For years, there was a dilapidated repair shop out by my uncle’s place in Western Massachusetts. Whenever I’d visit, we’d try to take a pass by and gawk at a rusty Nomad that seemingly never moved. The car is gone now, but I still wonder what happened to it and if it was saved. Similarly, this 1957 Chevrolet Nomad has been in hiding for 30 years but has fared better than the Western Mass. car, thanks to being stored indoors. Find this project-grade Nomad here on eBay with a $13,400 Buy-It-Now.
I don’t know if this happens to anyone else, but whenever I spot a Nomad from this angle, I’m just in awe of how wicked it looks. A wagon body with those crazy fins and wraparound glass? Why don’t we build cars like this anymore? The Nomad is sorely in need of some period correct wheels but otherwise, I wouldn’t change a thing aside from fixing the rust. Despite how it looks here, the seller claims the tailgate is in very good shape.
The interior clearly needs some work, as the seats have been replaced with a pair that look like they belong in an 80s Chrysler product. The backseat may be the original assembly. The seller notes that the Nomad has good, solid floors, and body mounts. Rust is noted as being limited to surface spots mostly, though there are some areas with “little holes” noted. More photos of the interior would be helpful to ascertain the condition of details like the carpet and dash.
Under the hood is a 283 V8, but the seller doesn’t offer any more details on maintenance history or running condition. The Nomad does come with a clean title, so it has that going for it. While Nomads can command a high price tag, the seller may have it priced fairly depending on where the reserve is at. Bidding is currently over $7K, which so far isn’t enough to clear the reserve price. What would you pay for it?
Wow this thing just jumped out at me for some reason? Looked like things around the house in the 60’s n 70’s.
Somebody hit “Buy it Now”!
Cool find but a little late to the party. Auction ended yesterday :/
Apparently its already gone. It was the first under priced barn find I’ve seen in some time.
Ended: Jul 28, 2018 , 4:52PM
Winning bid:US $10,800.00
[ 29 bids ]
Correct, looks like the reserve was 10k. Wise seller, recognizes the market ain’t what it used to be…………….dreamers take note.
Uncle Bob. The trouble is it was most likely bought by a dreamer who is now going to try and flip it for double the price.
“Try” is a good word Ken. I’ve been watching a dealer for about 9 months try and cut a fat hog on a ’32 five window coupe. He bought it from a buddy at the right market price of around 35k. He started trying to get 45k for it. He’s now down to 39k and last I knew was still hearing crickets. The real marketplace can be a hard teacher.
I know. Buy it, do a complete pricey restoration on it, then drop a big steel I-beam on it like they did in on Home Improvement. I practically wept when I saw that episode.
It was not a real car.
A complete restore would have to include new rear quarters as these have been cut out apparently to fit larger wheels and tires.
I hate the way these look with cur quarters.
I thought so at first i thought it was the angle of the photo but they are bigger but the same shape as the stock opening, with the right wheels and tires it might not look bad
This is the best wagon ever designed! I had a white over yellow one. Bought for $650 in 1966, sold in 1967 for $750. Thought I made out like a bandit. It even had factory air!
I got out of the army in May, 1967, married a girl from Tacoma, Washington, her mother lived on S. 45th st. Across the street three young men lived who were tri five lovers. Those guys owned several nomads and other Chevy’s of the vintage mentioned above. They built a huge garage next to the house to work on their cars. I don’t know what the rest of the story is, but I know they would love this Nomad and they would make it a thing of beauty.
Tri five nomads are such a thing of beauty. Sounds like a good deal to me. Sexy no matter what angle you look at. Knew a guy who had a beautiful 57 nomad–heady stuff for this 14 year old. 327 fuelie heads. Got drunk one night and ripped the roof off it, He was too drunk to get hurt…sigh
Good luck to the new owner.
$5000.00 is more like it. But then do the monster restoration and drive with pride.
Something else, Jeff. The reason that cars today have no design sense is that the folks who design cars now have some perverted perspective on what industrial design is about; they have no sense of history nor consequence of their actions; really the current design is for the illiterate techno infants who are the customers, seduced by computers, who want computers on wheels.
The wagon on Home Improvement was a two door Handyman wagon with Nomad trim on it. It was a real wagon, but not a Nomad. I’m sure it was a basket case, but still sad to see. This Nomad has had the quarters cut and those wheel openings aren’t even close to the stock shape.
I have a basket case ‘57 Nomad awaiting it’s turn at being fixed up in my garage right now. It was originally Colonial Cream and India Ivory, 283 with 3 the tree. It will not have any of those things when finished.