject of this article and the car that we own, was the product of three years’ intensive study and experiment by Nash engineers.  It was the first time that Nash offered an eight-cylinder engine.  The straight-eight, twin ignition, high-compression, valve-in-head, 9-bearing motor, featured an integrally counterbalanced, hollow-crankpin crankshaft, with aluminum pistons and connecting rods.  Its 298.6 cubic inch engine developed 100 horsepower at 3200 rpm.  The 1930 Nash Twin Eights came in either a 124” or 133” wheelbase.  This larger wheelbase was offered only on the Ambassador models, which is the model we own.  Nash advertised these models as the biggest and most luxurious cars it had built up to that time.  They carried a price of $2,095 f.o.b.  The Ambassador models from 1930-1934 are considered full classics by the Classic Car Club of America, a tribute to their uniqueness and high quality engineering.

 

What follows is the story of my 1930 Nash Ambassador Twin Ignition Eight. It is a Model 497,  five-passenger sedan that was purchased by Les Culver in 1963.  I have included some historical information about Les’ thorough restoration of the car which he completed in 1975, and some fun anecdotes about the car subsequent to its restoration.  I acquired the car from Les in July 1998, and have enjoyed it immensely since then…..along with Les who often has joined Donna and me on local tours.

 

In 1963, Les located the Nash in an alley in West Seattle.  It was for sale by a high school student who had dreams of rebuilding it but didn’t have the wherewithal to do so. The car was not running.  Its engine had been removed but was nearby.  All in all, the Nash was complete except for the original radiator cap which was missing.  It is believed that the car had come to Seattle via Oregon.

 

Upon purchasing the car, Les towed it to his home in south Seattle and shortly afterwards began what would become a 12-year restoration.   Those of us who know Les know him to be an excellent mechanic and one who always does things 110%.....and the Nash restoration project was no exception.  Les began by removing the body from the frame, and then meticulously replaced all the wood in the car except for the doors.  Concurrently, he performed a complete mechanical rebuild of the entire car.  For upholstery work, Les drove the Nash to Portland where Stan Jones did a beautiful job installing new interior mohair just like the original.  The car was painted in the early 1970’s by Louis Cohn, a fellow HCCA member in Seattle, and remains in good condition to this day.

 

Shortly after completing its restoration, Les drove the car on numerous local HCCA tours.  In 1978, he drove the Nash to Santa Clara, CA, along with his wife Evelyn, to participate in the Nash Car Club’s annual “Grand NASHional” car show.    He won first place….a fitting tribute to a great restorer. 

 

I met Les in the early 1980’s and subsequently accompanied him in his Nash on many HCCA events in and around Seattle.  We have had great times together.  In 1998, I purchased “Les’ Nash” and have enjoyed it immensely since then.  It is a wonderful and very reliable touring automobile, and Donna and I are looking forward to many fun years ahead with this wonderful car

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               DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

                        By Rodger Eddy

Haven’t we all had a memorable experience in the back seat of a vintage sedan?

 

Put aside those romantic memories for a moment, because I’m talking about the queasy feeling in the stomach as Dad and Mom up front were enjoying the lurching ride while the offspring in back suffered. At that young age we took for granted the panorama of berry fields, forests, cascading rivers, and red rock cliffs, not realizing that Oregon's abundant beauty is unique.We are blessed that much of that childhood scenery so ingrained in us still exists today, even in the bustling Willamette Valley, the Western

World’s Garden of Eden that drew our ancestors westward. And we are also blessed that many of the dependable old cars from childhood eras are still here to be enjoyed. A dramatic view on one of our tours

provides not just a beneficial moment, but can evoke memories of earlier times.

 

Please take the time and effort to get the old car rolling, and join your close friends in car clubs who share your respect for the past and for our heritage. Our tours this summer are varied, but each promises the fabric for today's enjoyment woven with perpetual threads of life.

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Take a trip back through time.

This wonderful book is available through the Classic Car Club of America

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Classic Car Club of America is a non-profit organization chartered in the State of New York for the development, publication and interchange of technical, historical and other information for and among members and other persons who own or are interested in fine or unusual foreign or domestic motor cars built between and including the years 1925 through 1948, but including cars built before 1925 that are virtually identical to 1925 Full Classics^TM and distinguished for the respective fine design, high engineering standards and superior workmanship, and to maintain references upon and encourage the maintenance restoration and preservation for all such Classic Cars.

The purposes for which a Region is chartered by the National Club are: The furthering of the ideas and ideals reflected by the By-Laws of the National Club in a specific Regional area and to provide Regional activities for the National members in this area.