The Chevy Nomad “sport wagon” was inspired by a 1954 Corvette-based concept car. A two-door station wagon, it shared no sheet metal with other Chevrolet wagons from behind the cowl. Produced between 1955 and 1957, it met with a lack of sales success, so the concept was abandoned. Today, it’s perhaps the most coveted of the so-called “Tri-Five” Chevies. This 1956 edition looks okay at first glance, but the undercarriage has issues, and the engine is stuck. Located in Westland, Michigan, this project vehicle is available here on craigslist for $20,500. Our thanks to T.J. for yet another cool vintage tip!
Conceived as a high-end wagon, the Nomad was part of the Bel Air series. To share the cost of the tooling for the wagon’s special body, the Nomad had a companion over at Pontiac called the Safari. More than 65 years after the last of the original Nomads were built, we don’t know why the wagon wasn’t a sales winner. Perhaps because Chevy had other 2-door wagons and a 4-door wagon in Bel Air trim that was more versatile. In three years, only 22,375 Nomads were produced along was just 9,094 Safaris.
The seller’s Nomad is one of 7,886 built in 1956. It wears black paint, its original color although not necessarily its factory finish. Rust is a bigger problem than some of the photos show, with at least the floors and rocker panels needing work or replacement. The interior is a mess, and the passenger/cargo area of the car is full of parts and components, which may or may not add up to a complete car (the front bumper is back there, too).
This Nomad was ordered with Chevy’s new-in-’55 V8 engine, displacing 265 cubic inches. We’re told it does not turn and is paired with an automatic transmission, surely the 2-speed Powerglide. A lot of mechanical and cosmetic work is needed, but nice examples of these wagons can trade for some big bucks. After the special body of the Nomad was retired after 1957, Chevy would use the name a couple of more times, from 1958-61 and 1968-72. But these were trim variations of typical 4-door people movers.
If you want a Nomad and you want a Resto-Mod, this would be a great start on a 6 figure build!
I’m fresh out of 6 figures and fresh out of enthusiasm for overpriced, rusty car projects.
Overpriced rusty cars, I think you can buy charter in a poor bottle or spray at Walmart they also anti-idiot pills there as well
Overpriced rusty cars, I think you can buy charter in a poor bottle or spray at Walmart they also anti-idiot pills there as well! The nomad is cool on any planet! Anything worth doing takes effort
You Nailed it!
Looks like it has clutch pedal,it’s a 56 no telling how many engine and transmission combinations it’s had over the years.
I’m seeing things ,need new glasses
Looks like one you would find the 80s for a grand,put a street sign patch over the hole in floor, throw a motor in it and raise hell.
I’m agreeing with bobhess with the (canvas) being overpriced. One other thing I’m not happy with these day’s is the fact that way too many tri fives are being rosto molded, stock is good on these old cars!
Can find completed driver quality ones for $50k so $20k is double it’s value.
I had a ‘57, but I think the ‘56 is the better looking of the tri- fives.
The question is would a car donation nonprofit give you a $20K credit if you donated the car. I doubt it.
Agree this heap is WAY overpriced.
Wow, way overpriced/ but some idiot will buy it. Have your check book ready for this one. Probably a second Morgage on your house would be cheaper to put this one together.
I had (210 2 door sedan) and prefer a 57 but it sucks how high the prices are going. I’d have to learn to weld with this one and who knows if the block is any good…if the floors are that bacd, the inner rockers are probably gone. Nope.
I don’t know anyone in this hobby who doesn’t know how to weld.
I love me some ‘56 Chevies but it needs floors and rockers so for those reasons, I’m out.
Anybody that is willing to spend this type of money on this Chev Nomad rust bucket while overlooking the Buick Special also listed today, needs to see a shrink! This wagon needs mega bucks spent on it whereas the Buick needs very little. Beyond comprehension unless you are a complete Tri Five nut.
I agree 💯 because I said the same thing earlier. This heap is way overpriced even though I like the ’56 better than the ’55 or the ’57.
It depends on the condition of these cars when they are rotted out underneath that calls for, sometimes, a new frame floor pans And other major structural damages sometimes it’s cheaper to make them a rat rod, unfortunately, or resto mod which brings much better money. It depends on how much money a person is willing to spend to bring it back to life. Restoring a Nomad can get quite expensive due to the Rarity of some of the parts.
Yes, I’ll will be a big and expensive project. Good luck to whom ever.
It might seem high, but pretty hard to find one of these for much cheaper unless it is in way worse shape. The non-turning engine means nothing. If this gets restored it is 99% going to some level of a restomod. A better buy for someone with panel replacement skills or very deep pockets. At least these can bring a lot of money when done right versus some others that are taken on. Yes, you are still upside down, but you would at least have the satisfaction of saving and owning a highly desirable iconic Chevrolet built your way to put a smile on your face. To me that $50k+ loss would still be better than the depreciation loss on a newer car. Cut a deal in the mid teens and save it. As Ferris said, “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
sold my 1956 Chevy Bel aire convertible two tone blue good condition for $350 in 1963 wish I had it back now lol
Don’t feel bad. I sold my ‘57 Nomad for $750 in 1966!
I feel your pain if we only knew even worse I sold my 1956 to buy a 1958 Impala ht 348 factory 3 speed than after highschool sold it for $600 and went in the service
Jack if you got $750 for a nomad in 66 you hit the jackpot! I remember myself and several of my friend’s paying $150.00 for tri fives two door hard tops.
20K for a swiss cheese car? No thanks.
Its not hard to see why these weren’t great sellers ; at the time there was no need for them ! Most wagons were purchased by families, so a 4 door was what you wanted, and you could get a real cheapo or a high line model. There were cheaper two door post wagons, many bought by salesmen, small businesses or couples with few or no kids. . The Nomad was a two door, but it wasn’t cheap , and people looking to get the most for their money would likely see spending the extra money for a dolled up 2 door wagon as impractical. Station wagons , for the most part, were purchased not because you wanted one, but because you needed one
Not worth $20K that’s for sure
How I long for the early and mid seventies, making $ 2.90 to 3.00 an hour and thinking I was walking in tall cotton. You could go to any dealership and buy ss chevelles and plymouth road runners for 800 to 900 bucks and they only had 30k on the clocks. But even then $ 800.00 was alot of green backs considering you only took home 375.00 to 400.00 per month. Those were the day’s. Oh yeah, my rent was only 50 bucks a month…..
Agreed! In 1974 I bought my ’69 Super Bee B5 blue white stripe 383 for $750. I don’t know what amazes me more, a Junior in high school owning a 5 year old car or the amount of money it cost me. I saved all cash working in gas stations and helping other farmers. That was big dough back then!
Times are much harder for youngsters today than they were for us back in the fifties and sixties. As newlywed in 1963 I bought a 1962 Ford Cortina for 600 which was 2 months salary, now in the 21st Century the newest car I have been able to afford at 7000 in 2022 was a 2011 Kia Soul which was 3+ months salary. That’s more than a 50% difference in cash and eleven years in age.