Called a “mild custom” by its creator, this 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle in Minden, Nebraska left the factory (as all Chevy wagons did that year) with four doors, but now it has two! Other custom modifications include skirted rear wheel openings, Caprice-inspired hidden headlights, and a custom console between the bucket seats. A modern GM LS V8 and four-speed automatic transmission should balance satisfying performance with economy. After enjoying it for 1400 miles, the owner offers it here on Craigslist for $32,500, Thanks to reader Pat L. for spotting this curious golden classic.
Longer doors from a two-door sedan (wisely) provide access to the rear seats in much the same way as any two-door of this era. Chevy produced two-door wagons, including the famous Nomad, and even built a two-door Chevelle wagon in 1964 and ’65, both splitting the rear side windows more-or-less equally into two panes. Our feature car retains its original large rear side windows. The grafted sedan doors called for a custom B pillar, leaving small windows at the rear seats. A $200,000 build would probably have a more elegant B and C pillar treatment, but it’s easy to see how this one came together using mostly factory parts.
The listing’s only interior photograph shows custom upholstery on the seats and door inserts and an unfinished center console with at least one 21st-century cup holder. Dakota Digital gauges (not shown) provide engine telemetry.
Rear styling on the ’68 Chevelle wagon makes an excellent starting point for the custom design. Unlike modern V8 SUVs starting around $49,000, this one offers literally one-of-a-kind styling. Being 1000 lb lighter than today’s Chevrolet Tahoe, this updated ’68 should deliver better fuel economy! Fast forward 20 years and this custom creation could still be driving around after most modern SUVs have lost every cent of value and been hauled off to the junk yard when some 21st-century part like a $1400 ABS controller failed. Would you have built anything differently on this custom two-door wagon?
Interesting build. I like the concept, but I would have skipped the custom grille and fender skirts, painted it a more lively color, and trimmed it out as an SS. The doors are from an El Camino. Two-door sedan doors would have a different window shape that would be even more awkward grafted on to a wagon.
On second thought, I think 2-door sedan doors might have been the better aesthetic choice, provided they fit.
Awkward…
Custom. Code word for nobody but the current owner thinks it looks good. Hacked-up is a better adjective 99% of the time.
Our “Code Word” for such a job is “Kustom with a K”…
“Hey….hold my beer & watch what I do to this innocent Chevelle wagon!”
These make pretty cool looking drag cars. Sans the fender skirts!
“after most modern SUVs have lost every cent of value and been hauled off to the junk yard when some 21st-century part like a $1400 ABS controller failed.”
I heard that!
No. Mad.
Or just plain “Chevy No”.
That front is beyond horrible!!
Ok.. is it me or does everyone see the Bondo on the quarter panel? I understand the idea of a Nomad version but I don’t know it’s just looks kind of awkward like everybody else said in the comments. I would ditch the hideaways lights and put in a SS grill and a regular setup. Maybe polish it out more and some of the Waves may disappear …at least you have a good engine trans combo. Good luck to the seller I hope he gets what he wants for. 🐻🇺🇸
Awesome, I think an Elcamino with a wagon roof added on may have been a better approach.
This would be a good family car parked next to a 76 2dr extended front end Seville.
How to destroy a nice station wagon in 5 easy steps.
Whoever did the front end “treatment” should never be allowed to pick up a grinder or torch ever again. Interesting that there’s no pics of passenger side. IMHO, only redeeming thing here are the chrome steelies
One of my dream cars, but ruined by the seller beyond repair, at least in my opinion.
Hideous car at at a ridiculous price, that’s a hard no! Not to mention the rattle can paint and bondo that needs smoothing. GLWTS!
There’s NO windshield or wipers!
Uglier than a mud fence
Okay, I get the idea behind it but there’s something about the area between the a pillar and where the back door would have ended that really needs a rethink. Seller states it was rust free before he started; the amount of Bondo I see has me questioning that statement. Block sanders are cheap…
I’m not someone who typically attacks a “less than pretty” custom. But in this case, I think the effort was impressive, but the results simply didn’t work out. This is a great example why the top customizers start with a good artistic rendering of what it will look like when finished. I would hope that if the customizer had been able to see what the finished window treatments would look like, he would have made some design changes.
Might help that I’m not a Chevy guy. But I like it. Loose the skirts , keep the grille and loose the head light covers. Otherwise I even like the color. But I’m weird
More likely inspired by the Wagon Queen Family Truckster. Hopefully he’s not going to attack the 1958 Edsel in the background next.
Rick Daddyyo, we had a extremely accurate recreation of the family trickster in our town about 25 years ago, right down to the luggage, never heard where it went. This car is a case of “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should” What a waste of a nice wagon. I’d lengthen the doors, cut out the window posts and make it a sedan delivery. It would have to look better than this abortion .
Looks like a model I might have made back in the 60’s out of spare parts from my private Revell’s wrecking yard. When finished, I’d have stuffed 4th of July worms inside it and crashed a burning German bomber into it in my sandbox.
O My !!!
Simply awful. I would not drive this even one mile unless I was paid an exorbitant amount of money to do so. If someone literally gave me this car and said it was free if I came and picked it up, I would decline. I am not kidding, not even a little.
Hey Guys, this one certainly could have been done much better than this. We are in the process of converting my 1970 Nomad 4 door wagon into a 2 door hardtop wagon with 1969 Chevelle 2 door hardtop doors and it looks like it came from the factory as a 2 door Nomad wagon. This owner must not have spent the time that my buddy and I did studying what would fit and what doors would have the proper look after the rear doors were removed. I will send photos soon of mine and I think that your responses will be completely the opposite of these (fitting) comments about this ’68 model. The Chevelle Nomad was produced in a 4 door version from 1964 thru 1972, and my ’70 is an original Nomad. Ironically, it is the same gold as this ’68, but when finished will be Cortez Silver/Clearcoat. 550 horse,dual quad throttle body, port fuel injected LS3, Tremec 6 speed Magnum Trans. w/dbl. O.D., Moser Musclepak 3.73:1 12 Bolt Posi, Full DSE Level III adjustable Coil-Over suspension, 4-wheel Wilwood Discs, Vintage Air, Med. Dark Red Leather interior, power windows, etc., etc. – I will post photos soon for your opinions as to the balance of the custom doors installation, etc. Rear wheelwells are radiused to approximate a match to the fronts. 18″x10″ fronts, 18″x12″ rears Forgelines w/285/40 ZR18 front and 335/35 ZR18 rear blackwall Michelin Pilot Sports; And, much more, because I’m single and I don’t have to ask anyone how to spend my money. LOL. Looking forward to posting photos soon and to get your valued opinions. Thanks, GAR