When most people think of 2-door “Tri-Five” Chevrolet station wagons, the Nomad sport wagon usually comes to mind. It was based on the swankier Bel Air trim and came with a unique body from the doors- back. But there was also the Handyman, another 2-door wagon from the entry-level 150 series. It was a no-frills, basic wagon that sold more than twice as many copies in ’57 as the nifty Nomad. The seller’s 1957 Handyman looks nice from certain angles, but the repaint is getting tired. Offered here on eBay by its second and fourth owner (we’ll explain that in a moment), this Bow-Tie can be found in Belleville, New Jersey where the current bid is $20,600 (and the reserve is unmet).
Besides the Handyman with a full complement of windows for its passengers, Chevrolet also offered the 2-door Sedan Delivery for commercial purposes – it had no side glass like a van. Chevy built just over 15,000 Handyman wagons in 1957, a tiny percentage of the total sales of nearly 1.5 million cars. The 150 came standard with a 235 cubic inch inline-6 and a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. That’s what we find in the seller’s wagon, along with a metal plate where a radio would have been. This people mover probably had a brief MSRP sticker.
The seller provides a rather detailed history of the car, so we’ll try to condense it here. The original owner bought the car in New Jersey and kept it until 1982 (died). That’s when the seller acquired the wagon, but he/she sold it five years later only to buy it back from the third owner in 2014. At that time, the body had begun to deteriorate, and the seller spent $14,000 getting the frame back in order. The paint was redone during an earlier watch and went the two-tone route, which may have added a color to the original mix.
Some mechanical work has been done, including rebuilding the numbers-matching engine and carburetor, clutch, and replacing the wiring harness. At that time (we guess) the seller went to an alternator, so we suppose the 6-volt system was jettisoned in favor of a 12-volt. The next owner will be treated to a complete interior kit (worth $2,700) that the seller has not yet installed, but the old interior is at least functional.
The seller has too many cars (nine) and isn’t getting any younger, so the process of thinning the herd has begun (regretfully) with this Chevy. While this wagon wears poverty hub caps, the seller is throwing in two sets of full-wheel covers. The body isn’t perfect as we can see some bubbling starting under the lighter of the two colors, so you may want to consider a restoration of the body and paint (or drive it for a while just as it is). These wagons are rare finds today because they haven’t been considered as collectible as the Nomads.
Not many people get to buy back the car they had to sell so this one has an interesting backstory. The amount of detail in the ad is a refreshing and praiseworthy.
Interesting place to put the car for pictures. Hope they didn’t hit the pan on that concrete edging.
No didn’t hit the pan, I just used it today to pick up some shelving. The reserve is close so I am at the point if it doesn’t meet it I will be happy, because I get to keep this baby and put the 80 Chevy X-11 that was featured here on barn finds about 5 years ago with original 2700 miles hate to do it but gotta make room. X-11 now has 17000 miles. 1966 impala 2 door 4 speed, 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix 400 factory 4 speed, 1964 vw with Judson supercharger, 1957 fiat multipla, 1973 fiat 500, 1978 fiat 128 3p,1980 corvette 4 speed, 1978 mercury zephyr factor 3 speed on the floor, 1959 fiat abarth zagato record monza, 1959 Peugeot 403 2 door convertible (Columbo car)
What…..less than a dozen ? My 35 or so start with a driven 1930 Ford model 68-B and go up to a 1972 GMC Sierra…..don’t get me started on motorbikes.
This is a nice one so we can see what the market says. Had one that was same green but with the white…..sold to buy another….
When you get a chance list the 35 so I can dream
I had a 55 2 door handyman,so many people would say ” I like your Nomad” I finally gave up and would say thanks..
I think it was already a 12 volt system but the alternator is an improvement. I like the colors here. I own a red/white ’57 150 2-door sedan.
It’s refreshing to see a Chevy wagon that’s not a Nomad.
I had a 1957 150 Handyman back in the day. My brother put a 283 4 speed in it. It had vacuum wipers, manual steering, manual brakes and naturally no air. You did a tune up ( plugs, points and condensor) every 12k and jacked up each wheel and manually adjusted the brakes every 5k when you did the oil change. As with all of our cars it had a sloppy front end. When you hit a bump it would jerk to the right and when you hit the brakes it would jerk to the left. It had a big bench seat . Good times !
You must not have known how to properly adjust the brakes.
I have a soft spot for the handyman wagons and sedan deliveries because a good friend had a ’56 wagon and I had a ’57 sedan delivery. I won’t bore you with the details, but I will say that both cars were bonafide street sweepers. Regarding this particular car, at first glance it appears to be a fairly nice example of a ’57 wagon and the sellers detailed explanation of the car is refreshing, but it is in those details that I find some things to be somewhat questionable. After looking at the underside pictures, I cannot find anything that would indicate $14,000 worth of chassis work. Granted, that work was done 10 years ago but the seller states only 33,000 miles have passed since then and the underside photos certainly don’t appear to be those of a rebuilt chassis. You can buy a complete Roadster Shop chassis for just under $14,000 in todays money so 10 years ago something like that would have been considerably less. While the paint job is a pretty good “20 footer”, a strip and repaint is in order to make it a $20,000 plus car. I doubt that too many folks would be looking at a car like this to restore to factory original, but whether someone was planning to restore it or to make it a street rod, I think that the price just isn’t justified. I’m sure that there will be some who disagree with that, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
It was siting 2” low, the mounts were coming through the floor back in 82 when I owned first time around… why the rear window has a crack as far as 14 k yes I understand, what started as 6k turned into 14..We’ve all been there. By the time the parts were purchased including door shells and inner fender wells it adds up. It was put on a rotisserie and was a lot of work, which was done by English rich, you know them English they don’t skip on bodywork. As far as the market I think the market will speak for an original. It’s like a blank canvas you could stock or rod… btw I just used it today to pick up vintage shelving and tool cabinets from a service station that closed,so it’s functional too! Don’t forget a 2700 new headliner, seat covers rubber floor wood panels with laminate complete from ciadella included
Do you have the flywheel cover?
I may not be very familiar with this particular car model but it looks like the gas tank got beached on the rear axle? And…it will need new rear leaf springs.
It’s in very good condition for its age and use. GLWTS!
Yes I will put in car just never put on
Yes I will put in car, New rear springs put on 3 years ago
Sold on 1/17/2025 with a high bid of $23,500.
Steve R
That is astonishing!
That is astonishing!