1923 Nash Sports Touring Whiskey Six

edited by David Barth, 15 March 2009.
Courtesy Antique Car Museum of Iowa at 860 Quarry Road, Coralville, Iowa, 52241 USA.
Photos were taken in March 2009.

Nash's first full year of production was 1918 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The president was C. W. Nash. Nash had come from General Motors and purchased the Thomas B. Jeffery Company which had formerly produced the Rambler.

The Nash Six, Model 697, was introduced in 1922. It was a four-door, four-seat touring car. The 1923 Model 697 four-place Sports Touring was identical to the 1922 model except that disc wheels, as on this car, were optional.

The last 697 models were produced in 1924 with a life span of only three years. This engine is a series 690 with an inline six-cylinder engine, cast iron block, with a bore of 3 1/4 inches and a stroke of 5 inches. The motor produces 55 miles per hour at 2,400 rpm. The engine has three main bearings and solid valve lifters. It has a Marvel carburetor.

It has a 121 inch wheelbase and has 33 x 4 inch tires. It has selective sliding gear transmission and a single dry-plate clutch. It has a semi-floating rear axle with an overall gear ratio of 4.50:1. The brakes are mechanical, two-wheel brakes, and its total weight is 3,530 lbs.

This particular 697 Sports Touring came factory-equipped with disc wheels and dual side mounts. It had bumpers, trunk, step plates, beveled glass, wind wings, a spotlight, and a motor meter. The rear windshield is a later addition. All the accessories were brightly plated. The upholstery is embossed leather. This Nash was shipped from the factory with the top, side curtains, tire covers, and trunk cover. The price was $1,645 as shipped, from the factory. In 1923 Nash produced 41,652 vehicles, accounting for 1.6 percent of U. S. auto production, making it eighth in U. S. auto sales.

Courtesy of Brad and Deb Kiesey.