Classic Sport Wagon Project: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
I’ve never understood why the “Sport Wagon” never took off. By that I mean the 1955-57 Chevy Nomad and its corporate cousin the Pontiac Safari. Perhaps they were too fancy to be used to haul around stuff. Or they didn’t have enough doors for families to take to them. After three years in production and only 23,000 units, Chevy gave up on the Nomad (though the name would be used for a time on a “regular” 4-door wagon). This ’57 edition is said to have been found in a barn and will need both mechanical and cosmetic attention. From a garage now in St. Joseph, Missouri, this project wagon is available here on eBay where $9,392 is the current bid.
Chevrolet only built 6,264 Nomads in 1957, one of its slowest-selling models/body styles. By comparison, the Townsman 4-door wagon delivered 27,822 units, both vehicles trimmed as Bel Airs, Chevy’s top-of-the-line automobile that year. Sales were even more dismal over at Pontiac, so it’s no surprise that the Nomad or Safari didn’t return in 1958 as Sport Wagons. Though the front clips were the same as 4-door people movers, the entire body and sheet metal were unique from the windshield back, based on a nifty 1954 Corvette concept car.
When the seller’s wagon was new, it must have been quite the beauty. Finished in Abobe Beige over Sierra Gold paint (is there blue hiding under the gold?) and equipped with a 283 cubic inch V8 (new in ’57) and a Powerglide automatic. The seller found it in a barn in Michigan and brought it back to Missouri. The plan was to restore the old girl to its former glory, but an existing Corvette restoration has turned into a time and money pit, so the Nomad must move on.
While it’s fairly complete, the body will need work. The floors are said to be all but rusted out from sitting for more than three decades. And the interior will need a complete makeover, though everything looks original at 85,000 miles. No way the car runs, starts, or stops, so trailering it to its next domicile is the only solution. Restored, these wagons can command some big bucks. So is this Nomad in your future?
Comments
Hell with the Corvette. I’ll take that wagon any day of the week.
. . …. saw one of these, same color, 30 ? years ago in Tucson … .. I was told it was the garage owners’
sons car and that the son had passed away.
… looked really solid … .. .
,
Didnt Buick offer a similar car , two door, two tone, very stylized roof and tailgate? Called Cabarello?
What’s up with the blue on the tailgate – was it replaced due to being rusty…is this more buyers remorese ? He said the floors are rusty – being from up there how is the frame – too bad there aren’t any pictures…..waited for one of these all my life – the holy grail !
I was 10 years old when my father bought his 1st new car. It was a 1957 Chevy Nomad, this color scheme. This same year, we build our 1st 16ft lap streak runabout and bought a 50hp Mercury Outboard. Great Boat, Great Nomad, Long Island Sound off of Byram CT. Great Memories, Great Childhood. When I turned 16, got my license and the Nomad was my car all through High School until I went into the Air Force. Sure still miss my ’57 Nomad.
Looks like the tailgate was replaced no doubt because of rust and just might need it again, Beautiful colors and original enough for a respectable restoration. $16,200 as of this writing. I hope that it gets restored and not just re-stored again.
Nomad’s, best looking wagons of all time! Especially, the 1956.
Did anyone ever call these Sport Wagons?
I’ve never heard that applied to Nomads before.
great write up but I keep seeing things like in this write up 85,000 miles we all know that in the 50 s and 60s the milage went to 99,999 than back to 0 and started over not like today’s cars it could have 285,000 for all we know
It doesn’t really matter at this point as everything needs restored. 88 or 288 it’s not like you are keeping anything.