GM’s 1954 Motorama served up a hefty dose of concept cars, from the sleek Corvair coupe and the space-age Bonneville, to the swanky but bugeyed Biscayne – and new on the scene, a Corvette-based wagon called the Nomad. The Nomad drew such acclaim that GM ordered it to the production line, but situated on the Bel Air’s A-platform rather than the Corvette’s dedicated chassis. The Tri-Five Nomad was made from 1955 through 1957; GM shifted the wagon onto its new B-body platform in 1958. Here on Facebook Marketplace is a 1957 Nomad wearing an older restoration and located in Dayton, Ohio. The seller is asking $65,000. We owe thanks to Sam61 for spotting this swanky Chevy for us.
GM was on a roll in the mid-1950s, introducing a 265 cu. in. small block V8 along with a full slate of fresh car models. Nomad buyers opted for this new engine in droves, preferring it to the base 235 cu. in. Blue Flame six. The 265 pumped out 162 hp when equipped with the standard two-barrel carburetor, but stepping up to the four-barrel Power Pack option boosted output to 180 hp; later in the year, a high-compression combination including dual exhausts and a more aggressive camshaft could generate 195 hp. By 1957, when this wagon was made, buyers were flocking to the new 283 cu. in. V8, good for 185 hp in base trim, but with headroom all the way past 250 hp with the right options. A synchromesh manual was standard; overdrive was optional. But the latest and greatest technology was the Powerglide automatic, and that’s what we have here.
The cabin displays minor wear, including a tear in the center of the driver’s side seat back, but nothing most of us couldn’t live with. We’re not told if the lights and gauges are in working order, but given the seller’s price, they better be! The Nomad is a six-passenger wagon with a fold-down mechanism for more cargo space.
New for 1957 were aluminum quarter panel inserts, stainless molding outlining the fins, and a gas filler door hidden above the tail lamp. Harley Earl was approaching maximum chrome, and the Nomad was a perfect palette for the trend. Unlike many ’50s cars, values for these special wagons have inched up over the last few years. The seller’s asking price reflects an “excellent” example, and this one falls a bit short. But it could probably find a home for around $55k to $60k. What do you think of this Tri-Five wagon?
The clear-coat finish paint just ruins the car. Looks like it was dipped in plastic. I would love to see the return of acrylic lacquer for sure. The car is just not original enough to warrant the price. So be it.
You can say that again
The clear-coat finish paint just ruins the car. Looks like it was dipped in plastic. I would love to see the return of acrylic lacquer for sure. The car is just not original enough to warrant the price. So be it.
For 65K, do you drive it or just look at it? Is it that good as an investment car?
as time goes on the 57 tail fin treatment seems more obvious, more time dated than either the 55 or 56. The best balanced design for the series is increasingly becomint the 56, both front and rear treatment. This is a nice car but there are imperfections and 65K is pushing it. Good luck to the seller and new owner if it occurs.
I agree wholeheartedly, but when I was growing up the 1956 models were for some reason the least popular of the chevy tri fives
And for some people, they still are… 😏
I’ve seen these ’57’s with a solid color dash and instrument cluster/steering wheel and some with a contrasting color or white instrument cluster and wheel, as this car has. Was the two-toning a customer paid option (part of a specific trim group) or was it a “no charge” option?
Nice ones going for over $ 80,000 at Barrett Jackson.
When you are in this neighborhood of the collector car universe; the dynamics are different than the more plebeian vehicles we see regularly on this site. Obviously before passing judgement; a thorough inspection is a must preferably conducted by someone who knows what they are looking at. But even just viewing the FB pictures reveals a few nitpicks such as the rumpled driver’s side of the seat. However the overall presentation seems good. It’s a really nice car. But like I always say, what you ask and what you get can be very different. This car has been listed for two months so the seller is at the point where they are going to need to shift gears and either lower the ask or pull the ad as it is now stale. Something else to consider is that a lot of us old hobbyists who would be interested in this and have the wherewithal to buy it are also quite aware that the market for cars like this is dwindling. Tri-Fives have been and still are the gold standard of desireability and have been for decades. But the handwriting is on the wall. Speaking for myself, I don’t want to be the guy who bought too high and whose heirs will be stuck with unloading my mistake. As for BJ auctions; IMO they are interesting to watch but the frenzied atmosphere can sometimes be off putting. Some of the screaming by the roving facilitators is over the top and has gone from novel to annoying. Anyway GLWTS.
The closest I ever came to owning one was the ’57 Nomad kit made by Revell in the late ’60s.
That kit was highly detailed and was a real bear to build. There was a real one in our town that was painted Etruscan Bronze with a Cream top. Truth be told,
that’s the reason I bought the kit!
As for this car, for $65K, the seller
could’ve fixed the rip in the seat
and repainted the car? I have a feeling he’s gonna own this one
for quite awhile.
I agree, Ken. Not original enough, and not perfect enough, for the price. The peak for these a few years ago ensured that plenty have been preserved for their high value in the Market. However, interest is dwindling and the supply of prime examples is too large to hold this price. As for me, I would love instead a 1957 Two-Ten survivor wagon in “near-mint” unrestored condition and many of the Bel-Air “toys” including factory air conditioning, spinner hubcaps, rubber “dagmar” front bumper protectors, back-up lights, rear-view mirrors on both sides, top-tier long-distance A.M. radio, matching tissue-holder, matching Custom.Chevrolet rubber carpet-protector mats, and some others, even the GOLD “V”s on the front and rear to indicate that 283 under the hood, with Powerglide and dual exhaust; but NOT POWER WINDOWS. Why not the Bel Air? — too garrish aluminium trim on the rear quarters and acrosss the centre of the dashboard, and the Two-Ten has the same stainless spears and steering wheel (with “Two-Ten” where “Bel Air” would be). That would “tick all the right boxes”, for me.