Yep, it’s deja vu all over again in Nomad Land. This particular ’56 Chevy Nomad Wagon was featured on Barn Finds this past August and was also listed back in August of 2025 (for a BIN price of $40,000). The current listing is scant with details, but the 2025 listing included a little more of the Nomad’s history. The owner at that time had purchased a collection of 1955-57 Chevys some 35 years ago and squirreled them away in a barn. I’m not sure if any of the other Tri-Fives were restored, but this ’56 Nomad has been dormant and appears to be a good candidate for a restoration or making it into a Restomod. It’s a blank canvas of sorts just waiting for the right buyer who has the time and the doe-re-me to take on this project. It is currently located in Sparta, Missouri, and listed for sale here on Facebook Marketplace for $26,000. Thank you, Zappenduster, for spotting this cool, old long roof and sending it to us.
The seller shares that the wagon “runs and drives.” But the seller also says the Nomad is running on a 6-cylinder engine, not its original V8. Considering it’s mated with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, the potential for going the Restomod path and replacing it with a more potent power plant is tempting. Although it’s currently painted a solid-color light yellow, the car’s data plate shows that it originally left the factory in two-tone Paint Code 721 (India Ivory and Dawn Gray), one of 19 two-tone combinations customers could choose from. There’s some rust visible in the tail gate area and under the headlamp of the left side front fender (a replacement fender described as “perfect” comes with the car).
The Nomad’s interior is rough and appears to be the original Code 611 Charcoal fabric with Ivory interior trim. The front seat is toast but time has been kinder to the rear bench seat. There’s no carpet, the headliner, which resembles fabric cave stalactites, is shot, and the cargo area and tail gate carpeting has been replaced with “budget-friendly” wood paneling. Yes, this Nomad’s cabin is going to need a lot of work.
Instead of a 265-cubic-inch small block V8 under the hood, it’s a six cylinder, probably a Blue-Flame 140 inline 6. The mileage is listed at 82,265. The seller says he has a new 700 r4 transmission and cross member that goes with the sale. The seller also says it “runs and drives”, but nothing is mentioned about how it stops and the current condition of the braking system. Only 7,886 Nomads were produced for the 1956 model year. Even less would be produced for 1957, the last year of the 2-door Nomad sport wagon’s three-year run. If this collectible was yours and time and money weren’t a factor, what would you do with it?
No way for 40k!
Hot potato?