1951 Nash Statesman Super 4-Door Sedan
2019.0025.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 184 cu. in. (3L) Cast-iron block, L-head, I-6
Output: 85 HP @ 3,800 RPM
Transmission: 3-Speed Manual
Wheelbase: 112 in.
Overall Length: 201 in.
Weight: 2,970 lbs.
Top Speed: 84 MPH
No. Produced: 52,325
Original Price: $1,815
Manufacturer: Nash Motors
In 1927 Paul Jaray patented a “teardrop” streamlined car design that minimized air drag and increased speed. Nash wholeheartedly embraced his design strategy. Abandoning their pre-war, more conventional styling, Nash perfected what came to be sarcastically known as the “inverted bathtub” school of design. The Airflyte Statesman Super features a fenderless pontoon body fastback shape with rounded edges, skirted wheels, and a tucked-in rear end.
The exterior was more old-school than modern; however, Nash did offer advanced features. The Airflyte Statesman had full unit construction, something Nash pioneered in 1941. Nash was also the first to produce a car with a one-piece curved windshield. The company also introduced seat belts, a safety feature that hit the mainstream decades later. Reclining seats turned the car into a mobile bedroom for outdoor enthusiasts or families on the go, and perhaps a real source of concern for parents of teenagers.