Unusual build of a Nash AirFlyte station wagon. 350 Chevy V8, automatic transmission, air suspension. Nicely detailed with a rat rod vibe, Pure style over function, but it actually drives really well. Guaranteed to be the only one at any show you attend!

If you’re a member of the “Dare to be Different” crowd, this cool 1950 Nash AirFlyte wagon is for you. We’re tired of looking at plastic 1937 Fords and me-too ’57 Chevys, which is why this awesome little wagon is in our showroom. Sure, it takes the right kind of guy to own it, we understand that, but it certainly gets the job done in a big way—nothing else we’ve got attracts this kind of attention. The body is steel and that’s how Nash built it in 1950, sans wheel openings and everything. Of course, the original tires were vastly smaller than the 15s on it today, and the suspension didn’t lower itself onto the ground at the touch of a button. Because of this, there are Dzus fasteners for the rear quarters so you can access the rear tire, while the front can be access simply by raising the car and jacking it up as usual. The color is a custom satin gold that has a timeless style to it—this little guy won’t look dated in 10 or 20 years. In fact, the body mods are slight, including some shaved trim, but it hasn’t been chopped or Frenched or anything else. I guess the Nash look was radical enough for the builder. There are a few tasteful pinstripes on the nose and on the roof, just to give it a proper hot rod vibe, and all the chrome is in really nice shape. Again, it’s not for everyone but there’s a lot to like here.

The interior is basic, no two ways about it. Sheetmetal is the dominant theme, but you can tell it was done on purpose and not because they were cutting corners. The welds are beautifully spaced, the panels are expertly formed, and the painted center transmission tunnel offers an awesome contrast. A pair of cloth buckets from a late-model provides reasonable seating comfort and the original dash has been filled and smoothed. The primary controls and gauges are all under the dash and well-marked, and there’s a neat little fan under the dash to help keep things cool (there is no A/C, obviously). The shifter is topped by a custom Rat Fink-esque knob and the original Airflyte emblem is in the center of the dash. You do get power windows, which is nice, and there’s a reasonably large rear compartment with a stainless steel fuel cell and some useful storage space. A lift-up panel offers access to the air suspension components and provides clearance for the lowered suspension.

The engine is a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 and you can see that the builder did his homework to get everything right. There’s an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor up top, a big aluminum radiator in front, and custom wheel wells for the front tires, so the engine bay stays tidy. It’s thoughtfully engineered with good service access and it’s not so radical that you need do to anything other than gas and oil. An electric fuel pump provides quick starts and it never seems to get hot or fussy when you’re out cruising. That’s the whole point of the small block Chevy. It’s backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and a rear axle from a late-model with highway-friendly gears inside. The air suspension lowers it down on its frame rails and it’s obviously too low to get onto our lift, but there are no scary secrets hiding underneath. Most of the floor has been replaced by custom fabricated pieces and the hardware is robust and proven. The exhaust dumps out of the front fenders after a trip through some custom headers and modest mufflers, and it does have a spectacular soundtrack. It sits on 15-inch wheels with big-n-little tires to give it a wicked stance, and on the road it actually works like a real car.

We understand that not everyone will get this car. That’s OK and that’s why the car world is so awesome. We flat-out love the weird little thing and it’s been a hit every time we’ve taken it out. If you’re the kind of guy who likes to color a little bit outside the lines or who sees something special here, don’t hesitate and give us a call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.