I am attaching some photos of my father's Nash Roadster. In 1924 or 1925 he
drove this from Indiana to California, Washington, and back. I do not know
what year the car was made (1923 or 1924, or ?). If you can tell from the
pictures, please let me know.

I also have a California driving permit which he acquired. It lists the
engine number as 153256 _ does that mean that the car was a 1920 model?

John Ostendorf

Hello John,

How nice of you to share the great old photos of your father's Nash with the Nash Car Club. I would like to help you with the year ( and series ) of this car.

Nash built cars in different price ranges during these years. The side view of your father's car shows it to be the large series ( long wheelbase ) and more expensive car. The wheels have 6 lug bolts which confirm it to be the large series. So we know your father had good taste and could afford the large model, but how about the year.......

It's not as old a 1922 because the cowl vent ( near the windshield ) was first used on 1923 models. It's not as new as 1925 because that year saw a change in the hood. The 1925's had longer and thinner hood louvers. The photos clearly show your father's Nash has the older style hood. So your father's Nash was either a 1923 or 1924. The 1924 models were unchanged from the 1923, both in styling and driveline. However, I do beleive his car was a 1924 and perhaps a later built unit, for three reasons....

The cowl lights on his car are up higher than the typical 23-24 models, more in keeping with the 1925 models, also his radiator shell is nickel plated. You often see nickel or chrome plated radiator shells on older restored Nash cars, but Nash first offered this in 1925. It also seems the tires are the baloon type that Nash used starting on 1925 models. As often happens, cars built towards the end of a production year will receive equipment that is "said" to have started with the following year's cars.

The 1924 models were first introduced on July 20, 1923. They used the same model numbers as the 1923's ( same cars). We know your father had the large series, so it's part of the "690" series of cars. Because it's a roadster, it's exact model number would have been 696, regarless if it's a 1923 or 1924.

I could tell right away from a serial number, if your father's Nash was a 1923 or 1924, but his driving permit only shows the engine number ( 153256 ). Some states used a motor number instead of a serial number, which makes it harder to pin point the year, but I will look into it futher, during the next few days. For now I think it's safe to assume he had a 1924, Nash model 696 roadster, and perhaps a later built unit.

Your father would have made that long and interesting trip powered by an inline 6 cylinder, overhead valve motor with a cubic inch displacement of 248.9, a three speed transmission ( non-syncromech ), and mechanical brakes. If he purchased it new the list price was appox 1,240.00

Really enjoyed the photos. Contact me if I can be of futher help.

Gary DeYoung gdeyoung1@tampabay.rr.com

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John,

You're getting more info than you ever dreamed.

I'm also leaning to 1923 or '24, most probably 24.

1. The nickel plating on the windshield, and the radiator is appropriate starting in '23, both the 697 Sport Touring and the 696 Roadster are illustrated in a "sales manual", and also described as nickel plated, my '23 sport touring also has the plated radiator shroud/cover.

2. The Budd steel wheels were introduced in 1923, somewhere around here I have a '23 advertisement announcing that fact. Both my 1923's have the same steel disc wheels. In addition both my cars have the same "BiFlex" nickel plated bumper.

3. The motor number, and it is a motor number, not a serial number, because that serial number belongs to a 1920 model 682 [a 7 passenger touring car]. So I went looking for some motor numbers, and 153256 is a lot higher than BOTH of my 1923 motor numbers that start 123xxx.

4. The side shot shows kick plates below the door, from the owner's manuals of '23 and '24, this looks like one of the changes made in '24. The '23 had step plates, but not the kick plate.

5. In the photo where the steering wheel is predominant, looking at the dash, the gauge isn't clear, but the shape is somewhat oval, if so, the top of the '24 ammeter is there, and its a "combination" meter, while on the '23 it's much more round, smaller in diameter, and each gauge is separate.

What an adventure!

Dave Siringer
NCCA Librarian
flattaxes@yahoo.com

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Hi, What beautiful pictures! ANd what an adventure! I'd like to go on one trip like that!

The spot light shown in one of the pictures is an aftermarket item, identical to the one I have on my '18 touring! Never thought I'd see another. I bought mine at a swap over a couple of decades ago.

Sorry, I don't know how to distinguish the 690 series by year, but it is the 1921-24 690 series.

Take care, Jim Dworschack - bioproceng@netwurx.net