Off the Ground: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
The 1955 to 1957 Chevrolets are referred to today as the “Tri-Fives” and they brought tremendous sales success to the GM division. But out of more than 4.5 million 150s, 210s, and Bel Airs assembled, a scant 22,000 Nomads were produced. It was the new Sport Wagon based on a 1954 Corvette concept car. With its own sheet metal from the windshield back, the wagons were stunning, yet so few of them were sold. Today, they may be the most sort-after Chevies of the era.
Just 6,100 Bel Air Nomads were built in 1957, making them the rarest of the three-year run. Though the Sport Wagon disappeared in 1958, Chevy would use the Nomad name several times on “conventional” 4-door wagons. This dusty ’57 Nomad has been in storage for the past 15 to 20 years, perhaps in the climate-controlled garage that’s represented in the photos. It’s largely complete and likely 100% original with just 47,000 miles showing on the odometer.
All Nomads had a V8 engine and in 1957 you got to choose between a 265 or 283 cubic inch powerplant. We don’t know which is in the car and we assume it’s paired with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic. While the seller assumes these items are numbers-matching, there is no proof. If you stick with this engine, you’ll have to source new parts like an intake manifold and carburetor.
The body seems to be in fair shape, though we’re unsure of the passenger side front fender and the floorboards may be sketchy when it comes to rust. While the driver’s side door opens and closes just fine, the same can’t be said of the one on the other side. The interior will also require a complete makeover. While the car is in Punta Gorda, Florida, the title is from New Hampshire, but it’s clean. If you’ve been looking for a Nomad to restore, could this be the one? The current bid here on eBay is $7999.
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Comments
More interested in that Nova under it.
I did not know that the 55-57 Chevy’s were called tri 5s. Thank you barn finds for educating all of us on that.
Where have you been??
Wow ,nice to see you crawled out from under that rock …
There is no doubt the winning bid to buy this Nomad will be more than it is now!
From the looks it was in WET storage for 40 some yrs. You can see from the limited pics that were provided, IT’S rusted from interior to exterior, all of course repairable $$$$. On top of that this is a bare bones car. NO PS,PB,PW,A/C P/SEAT.I had a 57 Nomad years back with all the amenities listed, looking for a project but not this one.
You will need a rabi to pray over this one. An do an exorcism on the rats an ground squirrils..
Lots of rust on this coastal car….
Needs floors, rockers, lower quarters and body mounts. A welders dream, if can do it yourself. Also needs at least one rear bumper end piece and the front turn signal bar. Nothing $30-$50 k to restore.
You will need a rabi to pray over this one. An do an exorcism on the rats an ground squirrils..
Info in the write up is wrong. You could get a straight 6 in a Nomad. They did not automatically come with a V8. And the early run for ‘57 had the 265. The 283 came along later. You couldn’t choose between the two.
The 265 was only available in 57 with a three on the tree. So this would be a 283