You don’t have to be a Chevrolet fan to know about and appreciate the Tri-Five Nomad Wagon. It’s such an iconic design and a wonderfully weird mix of style and utility. You really can’t get much cooler than a two-door wagon! From day one, people have appreciated these cars and with just 8,530 having been built in ’55 it’s no surprise that they can fetch big money. This example looks to be in nice shape and has a surprise under the hood that should make it a bit of a sleeper. The seller has owned it for 30 years and states that they are motivated to get it sold. You can find it in Lyons, Kansas where it’s being offered as an auction here on eBay. With just a day left to go, it’s bid up to $40k and the reserve has yet to be met.
When it debuted in 1955, one of the Nomad’s major selling features was its 265 V8, which was the standard option. There were two versions of the 265, one with a two-barrel carburetor that was rated at 163 horsepower and the other with a four-barrel carburetor and 180 horsepower. The seller doesn’t state which one this was optioned with originally, but it currently has something other than the 265 sitting under the hood. It’s currently powered by a 490 horsepower 406 crate V8 paired to a Borgwarner T-10 manual transmission. This setup has to make this one quick wagon! The seller has the original drivetrain for it and they come with it, so you can put it back to stock if you decide the 406 is too much engine.
The car is said to have been restored about a thousand miles ago, but it wasn’t a professional restoration, so there are some issues that need to be fixed. Most of the issues sound like pretty minor problems, although replacing the driver’s side door glass might be tricky if you’ve never done the job. Honestly, the biggest issue for me is the color change. The trim tag shows the paint code as being 607, which should be two-tone Glacier Blue with Shoreline Beige. It’s a really nice combination and the seller even admits that it’s a pretty rare paint scheme. The current paint scheme is alright and the paint looks decent, so I’d just leave it as is and enjoy it.
Inside the car, we find a few custom parts. Personally, I’d reinstall an original steering wheel and gas pedal, but we all have our own tastes. The rest of the interior looks usable as-is. It looks like the tailgate has carpet installed (I believe that’s the wrong material) and needs its trim pieces installed. You can buy the correct material, all new trim and the required screws to install it, so fixing that shouldn’t be a big issue.
Few classic cars have the level of support as a Tri-Five Chevy. Making this car perfect won’t be cheap, but it’s doable. I’d just fix the things that bother me and drive this Nomad as much as possible. What about you? Would you leave the 406 or would you put it back to original?
Too much engine? There is no such thing!
Lose the wheels.
Since when is a hot rod nomad a sleeper???
Someone deserves jail time for this abomination
Seeing all these big gas hog motors—and the high price of gas—should really bring the prices of the cars way down. I suspect the saler is also the bidder—way over price—no gold trimming. Wheres is $42,000 hear at>
I also own a ’55 Nomad and the one shown is not an “abomination” as one reader replied. The car is the result of the owner’s preferences and ideas. I think it is a fine example of one man’s taste of how his Nomad should present itself…..in other words, I like it…..
Not to worry with anything that comes from the mouth of a Deak. They never have a good thing to say cept when it comes to jumping their Pinto over their trash fire on the side of the house.
Car needs way too much for that price. Wheels & tires, poor paint, seats need rebuilt & recovered, door panel look amateur, steering wheel, radio and who knows what else.
Sold for $49,999 and they didn’t even need the help of a Dsaklander
Forgot to mention disc brakes and a lowering kit.
Let the Deaks begin, oh they already have.
Interesting Headers?
Hurricane wheels (that’s what they’re called in Australia) sticking out of the guards give it a great old school look.
I believe the wheels are old American Racing “Vector” wheels. This car is a classic example of an older build, and it is showing its age a bit. I love the 55 Nomad, the rear wheel openings are so much cooler and aggressive than the 56/57 openings. Some updating is overdue!