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?
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