More often than not, the person who rescues a classic car from storage will clean the car meticulously before returning it to active duty. The owner of this 1955 Chevrolet Nomad has done things a little bit differently. The car gets used on a regular basis, but he has never washed off the years of accumulated dust from where the Nomad was in storage. He has chosen to retain the “as found'” look and only ever drives the car in fine weather in order to ensure that it stays that way. If you would love to own this slightly quirky barn find, then it is located in South Woodstock, Connecticut, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the Nomad opened at a mere $1.00, but it has now rocketed to $39,000. At that price the reserve has been met, so someone is about to face the decision as to whether they will break out the bucket and sponge for this cool classic.
The Nomad apparently spent an extended period of time in dry storage, but this doesn’t look like it has done it any real harm. While all of the steel in the wagon is said to be original, the same can’t be said for the paint. The combination of Seamist Green and Neptune Green is how the car rolled off the production line, but it was the subject of a repaint in lacquer many years ago. The owner feels that this could date back as far as the late 1960s or early 1970s. The panels look to be very straight, but with the layer of dust, it is a bit hard to tell whether the paint will hold a good shine if the Nomad is washed. The seller also refers to the Nomad as being “99.9% rust & rot free,” but doesn’t indicate where there might be rust. I don’t see any visible in the panels, so perhaps there is some corrosion or minor rust under the vehicle. I tend to agree with the owner’s assessment that the exterior trim and chrome would respond well to polish, and while there is a crack in the rear sliding window on the passenger side, the rest of the glass is in good condition.
It is worth noting that the Nomad isn’t a numbers-matching car, but the upgrades that it has received in the past should help it to perform quite well. It isn’t clear what engine originally called the engine bay home, but what is there now is a 283ci V8. Similarly, the original transmission is a distant memory, and a 4-speed manual transmission has been fitted in its place. I would class the presentation of the engine bay as being reasonable, but I can spot some surface corrosion around the battery tray. This doesn’t look severe, and maybe this represents the 0.01% rust that the owner was referring to. As I stated earlier, the Nomad has been returned to a roadworthy state, and it is driven regularly in fine weather. How does it run and drive? According to the owner, it accomplishes both of these tasks “excellent.”
The interior of the Nomad presents extremely well and needs very little. There are no signs of any rips or tears in the upholstery, while the carpet and headliner appear to be in exceptional condition. The knock-out section is the rear cargo area, which is very impressive. This is the most damage-prone area of any wagon, so for it to have survived looking so good would tend to indicate that this is a vehicle that hasn’t been abused. The dash looks to be in good condition, and the original radio is still present. About the only thing that I would be inclined to change would be the collar on the steering column. The one that is there now still has the mounts for the original shifter. Changing this isn’t a big job, and smooth collars are available for around $45 each. It is a nice touch that would just finish the conversion to a more professional standard.
This 1955 Nomad is a great old classic, and the photos below would seem to reinforce this. The biggest question that the next owner is going to face is whether or not to wash the years of accumulated dust off. What would you do?
A beautifully maintained car, but if it’s not original, why the affinity for dust? Some people have really strange quirks…
Wow. very nice. Not a fan of the color combo or the colors period, but that is just me. Right colors for the ERA I guess.. Looks nice enough to detail and not repaint. It won’t be perfect so you don’t have to be afraid to drive it.
Rare to find on in this “in-between” condition. Usually either restored or a total disaster IF you can find one.
I wonder what’s up with the wheels?
They would definitely have to go. Put hub caps on it The rest I like–add gas and take care of it and drive it
The hubcaps on the right look original. Those goofy ones on the left must go.
The seller understands that those most likely to bid… will be them of an age where fading short-term memory is prevalent .
Magnificent color combo. Replace the PowerGlide or 3-speed, getta setta dog-dishes on there pronto, and for Heaven’s sake, locate and secure a proper oil-bath air cleaner. Every time someone replaces a factory air cleaner with a jerky, rinky-dink AutoZone unit, God kills a puppy.
The ONLY time the big air breather is good for is at car shows ONLY. If a engine fire breaks out. You cannot get to the fire. The little air breather you can. I know the hard way. I have scared hands to prove it.Almost cost me my life
Says in the text its a 4 speed. Nice combo for the drive train, this is a beauty but would need to be looked over carefully, and I’m with you guys, the owner isn’t doing himself any favors by NOT WASHING IT. 39 large, should be perfect, that being said, put some good rubber and dog dishes on and cruise! Good luck to the new owner, guess these have really taken off, or BJ syndrome?
Cheers
GPC
He has it on classic cars for 46.5k And 24 other vehicles.
Mileage on classic cars says 48k yet on ebay says 10k
Cargo area totally wrong. Too many chrome dividers and wrong material. Wrong wheels, wrong paint , wrong engine and trans, etc, etc. Could be a nice driver, but not near original. Priced about right if not rusty.
Cargo trim strips on floor came from 57 Pontiac Trans Continental
I parted out another 57 Safari Wagon at Mike Zarbolios’s salvage yard in Missoula Montana back in the early 80’s and the trans continental had same cargo area trim. These may have been available in other models but I had several 57 Ponchos one being a mint stock 35K mile car I bought off a farmer in Indianhead Sask.Canada and intended to install all this stuff in it but opted not to disturb originality – – –
These well preserved trif-ives are great. It is nice to see them coming out of their hiding places.
What is with the dust? Preserve the paint by washing it! If you want more dust, park it downwind of my ( or any ) field when I’m plowing. It will look just like this in about an hour. Want more, leave it overnight! Or just drive down my dirt driveway or any dirt road for a mile. Sheesh.
I have trouble keeping dust off, can’t imaging trying to keep it on. Dust is not “patina”
I woulda bought it but its dirty.
Nice car. I had a 2 door post in Neptune Green. That car created a life-long affection for green cars. :)
Love the color
Stock air cleaner only if it’s converted to hold a filter
7 chrome bows on the headliner is correct
Replace the sleeve on the column
2 correct hubcaps
Wash
Drive
7 chrome headliner bows is correct – – you’re “Correct”
great stuff
Love the color
Stock air cleaner only if it’s converted to hold a filter
7 chrome bows on the headliner is correct
Replace the shifter sleeve on the column
2 correct hubcaps
Wash
Drive
Same color combo as my first car…a 55 BelAir I paid $50 for in 1967. Had the car 3 weeks and ran into a 51 Chevy stopped dead in the road! It was a nice car!
Key word ‘was’.
Ordinarily I like factory colors on cars that are close to being somewhat stock. I think Neptune green is a perfect fit for 55 150 or even a 210 but it doesn’t do justice to this Nomad or a BelAir 2dr. Hardtop.
Why is Neptune green not right for a 55 Nomad? Too dark for the lines or you think green is for the lower model lines.
Just my opinion. Cannot recall all correct names of colors of GM but the turquoise/white, copper/cream and the popular reddish orange/ cream would jump out a little more but that’s why different color choices were offered because of various tastes. I did have a Neptune 55 150 Chevy!
As an investment, I suspect the ’55 – ’57 Nomad is the only Tri-Five Chevy that will eventually qualify as a “full classic”. Note that non-matching numbers does not keep a car out of that class, nor does “restoration” including paint. My biggest shock at a concours, by invitation only, was seeing a purple mid ’30’s Minerva, with purple plush interior (think mid-80’s Buick but much more so), both inside and outside far from original, that could barely move itself from the trailer to the field, sleeve value, LOTS of smoke, win Best of Show.
As with everything in modern America, standards for judging OEM cars have apparently fallen . Great that someone redid the car every wrong way but up as they wished. But, it’s so wrong that only in Bizarro Seinfeld world is it right. Oh well…… If this is what a Bizarro Tri 5 Nomad brings……Armageddon is upon us. Or there’s too much disposable income floating around!
The guy’s ether to lazy or to stupid to wash and wax it, put some kind of matching wheel covers on it (that means 4) and detail the engine bay if you want 40k. BTW that has to be the invitation only concours that’s held out in Barney’s field where they hand out the free moonshine right Charlie ? LOL ! Just kidd’n ya. Later………………………..JIMMY
Actually it was an attempt at a high class concours on the ritzy North Shore of Massachusetts, Ipswich, at the Hammond Castle (really a really big house) on the ocean, as a fund raiser for a local college. They had an anybody, any car, field, limited, I think to the first 200 applicants, and then a competition field, where they invited people, and toured the anybody field to make invitations for next year plus this year’ cars, less this year’s cars they thought ought to be eliminated due to lesser quality. It was a great show, some splendid cars and some so-so but a lot nicer on average than a Goodguys show (which I like, by the way).
And in ’56 at least, you could get enamel or lacquer in some of the colors. My father’s 210 had enamel turquoise and cream, the lacquer turquoise was deeper, and to my adolescent mind, better.
In around 1968 or thereabouts I had a ’55 Bel Air 2 dr. h.t. in the same color combination, it looked fine to me, I liked it. My car had every option except A.C. (I dunno if that was even available back then). It had a power pac 265, 3 speed with overdrive, tissue dispenser, radio w/rear seat speaker, clock, traffic light viewer, finger nail guards, gas tank opening guard, vent visors, tinted glass, got it real cheap cause the motor smoked like an old Detroit Diesel. The only bad spot on the body was the eyebrows, both front fenders. I sold it to an annoying friend before I could do anything to it. He immediately started to repair the eyebrows, he used screen and concrete, I laughed.
To think I sold my ‘57 Nomad for $ 750, in ‘67!
Totally Agree! What Classic Chevy owner wants to drive a DIRTY car? That dust is Not NOS!!! WASH the dang thing!!!!!
I bought my’56 B.A. 2 dr. hdtp in ’73 for $450 with No engine, Trans., or exhaust system & was 99% Rust Free & a VERY straight body! After I towed it home (1 mile) & showed it to my wife, she was ready to take me to the Funny Farm. & was dead serious! (Ouch!) I totally restored it, took it to Many Classic Chevy Conventions & received many awards for it. It has now been Down for 10 years (Front Clip off, Rebuilt engine on stand & junked the PG trans) Now I’m trying to get it back together (WITH wife’s encouragement) but need some help! Very few people here in N. Idaho know a Lot about ’56 Chevys!
Correction on previous comment……Name is Rich Thanks!
WHY was my previous comment Omitted?-
It would be fun to take the kids to the drive in!! Who cares if it’s original or not!! A small block with a four speed and no body work to bog the project down is the best of all!!