Ah, decisions, decisions. The person who buys this 1958 Chevrolet Nomad will face some with this classic. Its overall condition would seem to be good enough for them to retain it as an original survivor. However, there’s no doubt that a light cosmetic restoration would transform this already eye-catching classic into one that genuinely turns heads. That’s a tough call to make, and it makes me glad that the decision won’t be mine. If you feel that you have the right answer, you will find the Nomad located in Mahopac, New York, and listed for sale here on eBay. Solid bidding has pushed the price to $7,100, although this figure remains short of the reserve. I once again need to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this classic wagon for us.

Before we delve too deeply into this Nomad, there is one thing to note. Some of you will have noticed that the wagon wears its original wheels and hubcaps in some shots and a set of Rally wheels in others. The second was purely for photographic purposes, and the car will roll to its new owner on the factory wheels and hubcaps. The owner believes that the Tropic Turquoise paint that the vehicle wears is original, but I’m unconvinced. I can spot a few spots on the car that reveal a lighter shade that I believe is Glen Green. I’m willing to be corrected if I’m wrong, but I suspect that a previous owner may have treated the Nomad to a color change at some point. Looking beyond that question, the wagon presents pretty well as a survivor. There are no flaws or problems that would demand immediate attention, and the paint holds a respectable shine. The panels look straight, but the big news is the vehicle’s lack of rust. The owner admits that the underside has some surface corrosion, but it appears that the dreaded tin worm hasn’t sunk its teeth into the wonderful Chevy steel. However, if I were to buy this wagon, I’d address the corrosion ASAP. There’s no point tempting fate, is there? The lack of rust may have something to do with this Nomad’s history. It seems that it only recently found its way to its current location. It has spent most of the past sixty-three years in sunny California, which is a wonderful climate for preserving classic steel. Beyond that, the exterior trim looks like it would present well if the buyer took to it with some polish, and I can’t spot any significant issues with the glass.

Setting this Chevy apart is what we find nestling contentedly under the hood. The original owner ordered the Nomad with the mighty 348ci V8 that pumped out 250hp. That person also chose to equip the wagon with a two-speed Powerglide transmission and power steering. I admit that the Powerglide is likely to sap a bit of this classic’s performance potential, but it should still be capable of covering the ¼ mile in 17.9 seconds. As a point of comparison, the same wagon equipped with a three-speed manual would cover the distance in 17.1 seconds. The owner believes that the wagon is numbers-matching, and he doubts that this V8 has ever been out of the engine bay. The odometer currently shows 40,000 miles, but it isn’t clear whether this reading is genuine. We’re told that the 348 runs very well, although there is a small exhaust leak for the buyer to tackle. Otherwise, it seems that the open road might be beckoning this Nomad and its new owner.

The interior shots are lacking, but they paint a generally positive picture. This Nomad will need a new carpet set, door trims, armrests, and some trim items in the cargo area. None of those pieces are likely to break the bank, and all are readily available. The seats are a different matter because they look pretty good. There are no rips or tears, and no significant wear. The headliner and dash are in a similar state. The bright trim pieces appear faultless, and the only other flaw of note is some wear on the wheel. This need not be a drama because there are some excellent specialized paints available that would return the wheel to a factory-fresh state for a fraction of the cost of a replacement. For purists, I’ve saved the best until last. It appears that the interior is unmolested. The original AM radio and clock are intact, and there’s no evidence of an aftermarket stereo or gauges.

This 1958 Nomad wagon is an interesting car. If you wander out into today’s market, you will find no shortage of Tri-Five Nomads. However, ’58 models are in the minority. This is especially true of V8 examples, and if you start to examine production figures, the reason becomes glaringly apparent. Chevrolet sold a total of 187,063 Nomads in that model year. However, a mere 16,590 featured a V8 under the hood. I haven’t been able to obtain figures that break down the percentages across each motor, but that still makes a 348-equipped Nomad a rare beast. How many survive today is unknown, but this one looks promising. Fully restored, its value should nudge towards $50,000. Would you follow that path searching for the big bucks, or would you be happy to retain it as an original survivor? That’s a tough call to make.