The 1935 Lafayette, Nash Built

The Lafayette Motor Corporation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Publication: Privately printed, 1935, N P

First edition. 7 1/2" x 11" oblong, color pictorial wrappers, unfolds to a tri-fold 19 1/4" x 22", printed on two sides, illustrated (some in color), information, specifications. One side shows four Lafayette styles offered for 1935, namely the four door sedan, the two door coupe, the four passenger coupe, and the four door sedan with trunk. The other side details some of the 39 luxury features such as aluminum alloy Invar Strut pistons, full pressure lubricating system, clutch pedal starting, 5-point rubber motor mounting, etc. Also discusses "Synchronized Springing" for improved ride stability. As to their luxury features they point out that "NO OTHER CAR UNDER $1000 GIVES YOU ALL THESE BIG-CAR FEATURES." In 1924, Nash Motors became full owner of LaFayette Motors, and the name was retired soon after. Its factories were quickly put to a new, more profitable use: the manufacture of Ajax motor cars. In 1934, Nash re-introduced the LaFayette name, this time for a line of smaller, less expensive autos. In 1935, Nash introduced a series known as the "Nash 400" to fill the perceived price gap between the LaFayette and the Nash. By 1937, it was determined that this perceived gap wasn't so important after all, and that Nash Motors was marketing too many models. The LaFayette and the Nash 400 were combined into a single model called the Nash LaFayette 400 for 1937, and the LaFayette ceased to be regarded as a separate make of car. For 1938, this became simply the Nash LaFayette, and the LaFayette line continued as Nash's lowest-priced offering through 1940. For 1941, the LaFayette was replaced by the all-new unibody Nash 600. Small scrape to foot of spine, faint evidence of a vertical center fold, and cover lightly soiled, else a very good copy.

Inventory Number: 42618