The American Nash company commissioned the Austin Motorcar Company to build a new small model named Metropolitan, the first of which were produced in spring of 1954. It was a 2 seater hardtop or convertible with "room" for children in the back "seat", optional two tone paint and whitewall tires. Original engine was Austin 1200 cc with modest power, and three speed side shifter gearbox with column mounted shift lever (three on the tree). In 1956 the engine changed to the B-series BMC 1489 cc four cylinder, similar to the MGA engine (but still with less power).


There were Nash Metropolitans and Hudson Metropolitans. When Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors the first name was dropped in 1957 to became simply the Metropolitan (with an "AM" badge up front). Meanwhile there were Austin Metropolitans outside of North America. Production ceased in 1960 with just shy of 95,000 in North America and about 10% additional in the UK and other markets. Remaining unit sales continued into 1961 (and even a few in 1962).