Bits and Pieces: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
Chevrolet and Pontiac rolled out their versions of a new “Sport Wagon” in 1955. In the Chevy camp, it was called the Nomad, while at Pontiac it was the Safari. They shared the basic body shell, but the front and rear ends were pure Chevy or Pontiac. Though the seller indicates that most of this ’55 Nomad is there to restore (besides an engine and transmission), it’s hard to tell from the photos. What’s here may be a roller left outside in the elements with its front sheet metal removed. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this significant project is available here on eBay where the current bid is $5,200.
Neither the Nomad nor Safari took off with the public. The Chevy sold just 23,000 copies while the Pontiac barely mustered 9,000. Perhaps it was too fancy (the Nomad had Bel Air trim) and the lack of four doors may have kept families away. Today, the Nomad is usually the most sought-after of the “Tri-Five” Chevies built from 1955 to 1957. Given the lack of sales, Chevrolet discontinued the Nomad with the 1958 redesign although the name would be used later on more traditional wagons.
The VIN provided by the seller confirms that this wagon was a Nomad with a V8, which would be the 265 cubic inch engine introduced in 1955 (Chevy’s first since 1918). The motor and transmission did a disappearing act some time ago and we assume the rest of the wagon has been stationary where it sits for quite some time. We can’t make out what paint color may have originated with this vehicle, but it likely would have matched or contrasted with the green and white seats the seller says are present.
New parts include the grille and re-chromed bumpers. Part of the frame is bent but the seller says the car will come with the necessary pieces to fix that problem. One oddity is that the rear quarter panels have been modified to wear taillights from a 1963 Chrysler Windsor (why?), but another rear section with the correct lights is in there somewhere. The car is for sale due to the seller’s health issues, so are you up for reviving this once-noble wagon?
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Comments
Health issues? His wife is sick of looking at in the back yard!
What has been done to this car is criminal
Looks like an old custom – remember – it was just an old car in 1964….
50 years ago, I would’ve thought this was the coolest car ever, today, I see what amounts to a waste of time, money & effort, not to mention the destruction of another classic!
If the eyebrows are nice, they are worth the asking price. If it can be bought near the price it is at now, it would be perfect for a serious “Resto Mod”. It has all the pieces you need and not the ones you would change. Though it would still be ka -ching ,ka !
Looks like this served as the anchor to the Titanic at one time.
Original color on the firewall is clearly Coral (pink). The seats being recovered in green and white probably mean nothing other than the owner was planning to paint the car green (or yellow, the other color often paired with green guts in 55).
This looks like it had been used as an anchor on the Titanic.
That was “once” a very nice car! Now, meh.
OUCH! This thing is up to $5200. Bent frame, missing front clip, “customized rear (probably circa about 1972, I busted up laughing when I saw that). What’s not to “love”? Maybe the economy isn’t that bad after all.