by David J. Austin MOCNA #200
(with assistance from John A. Conde) as published by MOCNA
| Met Production Information, Major
changes, and "E" number date info |
| Month |
U.S. serial number |
Sales figures |
Remarks |
| |
| Oct-53 |
1001 |
|
Start of Metropolitan production. First cars were name plated
"NKI Custom."
First U.S. shop manual and Flat Rate manual issued. Colors were P-903 Spruce Green, P-904
Canyon Red, P-905 Caribbean Blue, P-906 Croton Green all with P-907 Mist Grey as contrast
color for roof. Convertibles with P-903 had tan tops; those with P-904 and P-906 had black
tops; those with P-905 had either black or tan tops. |
| Nov-53 |
E1066 |
|
|
| Dec-53 |
E1271 |
|
24-hour test at Raleigh, N.C. E1008 performed speed endurance trial; E1013 performed
in an economy trial. |
| Jan-54 |
E1771 |
|
"Metropolitan" name adopted |
| Feb-54 |
E2849 |
|
Installation of "NKI Custom" nameplate ended with E2869. First issue U.S.
owners manual and U.S. parts list. |
| Mar-54 |
E3884 |
862 |
"Metropolitan" name publicly announced March 19. "Metropolitan"
nameplate fitted after E4097 and retrofitted to all available earlier production. Price
$1445 (hardtop) and $1469 (convertible). |
| Apr-54 |
E5060 |
981 |
|
| May-54 |
E6264 |
1194 |
Nash and Hudson merge to form American Motors Corp. Overriders (bumper guards) fitted
from E6796. |
| Jun-54 |
E7678 |
1499 |
Second printing, U.S. owner manual. |
| Jul-54 |
E8946 |
802 |
"M" hubcap introduced with E10007 |
| Aug-54 |
E10430 |
767 |
End of Series 1 production (A series 1200cc). Final number: E11000. Final figures:
6,083 hardtops; 3,917 convertibles. Series II begins with E11001 (B series 1200 cc). |
| Sep-54 |
E11224 |
767 |
|
| Oct-54 |
E12646 |
726 |
|
| Nov-54 |
E13714 |
626 |
U.S. shop manual for Series II issued. |
| Dec-54 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
|
| Jan-55 |
E15079 |
628 |
|
| Feb-55 |
E15614 |
610 |
|
| Mar-55 |
E16400 |
728 |
|
| Apr-55 |
E17239 |
715 |
|
| May-55 |
E17896 |
883 |
Third printing, U.S. owners manual |
| Jun-55 |
E15079 |
720 |
|
| Jul-55 |
E19442 |
739 |
|
| Aug-55 |
E19920 |
unk |
|
| Sep-55 |
unk |
unk |
|
| Oct-55 |
E20442 |
unk |
|
| Nov-55 |
E20715 |
unk |
End of Series II production. Final figures: 8920 hardtops; 1078 convertibles.
Cumulative total: 15,003 hardtops; 5,004 convertibles. |
| Dec-55 |
E21008 |
333 |
|
| Jan-56 |
E21008 |
313 |
Start of Series III (B series 1500 cc); first printing of U.S. owners manual for this
series. Colors changed to P-905 Caribbean Blue, P-910 Sunburst Yellow, P-911 Coral Red
with P-909 Snowberry White as contrast color. |
| Feb-56 |
E21609 |
264 |
New parts list issued. |
| Mar-56 |
E22269 |
324 |
|
| Apr-56 |
E22956 |
519 |
Public announcement of Series III 1500 cc models. Price $1,527 for hardtops; $1,551
convertible. |
| May-56 |
E23545 |
657 |
P-912 Berkshire Green, P-913 Mardi Gras red added to color list. |
| Jun-56 |
E24396 |
688 |
|
| Jul-56 |
E25241 |
792 |
|
| Aug-56 |
E26015 |
863 |
|
| Sep-56 |
E26596 |
715 |
|
| Oct-56 |
E27395 |
691 |
Price $1,567 hardtop; $1,591 convertible. |
| Nov-56 |
E28321 |
689 |
|
| Dec-56 |
E29177 |
630 |
English 1500cc owners manual issued. U.S. sales for 1956: 11791. Brake master cylinder
changed from 3/4" to 5/8" beginning with E29284. Start of UK Met production with
SN 148643, body no. 28698. |
| Jan-57 |
E29920 |
585 |
Second printing U.S. owners manual (1500cc) |
| Feb-57 |
E31523 |
572 |
|
| Mar-57 |
E32715 |
1011 |
Style of cigar lighter changed beginning with E34077 |
| Apr-57 |
E34151 |
852 |
Series III Mets announced for UK sale. |
| May-57 |
E35810 |
1036 |
Color list changed: P-910 Sunburst Yellow, P-912 Berkshire Green, P-913 Mardi Gras red
coupled with P-914 Frost White as a contrast color. |
| Jun-57 |
E37660 |
1084 |
|
| Jul-57 |
E39060 |
1333 |
|
| Aug-57 |
E40282 |
1336 |
Second English owner manual issued; English shop manual issued. |
| Sep-57 |
E41057 |
1361 |
|
| Oct-57 |
E42159 |
1017 |
Low compression engines discontinued beginning E43116. Third printing U.S. owners
manual (1500cc). Price: $1,626 hardtop; $1,650 convertible. |
| Nov-57 |
E43372 |
826 |
|
| Dec-57 |
E44465 |
778 |
Full-flow oil filter introduced beginning E45245. Glove box door fitted standard
beginning E44800. U.S. sales for 1957: 11,791. |
| Jan-58 |
E45547 |
647 |
One-piece rear windscreen introduced with E45672. New colors added: P-908 Classic
Black and P-915 Autumn Yellow join P-912 Berkshire Green, P-913 Mardi Gras red coupled
with P-914 Frost White as a contrast color. |
| Feb-58 |
E47002 |
673 |
New door lock introduced commencing E48848. |
| Mar-58 |
E48240 |
928 |
English arts List (97H1506) issued. Fourth printing of U.S. Owners Manual (1500cc). |
| Apr-58 |
E49378 |
1037 |
|
| May-58 |
E50060 |
1289 |
|
| Jun-58 |
E51204 |
1149 |
|
| Jul-58 |
E51270 |
1169 |
Fifth printing U.S. Owner Manual (1500cc) |
| Aug-58 |
E53205 |
1177 |
|
| Sep-58 |
E54052 |
1117 |
New handbrake assembly commencing E57528. |
| Oct-58 |
E55332 |
1217 |
|
| Nov-58 |
E56644 |
949 |
Steering modified to improve turning circle commencing E57528. |
| Dec-58 |
E57788 |
891 |
Annual U.s. Sales 12,243. End of Series III production. Final figures: Series III
hardtop 32,710; convertible 5,330. Cumulative (Series I, II, III) hardtop 47,713;
convertible 10,336 |
| Jan-59 |
E58620 |
|
Start of Series IV (B series 1500cc). Modified body work to incorporate trunk lid.
Sixth printing U.S. owners manual (1500cc). |
| Feb-59 |
E59673 |
|
U.S. parts list issued. |
| Mar-59 |
E60736 |
|
Seventh printing U.S. owners manual (1500cc) |
| Apr-59 |
E62156 |
|
|
| May-59 |
E64132 |
|
Public announcement of Series B Mets. |
| Jun-59 |
E68247 |
|
|
| Jul-59 |
NA |
|
|
| Aug-59 |
E70416 |
|
|
| Sep-59 |
E72175 |
|
New dipstick introduced with E74192. Revised Flat Rate Schedule issued. |
| Oct-59 |
E74589 |
|
Price: $1,673 hardtop; $1,697 convertible. |
| Nov-59 |
E77010 |
|
|
| Dec-59 |
E78828 |
|
new front windscreen rubber & surround commencing E79091. |
| Jan-60 |
E80961 |
|
Eighth printing U.S. owners manual (1500cc) |
| Feb-60 |
E82590 |
|
|
| Mar-60 |
E84426 |
|
|
| Apr-60 |
E86462 |
|
Parts List AKD 1090 issued (Series I, II, III, IV); "Fifth Avenue" Met
displayed at N.Y. Motor Show. |
| May-60 |
E88362 |
|
|
| Jun-60 |
E90036 |
|
|
| Jul-60 |
E91544 |
|
|
| Aug-60 |
E92291 |
|
|
| Sep-60 |
E92709 |
|
|
| Oct-60 |
E93318 |
|
|
| Nov-60 |
E93845 |
|
|
| Dec-60 |
E94367 |
|
|
| Jan-61 |
E94742 |
|
|
| Feb-61 |
E95152 |
|
Revised Flat Rate manual. English parts list AKD 1803 issued. Princess Margaret's Met
stolen in London. |
| Mar-61 |
E95592 |
|
|
| Apr-61 |
|
|
"Cape Cod" Met displayed at N.Y. Motor Show. |
| May-61 |
|
|
Ninth printing U.S. Owners Manual (1500cc). |
| No production information available beyond March 1961. A few
dealers sold 1961 Mets during the 1962 model year. Official final serial number E95981.
Estimated final figures: Series IV hardtop 27,856; convertible 9,065. Cumulative: hardtop
75,569; convertible 19,399. Total 94,968. An estimated 4,356 Series I and II Mets were
sold by Hudson dealers and bore the Hudson grille nameplate. |
