1957 Nash Metropolitan Joins DFW Car & Toy Museum Collection, Showcasing Mid-Century Automotive Design

The DFW Car & Toy Museum has acquired a 1957 Nash Metropolitan Hardtop, finished in its original Sunburst Yellow and Snowberry White two-tone paint scheme, for display within The Ron Sturgeon Collection. This vehicle represents a well-preserved example of a model that served as both a practical second car for families and a notable case of American design paired with European manufacturing during the post-war era.

The specific Metropolitan now on display carries historical significance through its provenance, having been owned by a single individual for nearly forty years. During the 1990s, it underwent a refurbishment that returned it to factory-correct specifications, including the period-appropriate black and white houndstooth cloth and vinyl interior. Mechanically, it retains its original 1.5-liter Austin B-Series inline-four engine, producing 52 horsepower and 77 lb-ft of torque, paired with a three-speed manual transmission operated via a column shifter.

When introduced in the 1950s, the Nash Metropolitan was marketed toward suburban households as an economical and compact vehicle for short trips and daily errands. Its design was American, but production was handled by Austin in the United Kingdom, making it one of the earliest U.S.-market cars built under such a transatlantic arrangement. This business model previewed the globalized automotive manufacturing strategies that would become commonplace decades later.

Ron Sturgeon, the museum's owner, noted the vehicle's enduring appeal, stating its cheerful aesthetics and compact design continue to attract attention. Examples in the condition of this 1957 model are becoming increasingly scarce, elevating its value to collectors and historians. The museum itself, now located at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth, Texas, operates in a 150,000-square-foot facility. Visitors can find more information on its official website at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.

The acquisition underscores the museum's role in preserving automotive heritage, particularly vehicles that illustrate specific cultural and industrial moments. For enthusiasts and researchers, such well-maintained artifacts provide tangible connections to past design philosophies, consumer behaviors, and international business practices within the auto industry. The Metropolitan's story—from its transatlantic origins to its status as a preserved collectible—offers a focused lens on mid-20th-century automotive history and its ongoing relevance in cultural preservation.