In a world where bigger is often considered better, someone took the opposite approach here and gave this 1956 Chevrolet a significant haircut. Based on the trim and dash, I believe it may have begun life as a 210 wagon, then underwent some mods that included removing the rear doors. The seller offers few clues regarding the build and simply refers to the vehicle as a 1956 Chevrolet Shorty Wagon, so if you’re in the market for a unique Tri-Five, this one’s gonna be hard to beat. It’s located in Riverside, Arizona, and can be spotted here on Craigslist, and we’d like to tip our hat to reader Tony Primo for sending in the tip! Considering the amount of labor and effort invested, the asking price of $18,00 may be in the ballpark.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first shortened Chevrolet from the fifties we’ve featured recently, as this 1957 Bel Air here on Barn Finds also received a similar treatment. As of this writing, that one’s still available as well, so it might be fun to own both of these shrunken Chevys if you’re into that sort of thing. The seller here describes the shorty wagon as professionally built, and although no specifics are provided, the workmanship outside indeed appears to be of high quality. All of the sheet metal, chrome, and trim pieces are stated as excellent, but the front bumper is missing, so don’t forget to add one to your shopping list.
The lack of details continues under the hood, as the only information we get about the engine is that it’s a new 350. A few dress-up pieces can be spotted, though there’s no mention of the carb or any other specifics, but everything in the bay other than the lack of a battery appears to be in good order. A new 4-speed manual transmission is also reported to be present, but its particulars remain a mystery as well. However, the owner assures us that this is a great driver with zero issues, and he says it performs great on the freeway.
Inside, most of the components appear to be in fine condition overall, and consist of a red dash, a blue bench seat, black carpeting, and gray all-weather floor mats. There’s even still a decent-sized cargo area in back, so the practicality of a station wagon hasn’t been lost entirely. Many customs are hit or miss, and while there are some fun elements here, I suspect that this 1956 Chevrolet may have a limited audience among potential Tri-Five buyers. Still, it rates pretty high on the cool scale. Is this unusual creation one you’d enjoy having in your collection?
Why Lord, do people try to turn good Corvettes into station wagons, and try to do the opposite with station wagons? I reckon the difference between the possible and the impossible lies in a person’s determination.
God Bless The USA!
These had their moment in the 1970’s, that’s likely when this was built. They were at the bottom of the depreciation curve, worth next to nothing. I know someone who did this to a 1964 El Camino and still had it last time I saw him, about 15 years ago. These were not pristine cars that got ruined, they were rough and likely on a one way trip to a wrecking yard. At least this way, it still exists, even though they are mainly viewed as little more than an oddity.
Steve R
Because we can!……lol
Under-dash tachometer ?
“…the asking price of $18,00 may be in the ballpark.”
Darn – that’s in MY ballpark and leaves room for the hotdogs!
Nice but I would rather have one mostly stock not this stubby thing
I wouldn’t want any of them Chev’s. Buick, yes, in any shape or form !!
Parts car..
Sad
And…..And…..Gone.
And what is the point of cutting up a classic!! if you wanted a volkswagon then go buy one !!sheeeeshhh
Sonds like lots of young readers here. Steve R appears to be the only other ‘well-seasoned’ one to chime in so far. If you were around in the ’70s you should remember when these shorty’s were common. As Steve pointed out there were lots of clapped-out station wagons that were a cheap basis for a little customizing, and this was a way to save them from the crusher and turn them into something interesting. Some were well done and some were marginal. I always thought they were a nice idea but I never drove one, so I don’t know how the short wheelbase handles.
Hi Dave, well, yes and no. I WAS around in the 70s, and don’t remember a one, not a one, in Beer City anyway. In fact, it wasn’t something someone did back then. Maybe a “push me/pull you VW bug”, for laughs tops. Oh sure, we saw pictures of these in Car Craft, on the west coast,but never in person. I can appreciate the amount of work that goes into these, but a), to most it looks unusual, b), I’d have to think there are some handling quirks, and c) a limited appeal, at best. A ’56 wagon unchopped would appeal to a lot more folks, the hood scoop, no bumper, IDK, obviously it wasn’t $18 bucks, and we don’t know what it sold for, if it even did sell.
Back in the early 60s in Memphis (Yes, I’m that old!) a friend of mine named John Robilio did this to a yellow 57 wagon. As I remember it had the original 283 and a powerglide. With a couple of guys in the back it would pull the front wheels off the ground just about any time you goosed the gas. Other than that it wasn’t much use!
I’m no young reader and I have no comment.
When I was in high school one of my classmates did this with a 57 like this one it looked nice its just not my taste personally if I had it and the roof and back windows were wasted I would turn it into a el Camino like rig before doing this to it.
I like shorties. Because you have the extra frame to work with, it is a shame that they didnt move the rear wheel arch back about halfway. It would look a lot more balanced, still follow the trim line, and wouldn’t take too much work.
Since the original post is deleted, I wish there were more photos.
Cool car, I’m sure it would be cheap fun to own…
Id ditch the hood scoop, it takes away one of the pleasures of the car, the view of the jet driving down the road.
Jay E., you expressed what I was thinking, the placement of the rear wheel makes the whole thing seem awkward-looking to me.
I’m with Howard, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one in the flesh.
Wonder if somebody ever built a shorty gasser?
Knew guy in Memphis long ago that put a straight 8 Buick engine and a powerglide (I think!) in a Rambler Metropolitan…maybe you could call that a “Shorty gasser”, but it was probably a D/Altered. Driver drove it with a portion of the top at the rear window cut out, with his head sticking out so he could see over the top of the car. Don’t know if he ever made a complete pass at the strip since it just wouldn’t go straight.
In Everett Washington, about 1977, some guys had one of these for sale. They had cut it and had a hot engine in it. When they took it out and hit the gas, it stood up, spun around and hit a power pole. They took it back the shop, pulled the engine and had the body up for sale with a totaled out 1/4 panel.
This one is just mad.
Nobody got the joke?
Why?
Put a front bumper on it so it not look like Buckees beaver . And loose the hood scoop .
A better idea. When it was a four door change it to a two door or leave it as a four door. I remember when the shorty was in Hot Rod Mag or Car Craft Mag.
but.!!! but !!!…..i was in the pool…lol
Whoever messed that car up should be horsewhipped.
I would not buy a shorty due to the uncertainty: When you enter a corner at speed, which end will be leading when you leave?
Back when I was kid of 13, in 1973. I remember finding a ’55 Chevy 2 door, running and driving, for $50. Begged and pleaded my dad for it. Said I’d only drive it around the yard. Of course, we had a 1/4 acre lot…..
I wouldn’t say these were common back then, but they weren’t exceptionally rare. In theory shorties had everything going for them except for the engineering which includes styling. Styling aside a new owner should be prepared for the ride such a short wheel base delivers. In terms of handling, these were all about appearance.
Shorty VW buses didn’t look as awkward but there’s a reason why shorties were briefly here and then went away like a fart in the wind.
Barf.
They also did the chop job to 4-door sedans. I could never understand the appeal of the shorties, but I, too, have also thought they should have moved the rear wheels back.