Buried for Decades: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
The Chevy Nomad was a “sport wagon” that was built between 1955 and 1957 (though the name would be used later on “regular” wagons after that). Production numbers were small at less than 23,000 copies out of nearly five million automobiles built by Chevrolet in the “Tri-Five” years. The seller’s 1956 example has been in the same family for 48 years but in different storage locations. It’s a major project that may be complete, though in parts and pieces. The seller hopes that a Nomad enthusiast will become its next owner. Thanks to T.J. for this long-forgotten tip!
Inspiration for the Nomad came from a 1954 Corvette concept car with a similar body layout. The production Nomad was part of the Bel Air series and shared no sheet metal with other 2-door Chevy wagons from the windshield back. Pontiac got in on the act with the Star Chief Safari which saw even less demand than the Nomad. The concept of the sport wagon was retired with the redesign of 1958.
All Nomads came with a V8 engine and for 1956 that would have displaced 265 cubic inches (the 283 would be added to the fold in 1957). The original engine and transmission out of this Nomad are long gone, but the seller says extras are buried in the garage and get to go with the sale. The family acquired this wagon as recently as 1976 and has moved it around from one garage to another over the past 40 years. It ended up being the seller’s father’s pet project that he never got around to doing much with. One of the photos may be of this Nomad back in the day when its blue and white paint looked good. Today, old grey primer has replaced that finish.
The seller received this Chevy as part of an inheritance. The garage where it resides is being sold, too, so the car has to go, and the seller has no time to put toward doing a full-blown restoration. There are a lot of parts included, many of which were removed from the wagon long ago. Located near Seattle Washington, this rare machine is available here on craigslist for $15,000, but without a title. It sounds as though the seller is open to “talking turkey”.
Comments
No matter how it looks buried in the garage, if you are in the market for a 56 Nomad and you live in the area, make time to take a look at it in person. It may not pan out, but sometimes cars like this one turn out to be a lot better than the pictures indicate. One things for sure, you’ve got to show up to participate, sitting on a couch at home won’t get it done. There is a reason many sellers have had multiple cars featured on this site, while at the same time there are a lot of people on this site complaining they can’t find a decent car at a reasonable price.
As for the missing title, in some states it’s a bigger deal than others, just make sure you do your own research. Then make payment contingent on getting a title in your name.
Steve R
You make very valid points. I do beg to differ on one point: no title on a car like this is a red flag for me. On a parts car or lower value car it would still be a pink flag, but it makes me wonder why the seller didn’t clear up the title issue before listing the car for sale.
I don’t understand the disparity between US states in regards to the title issue. In Connecticut no title is required or even wanted to register a car older than 20 years, you just need a bill of sale. So if I got this car, running/driving and registered in CT, how is it a problem for a person from one of these title-strict states to buy it and register it in his state?
It might not be a problem where you live, but I live in California and their DMV can be a bureaucratic nightmare especially when you factor in smog certificates, penalties for late registration, bridge tolls, express lane, parking and red light violations (via cameras), all of which follow the vehicles license plate and must be current and can be a big problem if sellers aren’t the registered owner. Then you get to cars which have salvage titles, we’re stolen, had a frame swapped which is what the CHP looks at when registering a car coming into the state or is out of the system. Lots of things costly things can go wrong very quickly.
Steve R
Dave, Every state has their bureaucrats weighing in on proper procedure for granting a motor vehicle title. No way would the respective DMV’s give up their control for a uniform US code. That makes too much sense.
Add to that, Steve R that if it’s below 7,500 miles on the odo CA DMV won’t register it without 1st paying tax on it as a new vehicle. 6 yrs ago I tried to sell a 17 yr old bike with 1256 miles on the odo that I’d bought at an estate auction to a guy in Placerville that really wanted it but the tax would’ve been as much as the price of the bike!!!
Yeah, no title can be a showstopper there..
Steve, you’re a pessimist. Probably by dint of previous experience with your local DMV. This is now a 68 year old vehicle.If a person is young and ambitious enough to make this a driver, I cannot imagine it being a longer process than a home restoration. Your advice is welcome for the wet behind the ears, but anyone with a hankering for this wonderful model – a two door shooting brake – should not find this a hill too far for a determined climber. Having owned one at 17, I didn’t appreciate how rare the experience turned out to be or that a clean one would be worth a year of good wages. We’re I born in even the 1970’s, I would leave for Seattle this morning.
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Author’s statement that “All Nomads came with a V8 engine” is not correct. The Nomad was available in 55, 6 and 57 with the standard 6-cylinder.
I knew when I saw the price it would sell FAST….
Did the present owner get a title when he purchased the car? if not, then it is almost impossible to register this vehicle in Arizona. If he did, he should request a lost title replacement!!!
Stop with all the registering Drama … if a car has not been registered for the last twenty years and is not in the system any DMV will register the vehicle with very minimal hassles. They would rather have someone paying on a vehicle and back in the system than not , it’s a fact. I live in California LA and I collect and restore old cars and have never had a problem. I even ordered a vin# plate from a website and the car passed all inspections with no problems…
I hate myself for selling my ‘57 white over yellow Nomad for $750! It even had Harrison factory air. Although, I think the ‘56’s were the best looking.
Well if it’s in Washington and was last registered in Washington you can get a title printed the same day at most license offices, they might have to rebuild the title as they call it depending on how long it’s been off the road.
I had to title two old cars in California five years ago. Just had to run the VIN’s to prove they weren’t stolen and a VIN verification by the DMV and bada bing, had the titles in two weeks. Even in California, no title, no problem, unless its stolen.