Floors Have a Couple of Holes: 1957 Chevrolet Nomad

As someone who lives under the illusion that they are a good writer, I have to admit that one of the hardest things to craft using the written word is subtle humor.  It takes a lot of skill to line up words in a fashion that leads a reader to a hilarious conclusion that is not obvious without thought.  The seller of this 1957 Chevrolet Nomad in Bel Air trim is either a master wordsmith or one of the biggest deceptive advertisers since Joe Isuzu.  In the ad, we are told that the floors have a couple of holes.  While factually correct in the most extreme sense, the pictures below tell the story far better than the most eloquent of writers.  They also show what is one of the most distinctively beautiful and iconic cars in American history in an advanced form of corrosion-related distress.  Is it still possible to return this Nomad to its former glory?

In 1955, Chevrolet came out with both a new car and a new engine.  Little did the company know that the car would achieve cult status among car lovers and that the small block V-8 that debuted in 1955 would still be in production decades later, albeit with the benefits of continuous evolution.  There would be a complete facelift in 1956, and yet another one in 1957.  Despite using the same frame and body structure for each year, these revisions resulted in three model years that look decidedly different.  Chevrolet also offered a plethora of different body styles and trim levels.

One of those body styles was a trim wagon with two doors called a Nomad.  Most station wagons have four doors and a tailgate.  They are not the first thing you think of when sportiness comes to mind.  Contrary to this long-held belief, the Nomad was seen as a sporty wagon.  Across the pond, it would have been referred to as a “shooting brake.”  Those distinctive body Nomad lines originated on a Corvette-based Motorama show car that debuted on September 22, 1954, at the Waldorf-Astoria.  When the design made it into production in 1955, it was not as a Corvette variant but adapted for use as a standard Chevrolet.  The Corvette’s chances of making it beyond 1955 were slim at that time, which may explain why we never saw the development of a Corvette-based wagon (Imagine the possibilities over the years…).

Despite its exceptionally good looks, the Nomad never set the sales charts on fire.  A scant 8,530 were produced in 1955.  8,103 was the total production in 1956.  In 1957, the year that the Nomad you see here was built, that number had fallen to 6,264.  The fact that Chevrolet produced somewhere around five million cars over those three years puts those low numbers into perspective.  As the popularity of 1955 through 1957 Chevrolets took on a life of its own with restorers and car buffs, a Nomad became quite a desirable collectible.

That rarity combined with good looks and the love of all things Tri-Five Chevy is one reason why the car you see is being offered at a $30,000 asking price despite its condition.  By the looks of the floors and door sills, there is a good chance that this car spent many a year bellyflopped in the mud.  Looking at each picture reveals that the rest of the car is quite original.  The seller tells us in the ad as much, adding that there are 71,000 miles on the odometer.  We are also told that the frame is good and that the body isn’t too bad.  Those declarations along with the statement that the floor has a couple of holes just reinforce our long-held advice that anyone purchasing a car such as this enlist the help of experts before handing over any green stuff.

Under the hood is the aforementioned small-block Chevrolet V-8.  The seller claims that this is a 283 cubic-inch engine backed up with an automatic.  One very interesting under-hood option is a power brake assembly on the firewall.  Some estimate as few as 1% of these Chevys came so equipped.  Another interesting part is sitting behind the generator and may be the reservoir for a power steering pump.  If any of our readers can shed some light on what we are seeing here, please help us by giving us a description in the comments.

In all, this is a fascinating car that makes anyone who loves cars weep at how shabbily it has been treated.  Tri-Five Chevy prices have been on the wane for some time now.  Still, I hope that there is someone out there who always wanted a Nomad out there to strike a deal on this black stunner.  The lines of a Nomad alone are reason enough for this car to demand a hefty premium over its stablemates.  Even if the ad provides a bit of subtle humor, intentional or unintentional.

If you are looking for an involved project with the possible payoff of having one of the most iconic American cars ever made in your garage, then this 1957 Chevrolet Nomad for sale on Craigslist in Oakdale, Connecticut may be the car for you.  This rusty but restorable Nomad can be yours if you pony up the asking price of $30,000.  Thanks go to T.J. for this interesting find!