Photo: Teri Gardner Davis/Facebook
The Tri-Five models of 1955 to 1957 are arguably the most iconic Chevrolets ever built. The Bel Air stands out as the most stylish and popular version, but the Nomad station wagon, marketed as a halo model at the time, is the most sought-after variant. And it's probably the coolest two-door wagon ever designed.
A nicely restored Nomad from the era will set you back anywhere from $60,000 to $90,000, while restomods with modern drivetrains can fetch more than $100,000. If you're in the market for a 1957 wagon, but you don't want to fork out all that cash, here's an interesting project with a juicy LS V8 under the hood.
A 1957-model-year version, probably the most beautiful of them all, this Nomad looks like it was forgotten for a few decades in a barn. There's dust, faded paint, and even some surface rust on the rear fenders and the roof. But don't let that first impression fool you; this Nomad is full of surprises under the skin.
For starters, the interior looks much better than the exterior suggests. The upholstery has been redone, and the dashboard and the headliner look almost new. The smaller aftermarket steering wheel looks out of place, but that's something you can easily fix.
The second surprise lurks under the hood in the form of a 5.3-liter V8 of the LS variety. The modern engine mates to a 4L60 automatic, a gearbox that GM offered on production models from 1992 to 2013. There's no word on output, but you can bet on this LS generating more than the original mill.
As a brief reminder, the first-generation Nomad was offered with a 4.6-liter V8 in 1957. Shared with the Corvette, the mill produced 283 horsepower and 290 pound-feet (393 Nm) of torque. The original of the LS is unknown, but 5.3-liter units are known to generate more than 300 horsepower in stock GM vehicles. And it's obviously more capable than that.
Other modern goodies include Cragar SS wheels, a tilt steering column, disc brakes at all four corners, and a big aluminum radiator with dual cooling fans.
The seller says he's been working on the car for years and even though some parts are missing, he's offering the car with "boxes of original parts and many new parts that haven't been installed yet."
It's listed on Facebook Marketplace in Farmington, Utah, at $29,995. A bit steep given the bodywork, but all those extra parts could make it an interesting package. Is it a good investment or would you rather fork out another $30 to $40K for a fully restored Nomad?
A 1957-model-year version, probably the most beautiful of them all, this Nomad looks like it was forgotten for a few decades in a barn. There's dust, faded paint, and even some surface rust on the rear fenders and the roof. But don't let that first impression fool you; this Nomad is full of surprises under the skin.
For starters, the interior looks much better than the exterior suggests. The upholstery has been redone, and the dashboard and the headliner look almost new. The smaller aftermarket steering wheel looks out of place, but that's something you can easily fix.
The second surprise lurks under the hood in the form of a 5.3-liter V8 of the LS variety. The modern engine mates to a 4L60 automatic, a gearbox that GM offered on production models from 1992 to 2013. There's no word on output, but you can bet on this LS generating more than the original mill.
As a brief reminder, the first-generation Nomad was offered with a 4.6-liter V8 in 1957. Shared with the Corvette, the mill produced 283 horsepower and 290 pound-feet (393 Nm) of torque. The original of the LS is unknown, but 5.3-liter units are known to generate more than 300 horsepower in stock GM vehicles. And it's obviously more capable than that.
Other modern goodies include Cragar SS wheels, a tilt steering column, disc brakes at all four corners, and a big aluminum radiator with dual cooling fans.
The seller says he's been working on the car for years and even though some parts are missing, he's offering the car with "boxes of original parts and many new parts that haven't been installed yet."
It's listed on Facebook Marketplace in Farmington, Utah, at $29,995. A bit steep given the bodywork, but all those extra parts could make it an interesting package. Is it a good investment or would you rather fork out another $30 to $40K for a fully restored Nomad?
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