The Chevrolet Nomad series station
wagons built from 1955 to 1957 are highly desirable cars to collect or restore.
Don’t look for any bargains however. Prices can range from 20,000 to 42,000 and
even higher depending on the model (check Hemmings classifieds). Six cylinder
versions go for less. The 1957 version is the most desirable in the current
market. Finding any Nomad in restorable condition can be a worthwhile project for
the car enthusiast however. Most of the parts used on these models came from
the passenger cars.
The Nomad is arguably the prettiest
station wagon ever built. Oddly enough the idea came from a Corvette show car,
which was on display at a car show at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
The show car got such rave reviews
that executives at GM instructed the stylists to incorporate some of its
styling cues into its 1955 station wagon lineup. The result was the 1955
Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad.
It was a sporty station wagon with
hardtop styling unlike anything that had been produced before. Nomads look fast
even when they are parked.
History
Under the direction of design chief
Harley Earl, Chevrolet had introduced the Corvette, GM’s legendary fiberglass
sports car to the public in 1953.
In 1953 Earl had a station wagon
show car version of the Corvette built for the 1954 Motorama at the Waldorf
Astoria in New York. This station wagon version of the Corvette had a stylish
roofline. The roof design had been conceived by stylist Carl Renner.
After the popularity of the show
car GM, instructed Renner to modify the design for use on the 1955 station
wagons. Renner revised his drawings to stretch the design to fit on the wagons
and the Nomad was born.
Basic Specs
Nomads only came in two door models
although there is plenty of hauling space in the rear.
Total production was only about
23,000 units so plan on looking hard for one. These units were not popular at
the time because of the two door only configuration and the cost, which was
typically higher than the convertible. There were leaking problems with the
tailgate also because of alignment problems.
Chevrolet manufactured a new
lightweight small block V8 for 1955 and they put it in the Nomad also. The old
“stovebolt” six was also available. 1956 saw GM add a dual four-barrel option
for the V8 and in 1957 they offered fuel injection.
Transmissions included Chevrolet’s
trusty 2-speed Powerglide, a manual three on the column and a new smooth
shifting automatic offered in 1957 called Turboglide.
The body style was the same except
for styling tweaks, which paralleled the passenger line. The Nomad had sloping
“b” pillars, a rakish tailgate, hardtop styling and a fluted roof consisting of
nine transverse groves on the roof. They all had the signature seven chrome
strips on the tailgate known as the “bananas.” Each year fronts and rears were
restyled with new grilles and taillights and side moldings were also modified.
The 1957 version had the big fins and like its passenger counterpart is
considered by many to be the prettiest of the series but that is debatable.
Conclusion
The 1955-1957 Chevrolet Nomad
station wagons may be the prettiest station wagons built according to popular
consensus.
This is a great car to own for its
beauty and it’s quite functional too. Although a restored car is costly to
purchase, a restorable version may be found at a good price, which will make an
excellent project car.
If you’re not into buying one quite
yet, look for one at your local car show.
