Bathtub in the Background: 1951 Nash Ambassador

(by CFlo) If you’re a fan of the 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future (and who isn’t?) you might remember seeing all manner of Detroit Iron in the background when Marty McFly was trying to blend in and set up his parents with each other after accidentally DMCing his way back to 1955. Remember the “peeping Tom” scene where George falls out of the tree and Marty saves him from being hit by Lorraine’s dad’s Chevy, only to get hit himself and become the object of his own mother’s desire??? There was a bathtub Nash parked on the street in that scene, and now you can buy what’s claimed to be that very piece of BTTF screen history. Find this 1951 Nash Ambassador offered for $8,000 on craigslist in Mariposa, CA.

From the seller:

Good runner. Was in the Movie Back to The Future. New wide white radials. Current registration in my name.

With a little bit of sleuthing on the googles, we seem to have found the evidence that backs up the seller’s claim. Indeed, such a Nash was in BTTF, as seen here on the internet movie car database.

That does look like the same bulbous tail in the same 2-tone color scheme. The license plate in the film doesn’t match the one that’s on the car today, nor the one in the seller’s photo of ephermera, but that seems like a minor detail.

The flathead inline six won’t be a barnstormer, but should make for reliable low-key motoring if you’re into that kind of thing.

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