The original Nomad was a unique, 2-door sport wagon that Chevy built-in 1955-57 based on a 1954 Corvette show car. When the Chevrolets were redesigned for 1958, that concept was gone (due to low demand and high production costs) and the Nomad would become a 4-door wagon, but still in Bel Air trim. As the former workhorse for a Southern California glass company, this ’58 Nomad has loads of patina and a 348 cubic inch V8, which hasn’t run in years. Available here on eBay for the Buy It Now price of $12,350, the seller will also entertain offers on the Phoenix, Arizona-based wagon. Thanks for another great tip, Larry D.!
After a successful run of the “Tri-Five” Chevies (as they are known today), Chevrolet went in a different direction for 1958. Larger and heavier, the ’58s sported “curves where before there were lines.” That would be a single-year ploy as the ’59-60 models went back to tailfins which was the styling craze of the day. As part of the shift from the A-body to the B-body, Chevy made station wagons a separate model range that year. The top-line Nomad was perched above the Brookwood (Biscayne) and the Yeoman (Delray) in the line-up. Though it shared its body now with other wagon counterparts, the Nomad kept several Tri-Five features, including chrome tailgate trim, multi-tone exterior and interiors, and a forward-sloping C-pillar.
The ‘58 Nomad likely sold much better than its predecessors as it was more “conventional” in layout and purpose. But after 1957, Chevrolet didn’t provide a breakdown by individual model series, only body style. So, this 4-door wagon is one of 170,000 built in 1958. The seller has owned it for at least five years and says it’s a complete vehicle, though it hasn’t run in several years. We’re told it should crank up if “messed with” which is another way of saying the eight-cylinder engine isn’t stuck. It has an automatic transmission, likely the 2-speed Powerglide.
Loads of patina are present on the wagon, which is mostly white but faded and some dark blue is revealed, perhaps a two-tone applicable. Once employed by National Auto Glass in Fullerton, California, traces of those graphics are still present and it would be cool to keep them. However, the passenger side front fender is bright yellow, suggesting a fender-bender required a trip to the junkyard to source a replacement. The front bumper is also bent slightly in the same general area.
It looks as though most everything this Chevy was built with is still there (except the wheels), although duct tape is required to hold things like a rear taillight in place. Rust may be mostly of the surface variety, but we don’t get a glimpse of the chassis or under the hood and what little we see of the interior suggests at least a partial restoration is needed. While these later Nomads won’t command the intergalactic price tag that some of the 1955-57s do, Hagerty suggests a ’58 in top condition could be a $30,000 automobile.
Like somebody famous said “can’t hardly get these anymore”. Rare car in decent condition that deserves a restoration.
There was one like this (also a ’58) that the local
beer distributor used.It had “Rainier Beer” logos on it.
Tried to give you both a “thumbs up” agreement but I’ve been blocked for a week from doing so.
My HS friend was working at a local Atlantic Richfield in 1971 and bought this cars’ twin from a guy that’d busted flat at the local casino. Dave bought it for $300 (a princely sum to a high school kid) and we spent a few months stripping it down. Reupholstered in black vinyl (with a red dome light and mattress in the rear!) a professional painter friend of his dads let us use his place for a few nights and corrected the biggest flaws; it was black vinyl type spray over a Ford Electric Blue. The 348 was no power house especially with that Powerlessglide but we drove it that summer and he later traded for a sad purple ‘66 GTO 389 4 spd…good times.
I remember when “Loads of Patina” was a bad thing!
Now you don’t have to waste more than the car will ever be worth on paint, making it look worse in most cases. These days are better in my opinion.
I didn’t know they made a NOMAD 4 door. I’ve only seen the 2 doors. 1955, 56 and 57. A friend of mine bought a new 56 when i was in the service. Two toned blue. Beautiful wagon.
They made them on and off for decades. I had a blast with my 1970 Nomad 4 door.
I grew up a straight up “FORD” man but, I always respected and appreciated the ‘Chevy’ boys! I was well aware of all the motor news thru the ’60’s & ’70’s, so I knew the cool, beautiful 2 – door Nomad ended production in 1957! But, come 1982, I was just aimlessly cruising around town and THERE IT was, my heart skipped a beat and I lost a lungs worth of air – a “For Sale” sign in the window of a 1958 Chevy Nomad!! YES, ’58 Nomad – a 2 door station wagon in pretty nice shape, looking all original, white with a tan stripe down the side with a tan interior! Hit the brakes on my ’74 T-Bird and swung it around to head back to this ‘Holy Grail’ of a Chevy! Pulled up and got out walked over to this wagon and it’s looking better all the way – until I am about 10 feet away and see the chrome factory badge saying “Yeoman”. Yeoman? What the heck is that? Never heard of one, but the owner came out to talk, and he convinced me that it was a real deal 2 door wagon, not many made and that he was asking $300. So I offered $200, and we split and I bought it for $250 on the spot! I drove it for one summer having a total blast with it, loading it up with 5 other people (6 couples) and heading out to the local state park and having picnics, and going to car shows showing off my ‘Nomad’! But, being the forever FORD man, come fall I had to sell it and it sold in 2 days out of the grocery store parking lot for $350!! Great times!
Unfortunately about 3 weeks later I was driving thru town and saw that I was about to meet the Yeoman coming towards me. But, it wasn’t moving, it was over on the shoulder and appeared to be “jacked up” in the rear – oh, must have a flat tire. Well I managed to get by it without making eye contact with the new owner, as he was busy trying to figure out what to do next, as, the entire rear end with both sides of leaf springs had completely “let loose” and was propping the car up in the back!!
Oh yeah, Those good?, old days!!
News Flash! Our little home office is inside a large set of windows with the laptop facing toward the neighborhood street. Just after noon a string of beautiful station wagons, at least 7, and a ’40s fat fendered Ford convertible drove by probably going out to a historic watering hole on the island. Identified 2 Fords, a ’58 and ’54 Chevy, and what I think was a Chrysler product. They have car shows down here but this was SEMA quality cars of the highest. None stock but not hard to appreciate the quality of the work. Wow!
Neglect is not patina. The P word is always misused.
nawh, don’t like the side (rear 1/4) or the rear corners/tail lghts. Didn’t even think it wuz a nomad due to 4 dor & these points I’ve mentioned. Guess I just don’t know me my ’50s cheb.
I know I’m in the minority, but I’ve always liked the style of the 58s compared to the 57s .
Me too. The tie fives are far to overhyped. Imho.