Nash Haul Thrift

Last updated
Nash Haul Thrift
1948 Nash Haul Thrift dealership tow truck at Rambler Ranch 1of4.jpg
1948 Nash dealership tow truck
Overview
Manufacturer Nash Motors
Also calledNash 3148/3248
Production1947–1954
Body and chassis
Class Light truck
Layout FR layout
Powertrain
Engine 234.8 cu in (3.8 L) I6
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 3148: 133 in (3,378 mm)
  • 3248: 157 in (3,988 mm)
1948 Nash tow truck 1948 Nash Tow Truck.jpg
1948 Nash tow truck
Nash Model 3148 1948 Nash Model 3148 Truck (30638661881).jpg
Nash Model 3148

The Nash Haul Thrift (sometimes "Haulthrift") was a series of trucks produced by Nash Motors from 1947 until 1954, mainly for export markets. [1]

Contents

Nash dealers in the United States had the option of ordering these trucks, but few were sold and most were for dealership use or as tow trucks. [2] [3]

Design

The first Nash trucks were the continuation of the Jeffery Quad, an all-wheel drive, all-wheel steered vehicle for military and civilian use. The Nash Quads were produced until 1928. Thereafter, Nash focused on building high-quality cars. The automaker developed a line of commercial vehicles in 1947 for export markets and offered them to its domestic dealerships.

Two models were available:

Nash's trucks looked more luxurious than other trucks available then, reminiscent of the contemporary Nash 600 passenger car from which much of the bodywork came. The fenders were the same as for the passenger car, albeit with larger openings made by a second panel stamping. [3]

The truck's engine came from the Nash Ambassador although in a lower state of tune, producing 104 hp (78 kW). A four-speed manual transmission was standard with an optional Timken double-reduction hypoid vacuum-shift rear axle. [1] The Studebaker Champion's smaller engine was offered on some models.

Approximately 5,000 Nash Haul Thrift trucks were produced and sold. [2] [4]

Nash truck prototypes

The Haul Thrift line was the only trucks that Nash produced and marketed after World War II. The company developed a prototype pickup truck in 1942, but meeting the demand for automobiles was a higher priority. [5] Between 1946 and 1949, several prototypes or styling exercises of light-duty pickup trucks were built, but Nash's unibody design made it difficult for such designs to reach production. [6] [7]

Collectability

The Nash Car Club has about 30 of these Nash trucks registered among its members as of 2010. [8] Some of these original Nash dealer tow trucks were converted to flatbed stake bodies. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeep</span> American automobile brand

Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Motors Corporation (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pickup truck</span> Light-duty truck with an enclosed cab and an open cargo area

A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof. In Australia and New Zealand, both pickups and coupé utilities are called utes, short for utility vehicle. In South Africa, people of all language groups use the term bakkie, a diminutive of bak, Afrikaans for "basket".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nash Motors</span> Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

Nash Motors Company was an American automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin from 1916 until 1937. From 1937 through 1954, Nash Motors was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation. As sales of smaller firms declined after 1950 in the wake of the domestic Big Three automakers advantages in production, distribution, and revenue, Nash merged with Hudson Motors to form American Motors Corporation (AMC). Nash automobile production continued from 1954 through 1957 under AMC.

GMC is a division of American automotive manufacturer General Motors (GM) for trucks and utility vehicles. GMC currently makes SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and light-duty trucks. In the past, GMC also produced fire trucks, ambulances, heavy-duty trucks, military vehicles, motorhomes, transit buses, and medium duty trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crosley</span> Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

Crosley was a small, independent American manufacturer of subcompact cars, bordering on microcars. At first called the Crosley Corporation and later Crosley Motors Incorporated, the Cincinnati, Ohio, firm was active from 1939 to 1952, interrupted by World War II production. Their station wagons were the most popular model, but also offered were sedans, pickups, convertibles, a sports car, and even a tiny jeep-like vehicle. For export, the cars were badged Crosmobile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nash Metropolitan</span> Motor vehicle

The Nash Metropolitan is an American automobile that was assembled in England and marketed from 1953 until 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ram pickup</span> American full-size pickup built by Stellantis

The Ram pickup is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by Stellantis North America and marketed from 2010 onwards under the Ram Trucks brand. The current fifth-generation Ram debuted at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, in January of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Datsun Truck</span> Compact pickup truck made by Nissan between 1955-97

The Datsun Truck is a compact pickup truck made by Nissan in Japan from 1955 through 1997. It was originally sold under the Datsun brand, but this was switched to Nissan in 1983. It was replaced in 1997 by the Frontier and Navara. In Japan, it was sold only in Nissan Bluebird Store locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeep Forward Control</span> Motor vehicle

The Jeep Forward Control is a truck that was produced by Willys Motors, later named Kaiser Jeep, from 1956 to 1965. It was also assembled in other international markets. The layout featured a cab over design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nash Ambassador</span> Large-sized cars produced by Nash Motors Corporation

The Nash Ambassador is a luxury automobile that was produced by Nash Motors from 1927 until 1957. For the first five years it was a top trim level, then from 1932 on a standalone model. Ambassadors were lavishly equipped and beautifully constructed, earning them the nickname “the Kenosha Duesenberg".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Motors Incorporated</span> Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

American Motors Incorporated (AMI) designed, manufactured, and sold a minivan for commercial delivery use in the late 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budd XR-400</span> Motor vehicle

The XR-400 was a fully operational concept car. A "sporty" youth-oriented convertible was built in 1962 by the Budd Company, an independent body builder in Detroit, Michigan, for evaluation by the fourth largest U.S. automaker at the time, American Motors Corporation (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Durango</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Durango is a two-passenger coupe utility sold in limited production by Ford Motor Company between the 1979 and 1982 model years. The vehicle was the result of a joint venture between Ford and National Coach Works, located in Los Angeles, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (first generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The first generation of the Ford F-Series is a series of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1948 to the 1952 model years. The introduction of the F-Series marked the divergence of Ford car and truck design, developing a chassis intended specifically for truck use. Alongside pickup trucks, the model line included also panel vans, bare and cowled chassis, and marked the entry of Ford into the medium and heavy-duty truck segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (fourth generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The fourth generation of the Ford F-Series is a line of pickup trucks and commercial trucks that were produced by Ford from the 1961 to 1966 model years. Lower and wider than the previous generation, the fourth-generation F-Series marked several design changes to the F-Series, distinguished by bed sides matching the hood line and window sill in height. The model line returned to two headlights, a change that remained in place for over 50 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coupé utility</span> Automotive body style

A coupé utility is a vehicle with a passenger compartment at the front and an integrated cargo tray at the rear, with the front of the cargo bed doubling as the rear of the passenger compartment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge T-, V-, W-Series</span> Motor vehicle

In 1939 Dodge presented a completely new designed line of pickups and trucks. Formally the T series for 1939, V series for 1940, and the W series from 1941 through 1947, the trucks became mostly known as the Dodge Job-Rated trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Maverick (2022)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Maverick is a four-door, five-passenger, compact crew cab pickup truck manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company. It was unveiled on June 8, 2021 as Ford's smallest truck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-150 Lightning</span> Battery electric light duty truck

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a battery electric full-size light duty truck unveiled by Ford in May 2021 as part of the fourteenth generation Ford F-Series. Four models have been announced, and all models initially will be dual-motor, four-wheel-drive, with EPA range estimates of 240–320 mi (390–510 km). A commercial-grade version of the all-wheel drive (AWD) truck is sold in the United States, with higher-power/trim/range models also sold. The F-150 Lightning began production on April 26, 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Gunnell, John (27 June 2017). "Ride Of The Week: 1948 Nash Tow Truck". Tomorrows Technician. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 "1947-1954 Nash Model 3148" . Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 Taylor, Thom (17 October 2019). "You Couldn't Buy Nash's Pickup Trucks". Motor Biscuit. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  4. Danford, Montana (25 February 2018). "Perfect Patina: 1949 Nash Tow Truck". Barn Finds. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  5. Strohl, Daniel (8 March 2018). "Never-produced Nash pickup prototype pops up for sale in Europe". Hemmings. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  6. Stroh, Daniel (5 December 2012). "On the trail of the Nash pickup". Hemmings. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  7. Strohl, Daniel (3 January 2013). "Pickupdate, part 2: The other Nash prototype pickup still exists, too". Hemmings. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  8. Strohl, Daniel (24 October 2010). "Hemmings Find of the Day - 1947 Nash Haul-Thrift". Hemmings. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  9. "1948 Nash Model 3148 Haul Thrift Stake Truck". bringatrailer.com. May 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.