Photo: natcar7941/eBay
Launched for the 1955 model year, the Chevrolet Tri-Five was an instant hit. The company sold a whopping 1.77 million units, a 54% increase over the 1954 full-size and a US sales record. About 45% of these units were top-tier Bel Air models.
The four-door sedan was arguably the most popular body style that year, accounting for nearly 750,000 examples delivered. At the other end of the spectrum, the station wagon versions moved only 166,456 units across all trims.
While the four-door grocery-getters were somewhat popular, the two-door wagons found only 56,445 customers. Exactly 47,915 of them were Handyman models in 150 and 210 trims, leaving only 8,530 range-topping Nomads sold. Based on the Bel Air, the latter provided a unique blend of utility and luxury that wasn't well-received at the time.
Arguably the rarest of the 1955 Tri-Fives, the Chevrolet Nomad is a fully-fledged collectible nowadays. Highly original and restored examples can fetch more than $100,000 at auctions, while heavily modified restomods have changed hands for more than $200K at public auctions. The blue example you see here is somewhere in between, and chances are it won't be as expensive.
So, what exactly do we have here? Well, this station wagon left the assembly line nearly 70 years ago, but it looks essentially brand-new. And if you look at it from a distance, you may not even notice the larger-than-stock American Racing wheels. But the 15-inch rollers aren't the only aftermarket upgrades that went into this grocery-getter.
The Nomad also features power steering, front disc brakes, a digital stereo, and a Hurst shifter for the manual transmission. But the most significant update lurks under the hood. For some reason, the original 265-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) V8 was removed to make way for a bigger Chevy unit. The mill in question displaces 327 cubic inches (5.4 liters), but there's no info on its provenance. The seller doesn't provide pictures either.
But it's safe to assume we're talking about the iconic 327 that Chevrolet introduced in 1962. Based on the company's first small-block V8 engine design, the 327 was available in a variety of versions with output ranging from 225 to 383 horsepower. The mill was discontinued in 1969.
However, the 327 in this Nomad isn't exactly stock. The owner says it features quite a few aftermarket upgrades, including an Edelbrock intake manifold, a four-barrel carburetor, an MSD ignition coil, and an aluminum radiator, to name a few. Output remains a mystery, but I wouldn't be surprised if the rear wheels got more than 400 horsepower.
All told, this Nomad is a fully-fledged sleeper. It looks as authentic as they get inside and out (check out the cool two-tone upholstery), but it packs a beefed-up small-block V8 atop the front axle. Price? Well, this Nomad is up for auction, and the current high bid is $45,100. That's below the average sticker for Nomads in this condition, but the auction has four more days to go. The wagon is located in Cypress, Texas.
While the four-door grocery-getters were somewhat popular, the two-door wagons found only 56,445 customers. Exactly 47,915 of them were Handyman models in 150 and 210 trims, leaving only 8,530 range-topping Nomads sold. Based on the Bel Air, the latter provided a unique blend of utility and luxury that wasn't well-received at the time.
Arguably the rarest of the 1955 Tri-Fives, the Chevrolet Nomad is a fully-fledged collectible nowadays. Highly original and restored examples can fetch more than $100,000 at auctions, while heavily modified restomods have changed hands for more than $200K at public auctions. The blue example you see here is somewhere in between, and chances are it won't be as expensive.
So, what exactly do we have here? Well, this station wagon left the assembly line nearly 70 years ago, but it looks essentially brand-new. And if you look at it from a distance, you may not even notice the larger-than-stock American Racing wheels. But the 15-inch rollers aren't the only aftermarket upgrades that went into this grocery-getter.
The Nomad also features power steering, front disc brakes, a digital stereo, and a Hurst shifter for the manual transmission. But the most significant update lurks under the hood. For some reason, the original 265-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) V8 was removed to make way for a bigger Chevy unit. The mill in question displaces 327 cubic inches (5.4 liters), but there's no info on its provenance. The seller doesn't provide pictures either.
But it's safe to assume we're talking about the iconic 327 that Chevrolet introduced in 1962. Based on the company's first small-block V8 engine design, the 327 was available in a variety of versions with output ranging from 225 to 383 horsepower. The mill was discontinued in 1969.
However, the 327 in this Nomad isn't exactly stock. The owner says it features quite a few aftermarket upgrades, including an Edelbrock intake manifold, a four-barrel carburetor, an MSD ignition coil, and an aluminum radiator, to name a few. Output remains a mystery, but I wouldn't be surprised if the rear wheels got more than 400 horsepower.
All told, this Nomad is a fully-fledged sleeper. It looks as authentic as they get inside and out (check out the cool two-tone upholstery), but it packs a beefed-up small-block V8 atop the front axle. Price? Well, this Nomad is up for auction, and the current high bid is $45,100. That's below the average sticker for Nomads in this condition, but the auction has four more days to go. The wagon is located in Cypress, Texas.
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