Sally Bridgman recently bought her 1956 Nash Metropolitan for jaunts with identical twin sister Vicki Turfrey and their dogs, Bob.
“I’ve only had the car for about six months. I bought it from a gentleman in Auckland. My husband Daryl found it on Trademe. I’d wanted a Nash for years, a friend had one and I thought ‘oh, I quite like that!’
It’s a small car, so there’s only enough room for me and Vicki and the dogs – not our husbands! We’re going to sound like crazy twins, but my dog’s name is Bobby and Vicki’s is Bob. We’re both always calling out ‘Bob!’ It’s a little bit nutty isn’t it? We only live two houses away from each other, too. Our poor husbands, it’s quite horrendous for them, probably!
Twin sisters Vicki Turfrey and Sally Bridgeman with Sally's 1956 Nash Metropolitan. Photo by Charlotte Anderson.
That’s why finding the car was so cool – we thought ‘oh neat, this one is for us!’ They’ve got their V8s and Chevys but this is our little quirky one to go out together in.
Our first trip in the Nash was to a car show in Napier. Vicki and I were so excited and Daryl said that he’d follow along behind us just in case we got into trouble. We headed off, with Bob and Bob in the back, thinking that we were just smashing. We were driving along the waterfront and my phone rang. It was Daryl, who said “can you smell anything, maybe check your handbrake?" I said “oh, it’s on!” I’d been driving with the handbrake on for about 10km and completely burnt the brakes out. When I took the handbrake off I had a bit more power, which was nice. But we had to get all new brake parts shipped from England because I’d destroyed them.
Vicki and Sally enjoy taking short trips in the 1956 Nash Metropolitan. Photo by Charlotte Anderson.
Despite what it looks like its not just a little old ladies’ car – apparently Elvis owned one, and Steve Jobs, too. It’s actually a bit of a handful to drive because its got a huge steering wheel! I’m only a little person, but I only just fit in it. You feel like a giant. The gears are quite tricky because its a column change. I’m quite confident in a car but it’s definitely a handful!”
Story by Jo Percival for the Spring 2023 issue of AA Directions Magazine. Jo Percival is the Digital Editor for AA Directions Magazine.
Do you have a car that could be a contender for Wheel Love?
From classic rides to unique vehicles, EVs and dream cars, send us an email with your Wheel Love car story and you might be featured in a future issue of AA Directions!
Explore more from AA Directions magazine while you're here:
- Home profile: an accessible Waikato house
- Discover New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands on a Heritage Expeditions cruise
- Live well: a Cape South retreat, Hawke’s Bay
