“Mechanic’s Special”: 1955 Chevrolet 210
While the 1955-57 Chevy Bel Air Nomad wagon would become iconic due to its styling, it was not the only 2-door wagon built by Chevrolet. Without the sports roof styling, the Handyman in 150 and 210 trim was also available and sold in larger numbers. This 1955 edition has been sitting for 10 years and will need a lot of work. It looks nothing like it did when new as the colors were different and there was no sunroof. Located in a yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Bow-Tie “mechanic’s special” (as the seller calls it) is available here on eBay where the no reserve auction stands at $5,700.
Wagons with two passenger doors were popular in the 1950s and 1960s. They would serve as the basis for launching the so-called “gentlemen’s pickups” the Ford Ranchero (1957) and Chevy El Camino (1959). The “Handyman” term was applied to the Chevrolet 150 and 210 trim levels in the mid-1950s. The former tended to be work wagons, while the latter was family-oriented when four doors weren’t required. In 1955, Chevy built 18,496 of the 150s, while 29,419 210s saw the light of day, like the seller’s wagon.
The cowl tag for this Handyman says it was painted two-tone Sea Mist Green/ Neptune Green. But back in the day, someone thought that glow-in-the-dark orange would look better. We don’t get the impression that it was a quality paint job, and it hasn’t held up all that well considering we’re told the Chevy was in storage for a decade. But everyone knows that orange is a faster color than green, so being speedy must have been the plan.
A sunroof was added, and it may have leaked since the headliner is falling apart. And there could be some mildew in the wagon for sitting for years. The seller doesn’t discuss the drivetrain except to say it was running at the start. We don’t know what V8 is under the hood now, but it’s probably not the 265 cubic-inch small block that was available in 1955. And do we see an alternator instead of a generator? Since this has a floor-shifted manual transmission, is it a three or four-speed? This is a project that I would want an inspection of before pulling the trigger.
Comments
Same as the green one I owned 80/90s, everywhere I went heard “Cool Nomad” I finally gave up explaining and said thanks.
Milner yellow! Looks like it may have gone swimming. Looker over good, Looks solid and complete of the glass trim etc, could be a sweet project. Jr stocker tribute?? Good luck and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC
Looks Like School Bus Yellow.
A Sun Roof? Who’s brilliant idea was that? The same idiot said ,”What can we do to really screw this car up.”
The “installation” of the sunroof cut the car’s value in half…gouache!
Bought one in1964 from a fellow serviceman. It was a 265 CI, 3 speed column-shift. The body appeared to have multiple layers of paint with splotches of Bondo at strategic places. It ran great for a $100 auto, at least for a year. Sold it in 1966 for $50.
It has HO or HD as a suffix on the engine pas and double hump heads . Could be 194 or 202 ,at least small chambers . My friend had an identical one , color and all , even wheels . He sold or traded it a long time ago . He ended with a 37 terraplane with a DZ 302 that I eventually got . It could of been his . If so 4 spdeed and a decent cammed 327 . That was from down here in s Florida.
I actually did laugh out loud when I read sunroof. I’m betting that whoever did that thought it was the coolest thing. .
I like these 2 door wagons. I came close to buying a ’57 Ford 2 door wagon. I think it was called a ranch wagon? It had every delete you can think of, radio delete, heater delete. Must’ve been a southwest car. There was no rust either.
My first car was a 55 BelAir 2 door sedan in that green over green combo, that I bought in 1967 from a couple that worked with my folks for $50. The dash has been cut up to instal gauges, and from the speedo bezel, looks like this was an auto at one point. IMHO, they have screwed this car up in every way they could, especially with that steering wheel! Sad.
No biggie to undo 1970’s custom mods, not to bad, picture wise, somebody else thought so. Gone for $10 K.
The sunroof looks like a power unit, if so a seal replacement and motor may get it back in operation. It is not as noticable as a manual one. Ended at 10.5k, I think the buyer did ok.