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Shoebox Jeep? 1957 Chevrolet Nomad 4×4

We’ve featured several short-wheel-base conversions here on Barn Finds over the years, but I don’t remember any that have been swapped onto a 4×4 chassis. This one is a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad that has been chopped and dropped onto a 1976 Jeep CJ7 chassis. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $3,400. Located in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, this looks like a fun and eye-catching project. Have a look at this unique ride!

The interior has been customized with a flat dash and aftermarket seats with a console. In fact, this may be the Jeep dash that came with the chassis. The rear portion of the interior features a flat floor and it looks like there is plenty of room for luggage or other cargo. It also appears that the wheel wells may have been lengthened to accommodate the larger 4×4 tires.

The engine is a straight-six that has had “fresh fluid flushed and new filters installed.” I’m not exactly sure what that means, but the ad says the car starts, runs, and drives.

Here you can see just how short this car is. The driver and passenger are almost sitting over the rear axle. It appears that the Nomad body was shortened fairly seamlessly and only has a few spots of rust. I don’t know how it performs off-road, but I’m sure it will get plenty of attention anywhere it goes.

Comments

  1. Avatar J_Paul Member

    Given the doors, tailgate, and rear glass angle, I suspect this was converted from a normal ’57 wagon, and not a Nomad. I hope so, because that’s basically my dividing line from “unusual build” to “they destroyed a classic”.

    Like 37
  2. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    It puts the “NO!” in Nomad.

    Like 24
    • Avatar Steve Clinton

      It puts the “NO” in Normal. ;-)

      Like 4
  3. Avatar FordGuy1972 Member

    I’ll have to agree with J_Paul, it’s not a shortened Nomad. Wrong tailgate and the B pillar isn’t slanted. It’s a straight six but “V” on the hood signifies a V8. The trim on the top of the fins tells me it’s probably a shortened Beauville 210 station wagon. The interior looks like it belongs in a commercial truck; nothing suggests Bel Aire level trim. It’s a poor attempt to pass off a Nomad for an everyman’s station wagon. I sure someone will have fun with it but I wouldn’t pay a lot for it. Perfect for Cletus and Cooter to go playin in the mud with.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Mr. Bond

      The rusty cut line and hunks of bondo peeling off on the roof are another indicator it was not a nomad donor.

      Like 9
      • Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

        While the posting says this was a “fairly seamlessly” performed job, That is certainly a seam across the roof!

        Like 1
  4. Avatar roger pence

    It wasn’t a Nomad, but that doesn’t make it less sad.

    Like 9
  5. Avatar Nomader 55

    NO WAY; NO HOW; NOT EVEN POSSIBLE that the was a Nomad!!! Start with the VIN#. No slanted B and C pillars. No ribs across roof. No chrome tail gate bars. Tail gate and lift gate not slanted. Looks like it was a 4 door 210 wagon due to the shorter doors. I still can’t believe how many so-called Tri-five enthusiasts can’t tell the difference.

    Like 11
  6. Avatar Dave Christopher

    Not even a chevy six cyl.

    Like 2
    • Avatar DayDreamBeliever

      Is on a Jeep chassis, so yea….

      Like 2
    • Avatar JoeNYWF64

      Well it’s not a ford 6 since the plugs on that are on the driver’s side.
      So i guess it’s an AMC 258?! Why fabricate that to fit, when they made millions of 250 chevies?!

      Like 0
      • Avatar Little_Cars

        Because it’s all AMC Jeep underneath, that’s why!

        Like 5
    • Avatar Rex Welker

      Probably a Jeep 4.0. My jeep Commanche with 4.0 and 5 speed had over 450,000 miles when I parked it, and the engine still ran and smogged in Calif.

      Like 1
  7. Avatar steve

    Look, I’m with the tri-5 folks and I’d sure hate to see ANY older car cut up like this….BUT…It sure is cute..Get over the shock and look at it..Ah! I see a smile leaking out there…Come on!…..
    A rusty wagon one flat tire from the crusher and you get this.
    I’m kinda OK with it…

    Like 12
  8. Avatar moosefeather

    Why? Why? Why! In fairness this was probably built in the days when you could pick up these old cars for a song. You have to think that the person is looking at what the value of this car is today and having some regrets. Would have been better to just let it sit for another 30 years.

    Like 2
    • Avatar bone

      Not in Connecticut , there would be little left after sitting that long

      Like 3
  9. Avatar Little_Cars

    I guarantee both doors do not shut with a reassuring “thunk” based on the rust and other blistering metal around the B pillar. The price is good for a used Jeep and that’s how I would approach this car. I’d buy it if it were closer to me.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Cadmanls Member

    Awwww some good old boys had a rusty jeep and a not so good 57 wagon and a few cases of PBR and there you have it. I bet they were beaming ear to ear when it went down the road.

    Like 11
    • Avatar Little_Cars

      Sideways, crossing over the yellow line with the steering wheel in the center position. LOL

      Like 2
  11. Avatar Sam61

    My son has a “vintage” Samurai…maybe we will re-skin it with after market 57 Chevy body panels.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar MDW66

    No one has said it yet-LS swap!

    Like 1
    • Avatar LittleJoesGarage

      Why?

      Like 0
  13. Avatar dogwater

    Looks like bad body work ,hit a bump the thing would split in half
    Junk

    Like 4
  14. Avatar Steve Clinton

    It is now at $5000 with 5 hours left. As I’ve said before, a fool and his money are soon parted.

    Like 5
  15. Avatar Fred

    as soon as you look at it, you think somethings off

    Like 1
    • Avatar Steve Clinton

      Agreed…the bidder’s IQs.

      Like 4
  16. Avatar Bozo

    Another Clown Car?

    Like 2
    • Avatar Ike Onick

      Well, if anyone should know about Clown cars, I’m guessing it might be you Bozo

      Like 2
  17. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Abomination. The builder should be exiled to Cuba where bailing wire modifications are the normal.
    God bless America

    Like 1
  18. Avatar grant

    This is what happens when cousins are allowed to marry.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Crsig

    Why the heck!?. Why not just drop the body on a chevy truck chassis and call it a decent 4×4 with a better engine. Too much time on their hands. Hope their hands don’t touch another classic.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Wayne from oz

    I’m surprised this was even listed on eBay or barnfinds as a Nomad. Blind Freddy, or a 2 year old in preschool could tell it was never a Nomad, and as the old saying goes, “ just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Steve RM

    I hate these things. They always look like crap.
    By the way, those seats aren’t “custom”. They are from a 68 or later VW Bug.

    Like 2
  22. Avatar Queequeg

    In a sound: “ew.”

    Like 0
  23. Avatar chrlsful

    better w/a foot added B hind the frnt seat (back of the dor) to the frnt of the rear wheel well. I’d consider it at that point as I am ‘the wagonman’.

    BTW: the ford i6 mentioned as well as the amc/chrysler/etc are not x-flow motors. The ThriftPower (all 6 ‘falcon motors’) have plugs on driver’s side. Exh. intake on pass’s side. Slant6 – driver’s side intake/ex, pass’s side plugs; chebby – Blue Flame (vette’n trucks) driver’s intake/exh, plugs on pass’s side; their ‘stove bolt’ – w/driver’s side intake/exh, pass’s plugs. I am fully behind the straight 6 and 8 as ‘best practices’ (but have limited automotive theory) B it european, Brit or Oz (their cross flow – pre Barra, being my ultimate).
    8^ )

    Like 0
  24. Avatar REDNECKER THAN YOUUUU

    I think Whistlindiesel should buy this and work his magic!

    Like 0
  25. Avatar 57Chevy

    I wouldn’t even want this piecer for a parts car for my ’57 B.A.!!!

    Like 0

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