1936 Nash 400 – Alec McCracken

By Customs -N- Classics on February 5, 2020 • ( Leave a comment )

Alec McCracken grew up driving this 1936 Nash 400 around his large property. He always wanted to restore it, as he grew up with it and it had a history with the family.

Scroll down and find out what that history was and what he had to do to restore this beauty.

Check out the pictures below, make sure to click on the picture to see the full version.

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What type of vehicle is this?: Car

Make, Model, Year of Project

1936 Nash ‘400’

What stage is this in?

Completed Project

When did you purchase it and for how much?

My mother bought the Nash second hand in 1942, about the same time as when my father became a POW of the Japanese in Malaya.

I don’t know how much it cost her.

Why did you choose this vehicle?

I guess you could call it a hand-me-down.

What sort of condition was it in when you started the project, what was wrong with it, etc.

Condition was poor, with it in need of a complete ground-up restoration.

Although the engine was just going when it was stored away, it had sat in storage for roughly 30 years, during which time it had all the badges, bonnet mascot (hood ornament) and other bits stolen or damaged.

What, specifically have you done, or had done to it?

The engine and transmission, including overdrive, has been rebuilt. All the timber in the body has been replaced and the interior reupholstered. The car began life as a black car, but was resprayed grey after a fire in the engine bay shortly after it was purchased. Its present color of dark blue is therefore its third color in its 83 years.

Can you list any and all parts that you have put in?

Some things are very hard to keep original in a car this age and an example is shock absorbers. The lever action ones have been replaced with telescopic.

One concession we have made to modern day motoring has been the installation of an air conditioner. We live in a hot climate ( Mildura, in North West Victoria, Australia) so we, my wife especially, consider it justified. This meant converting the car from a 6 volt to a 12 volt system. An alternator has been hidden underneath the car and driven off the tail shaft.

Where have you purchased your parts?

Many parts came via eBay, also from members of the Nash Car Club of America and parts have had to be made.

Because the body of this car was built by Ruskin Motor Body Works in Melbourne, Australia, many parts, including such things as door handles etc, are different to those on the American built cars, so it was harder to find the required bits.

What about you?

I grew up on a property growing citrus and grapes. We had plenty of room to drive old cars around the property, and after the Nash became too old to be out on the road, I used to drive it around. It was during this time that many of the panels were damaged.

I always wanted to restore the car, mostly because I grew up with it and because it had been part of our family for so long.

Any stories regarding this project?

Although not quite complete as far as the restoration goes, we have taken it to one car show in South Australia. The Copper Coast Cavalcade of Classic Cars. About 500 entries make this show quite a memorable occasion.