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2010 Shannons Melbourne Winter Classic Auction
Lot
13

1935 Nash La Fayette Sedan

PASSED IN

Passed In

Specifications

Engine In-line six-cylinder, 218-cid
Gearbox 3-speed manual
Body Work Sedan
Colour Cream & Black
Interior Deep Red
Trim Leather
Wheels Steel disc
Brakes Drums

Description

This lot is no longer available

In a real "rags to riches" story, Charles W.Nash went from being an orphan working on a farm in Michigan to President of General Motors by 1912. Nash later began producing cars under his own name and from their first model in 1918, steadily improved to become a highly profitable company by the late 1920s and was thus able to ride out the Great Depression better than many. Introduced for the 1934 model year, Nash announced a cheaper six-cylinder model known as the LaFayette. With aerodynamic new styling shared with the bigger Nash models by Russian Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, the ?jewelled movement? LaFayette was marketed as a ?bigger low-priced car? and captured 15th place in the American market. The 1935 LaFayette was again built on a 113-inch wheelbase and featured a 218-cid straight six developing 80 hp at 3200 rpm, a floor-mounted three-speed transmission, 16-inch steel wheels and mechanical brakes. In America, a wide range of bodywork was available, including a Business Coupe, Sedan, Brougham and Town Sedan and the 1935 models received only a minor facelift from the '34s. As with many American cars of the period, right-hand drive versions were assembled here in Australia for the local market.