Photo: tlutz85/eBay
Introduced in 1955, the Chevrolet Tri-Five was one of the most revolutionary vehicles of its era. Available with Chevy's first mass-produced V8 and in a massive variety of body styles and trims, the Tri-Five sold like hotcakes.
The nameplate moved a whopping 1.77 million units in its first year in showrooms, giving Chevrolet a whopping 44% of the low-price market. The Tri-Five remained popular in the following couple of years, selling 1.62 million cars in 1956 and 1.55 million examples in 1957.
But it wasn't just the entry-level 150 and the mid-range 210 that sold in large numbers. The range-topping Bel Air was also a big hit. The premium-oriented Chevy found 2.2 million homes from 1955 to 1957, accounting for 44% of all Tri-Five sales.
The four-door sedan, four-door hardtop, and two-door hardtop were the most sought-after body styles, followed by the station wagon and the convertible. On the other hand, Chevrolet had a very difficult time moving the Nomad, a Bel Air-trimmed two-door grocery-getter.
Only 22,897 customers purchased a Nomad in three years, a notable drop compared to the four-door version over the same period (sold as the Beauville in 1955 and Townsman in 1956-1957). In fact, the Nomad is the rarest of the Tri-Five bunch, even when compared to the bare-bones 150 Utility Sedan and Delivery Sedan. I guess buyers just weren't ready for the luxed-up two-door wagons.
But while it was anything but popular at the time, the Nomad is now a highly desirable classic. Fully restored examples fetch six-figure sums at public auctions, while beefed-up restomods steal the show at classic car events. Not all Nomads are enjoying their retirement years in the spotlight, though. Some are still waiting to be restored to their former glory, like this 1957 example in Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige.
Like many vehicles produced in the 1950s, this Nomad spent a big part of its life off the road. The grocery-getter was recently taken out of a barn, and the seller claims it has sat for more than three decades. Unsurprisingly, the Nomad shows a lot of weathering, including surface rust and even a few holes. The Sierra Gold paint appears to be original, and it doesn't look all that bad for its age.
However, not all body panels are original. The tailgate shows traces of blue paint underneath the Sierra Gold finish, a sign that it was replaced due to severe rust issues. It's unclear whether the entire car was repainted at the time.
The interior appears to be in a similar condition: weathered but fairly complete. The seller says the floors are bad and need to be replaced, and that's not surprising given this Nomad spent most of its life in Michigan.
There's some good news under the hood, though, where this station wagon houses a 283-cubic-inch (4.6-liter) V8 engine and a Powerglide automatic transmission. New for 1957, the mill generated between 185 and 283 horsepower, depending on specifications. The range-topping option came with fuel injection, yet another new technology at the time.
Unable to perform a restoration due to another ongoing project, the owner is offering this wagon, one of only 6,264 built in 1957, at no reserve. If it's something you've been looking for, the Nomad is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and bidding has reached $17,000 with more than four days to go.
But it wasn't just the entry-level 150 and the mid-range 210 that sold in large numbers. The range-topping Bel Air was also a big hit. The premium-oriented Chevy found 2.2 million homes from 1955 to 1957, accounting for 44% of all Tri-Five sales.
The four-door sedan, four-door hardtop, and two-door hardtop were the most sought-after body styles, followed by the station wagon and the convertible. On the other hand, Chevrolet had a very difficult time moving the Nomad, a Bel Air-trimmed two-door grocery-getter.
Only 22,897 customers purchased a Nomad in three years, a notable drop compared to the four-door version over the same period (sold as the Beauville in 1955 and Townsman in 1956-1957). In fact, the Nomad is the rarest of the Tri-Five bunch, even when compared to the bare-bones 150 Utility Sedan and Delivery Sedan. I guess buyers just weren't ready for the luxed-up two-door wagons.
But while it was anything but popular at the time, the Nomad is now a highly desirable classic. Fully restored examples fetch six-figure sums at public auctions, while beefed-up restomods steal the show at classic car events. Not all Nomads are enjoying their retirement years in the spotlight, though. Some are still waiting to be restored to their former glory, like this 1957 example in Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige.
Like many vehicles produced in the 1950s, this Nomad spent a big part of its life off the road. The grocery-getter was recently taken out of a barn, and the seller claims it has sat for more than three decades. Unsurprisingly, the Nomad shows a lot of weathering, including surface rust and even a few holes. The Sierra Gold paint appears to be original, and it doesn't look all that bad for its age.
However, not all body panels are original. The tailgate shows traces of blue paint underneath the Sierra Gold finish, a sign that it was replaced due to severe rust issues. It's unclear whether the entire car was repainted at the time.
The interior appears to be in a similar condition: weathered but fairly complete. The seller says the floors are bad and need to be replaced, and that's not surprising given this Nomad spent most of its life in Michigan.
There's some good news under the hood, though, where this station wagon houses a 283-cubic-inch (4.6-liter) V8 engine and a Powerglide automatic transmission. New for 1957, the mill generated between 185 and 283 horsepower, depending on specifications. The range-topping option came with fuel injection, yet another new technology at the time.
Unable to perform a restoration due to another ongoing project, the owner is offering this wagon, one of only 6,264 built in 1957, at no reserve. If it's something you've been looking for, the Nomad is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and bidding has reached $17,000 with more than four days to go.
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