1946 Nash P1 Pick-Up

Unique might be an over-used word in the classic car world but this teal and blue pickup certainly qualifies. A one-off prototype built by Nash at the end of World War II to investigate the viability of production units, it was registered in 1946.

Given the chassis number K77666, the identification plate located in the cab - thought to be from a 1942 Nash 600 mounted onto a 1936 Nash chassis that has in turn been uprated with rear springs and axle taken from a 1941-vintage Ambassador - simply reads “sample”. Interestingly, the same chassis plate names Seaman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin after the ‘Trim’ section, which may indicate this famous firm’s involvement.

Found and restored back in the 1990s at a reputed cost of $75,000, the previous owner couldn’t identify what engine would have been fitted originally, so chose a Nash 3.8-litre straight-six from the 1941 Ambassador. Displacing 234ci (that’s 3,800cc for the communists among you…), this overhead-valve Aeropower unit was sourced, painted, and installed in the freshly refurbished engine bay.

Factory rated at 105bhp, which was more than many early flathead V8 Ford trucks, it is interesting in that it uses seven main bearings, rifle-drilled connecting rods, four rings per piston, and full pressure lubrication, all of which was advanced for an engine of that era.

That 3.8-litre engine now feeds its power to the rear axle via a column-shift three-speed gearbox and a Borg-Warner overdrive unit, which gives it the legs and flexibility to be used on 21st century roads.

Finished with whitewall tyres and an age-appropriate brown leatherette interior, this well-known pickup truck has been featured in several magazines.

In the care of the seller for the past 18 months, we can see this unique prototype drawing an awful lot of interest from both Nash enthusiasts as well as folk who simply wants a 1940s-era pickup to waft around in…

With bulbous wings, a side-mounted spare wheel, and wooden tops for the loadbed, this Nash step-side pickup truck is a classic 1940s design. We especially love the painted bumpers and overriders as chrome would have been inappropriate on what was intended as a commercial, working vehicle.

The dark blue and teal hue suits the lines to perfection, and it has clearly been previously restored to a very high standard and still presents well. As a prototype the panels may have looked this good when the truck was first built, but we wouldn’t bet the house on it…

Nash farmed out the construction of the pickup bed to industry experts the Perfection Steel Body Company of Galion, Ohio who made steel dumper truck bodies among other things. Now restored and fitted with a new wood lining and sides during the restoration, the latter are now beautifully worn and nicely weathered.

The steel wheels, which are painted in teal and trimmed with chrome hubcaps, are fitted with 7.10 B.F. Goodrich Silvertown crossply whitewall tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The taillights are not thought to be the originals, and the offside unit’s lens is cracked (#26) and the housing is a little rusty (#96).

That aside, the Nash sports only age-appropriate marks and small stonechips, so we think the rest can be left as it is; it’s entered a new stage in its life and we feel it’s important to honour that history.

We believe that the dashboard is from a period-correct Nash production car with only a couple of minor changes being made to its design. Distinctly different to the usual commercial designs of the period, the nautical-style dashboard is set off by a wood-grained steering wheel.

The brown leatherette bench seat is an iconic element of every post-war American car makes it ideal for snuggling up with a loved one at your local drive-in movie (of which there is a surprisingly high number around the UK…), something the column-shift gearchange facilitates as it keeps the floor clear of obstructions.

It’s all in great shape too, and is complemented with matching door cards. Brown carpeting throughout – again, not the usual fare in working vehicles of the time - completes the look along with a very tidy headlining.

A ‘Weather Eye Conditioned Air’ unit sits in the centre of the dashboard, a Motorola twin-spindle radio beneath it, and a chrome fire extinguisher within easy reach mean it couldn’t be more evocative if Elvis himself were sitting there crooning to you. (None have been tested.)

All-in-all, the interior is in a fine condition and while there is some minor fettling to do (such as reattaching the round chrome trim on the door handles and window winders you can see in slide #50), the overall condition is excellent.

We believe the Nash underwent extensive mechanical work as part of the restoration. Missing its engine when discovered, the new owner decided to fit the 3.8-litre engine from a Nash Ambassador, marrying it to a three-speed gearbox with a Borg-Warner overdrive. The result is said to be “a very driveable classic.”

The straight-six starts easily and it idles and revs well with a surprisingly fruity exhaust note.

The six-volt electrical system, with its factory-installed twin ignition system, copes surprisingly well too, but then this was a staple of the automotive world for decades, so that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

We are also delighted to see proper braided wire under there too, which is surely another sign of a job well done?

The underside might be constructed in a manner Brunel would recognise, but even so its condition is excellent. Sure, you could touch up the underseal here and there, and maybe budget for some new dampers to replace the rusty ones that are fitted, but thus fettled it would probably give another half-century’s faithful service.

The Nash comes with period paperwork from both the USA and France as well as a copy of a magazine article it features in. Googling its registration number and make also brings up previous adverts, which helped us fill in its history.

The Nash doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

Vehicles like this should be priceless; as a genuine one-off prototype, it’s unique – and we don’t use that word casually.

Its condition is also supported by a well-documented history, all of which means it should, in theory, sell for big bucks.

That we think it’s only likely to fetch somewhere between £20,000 and £25,000 is one of life’s peculiarities, albeit one that makes it surprisingly accessible to wide spectrum of car enthusiasts.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.