Unfinished Business: 1956 Chevrolet Nomad

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The most interesting of the Tri Five Chevies (1955-57) is the Nomad, a 2-door “sport wagon” that was part of the Bel Air series. It had its own sheet metal from the windshield back and was one of two vehicles like this sold by GM at the time (the other was the Pontiac Safari). This 1956 edition appears to have had a frame-off restoration with some work remaining to be done, but the seller doesn’t elaborate as to what that may entail. Located in Cumberland, Rhode Island, this rarity from the ‘50s is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $50,000 OBO.

The Nomad (and Safari) was based on a 1954 Corvette show car that offered the same styling. When it went into production in 1955, it was completely different from other wagons of its time. The roofline and two-door body were a cross between a sedan and a sports coupe, and the doors had no posts at the rear, unlike other Bel Air sedans. That made the Nomad a 2-door hardtop wagon (with a heavy emphasis on the hardtop designation). While stylish and distinctive, people who were shopping for station wagons didn’t flock to it. Chevy sold fewer than 23,000 units in three years, so they gave up for 1958 (though the name would return later on a more conventional wagon).

For 1956, Chevrolet built 8,103 copies of the Nomad, which would include the seller’s edition. The only changes to the wagon that year were the ones made to the rest of the Chevy lineup, adjustments in styling cues that always took place from one model year to the other. The seller describes this nice-looking but unfinished ’56 as something that “looks like a barn find” probably because it’s a stalled project.

We’re told that a frame-off restoration has been done here, which we assume pertains to body and undercarriage work. The photos provided show a lot of new stuff below and the turquoise and white paint shines nicely, but a rusty front bumper has been reattached and there is no rear bumper from what we can see. The interior also seems part of the things that still need doing as what may be original upholstery is dirty and has treads separating.

There may be some interesting adjustments to the V8 engine, but we don’t know if it’s an original 265 cubic inch version. There is a fancy cold air intake perched atop the motor along with aftermarket wheels, so was the restorer planning on this car going fast? There is a photo of half of a tag, but we don’t know what that means. And no details on what has been done to the engine or transmission are shared with us. The seller doesn’t see having the hours to finish this project anytime soon, hence the reason for the sale. A restored ’56 Nomad can demand big bucks, but the price of entry to finish the job here is pretty steep.

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Comments

  1. BA

    Not a blower or super charger hence no drive belt but is a fancy cold air intake from before k&n started doing it.

    Like 1
    • Russ Dixon Russ DixonAuthor

      Thanks. Adjusted verbiage.

      Like 1
      • Steve R

        It’s not a cold air intake either since it’s in the hot engine compartment with no ducting that brings in cool outside air. It’s just an air cleaner that looks like a scoop.

        Steve R

        Like 7
  2. RKS

    That is not a blower “perched” on top of the engine. This cars had a little work done to it but I wouldn’t throw the term restoration at it. It’s more like maintenance that was long overdue.

    Like 3
  3. Pit Stop Pauly

    Wants All the money for a 1/4 (1/5?) finished vehicle…

    Like 7
  4. Will Fox

    Lousy photos, Chrome needs replating, and as it sits isn’t worth anywhere NEAR $50K. The seller’s dreaming. I see at most $22K or so.

    Like 14
    • Mike

      Yeah, the seller is dreaming, but can’t a guy hit a game winning, full count grand slam home run in the bottom of the 9th of game 7 of the world series? $50k is his grand slam. Don’t wake him up Will.

      Like 10
  5. Terrry

    “Unfinished Business”? For the price they’re asking, it’s more like “Unstarted Business”.

    Like 4
  6. jerry z

    The redheaded stepchild of the tri-fives. Don’t think a ’57 Nomad is the same condition would fetch thst much.

    Like 2
  7. jnard90 jnard90Member

    Lazy presentation for a steep ask. However, has the potential to be a real beauty.

    Like 7
  8. KC JohnMember

    Anyone else struck by how tiny those wheels appear? Either they’re small or those are some huge tires. Just saying. Lol

    Like 2
    • Kman

      They look like 14 inch wheels with a larger sidewall. Gives a smoother ride.

      Like 4
    • Little_Cars Little_Cars

      My first car was a 1959 Ford Sunliner in the early 70’s. I didn’t like the look of the standard 14 inch wheels but couldn’t afford mags or chrome reverse. A neighbor gave me tall profile 15 inch wheels that really filled the wheel wells but didn’t scrape. I added moon discs and painted the wide whitewalls onto those free tires and was pleased with the results. Probably spent $30 on the wheelcovers at K-Mart.

      Like 0
  9. Lowell Peterson

    Make an offer! Hammering the guy on the dream isn’t real productive after the first 10 guys do it??? Message conveyed???

    Like 2
    • stillrunners

      Agree…..lots of keyboard appraisers on here that get it wrong.

      Like 0
  10. Michael Hartman

    Gotta start out high because no matter the price, the car, the verbiage, people will talk you down.

    Like 4
  11. Gary Rhodes

    I like 56 Chevy’s but it’s overpriced by 40k. Needs a total restoration so add 30k or so to the price

    Like 2
  12. Jack Quantrill

    For what people are getting for their $20,000 when new tract homes, 50K, is chump change! Go for it.

    Like 1
  13. charlieMember

    Having owned a ’56 in these colors, the turquois is not quite right, maybe a repaint. Chevy had two versions of this color in ’56, enamel, and laquer, the laquer was darker or richer, and cost more. If you special ordered, you could get what you wanted, and probably this being an expensive car for Chevy it came with the laquer. OR,it could just be the color rendtition of the photography, but it just does not look right. The interior looks right for a BelAire

    Like 1
  14. charleMember

    On looking again, maybe it is blue, in which case it does not look right either.

    Like 0

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