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1956 Chevrolet Nomad

California

$85,000 $95,000

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Nomad

Year

1956

Interior Color

Tan

Transmission

Automatic

Drivetrain

RWD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

496 Big Block with 671 BDS blower

Condition

Excellent

Description

1956 Nomad Pro-Street.\r\n496 Big Block, 671 BDS blower which produces over 1000 HP at 5 lbs. boost 91 octane fuel. Turbo 400 trans reverse valve body with trans brake built professionally to handle 1400 HP. \r\nDisc brakes on all 4 corners.\r\nCustom leather interior by Ron Mangus.\r\nCustom radiator with 14-inch dual cooling fans.\r\nCurrie 9-inch Ford Posi traction rear end with 411 gears.\r\nDrivetrain all new.\r\nCustom stereo system by Kicker.\r\nI cannot possibly list everything this car has. It is a professional build.

You cannot build a car of this caliber for asking price. I have twice this listed amount into this car. The car appraises for over asking price. I can supply more pictures and documentation concerning this vehicle.

This Nomad will not disappoint. It is a head turner wherever it goes. Please do your research before considering an offer. Thank you.

Chevrolet Nomad Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1955–1961

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The most beautiful station wagon ever built, the 1955–1957 Chevrolet Nomad is a rolling Motorama dream at the intersection of practicality and pure 1950s style.

This guide covers

✓ 8-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 3 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Nomad Buyer's Guide

Chevrolet Nomad Market Overview

Based on 8 Chevrolet Nomad listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$91,684

Avg. Asking Price

1955–1957

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Average Range

This car: $85,000

Low: $53,495 High: $178,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 63% ◄

Manual 38%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 25% ◄

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 8 listings →

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Chevrolet Nomad Buyer's Guide

There are station wagons, and then there is the Chevrolet Nomad. Introduced in 1955 as the most glamorous wagon ever offered by an American mass-market manufacturer, the two-door Nomad merged Harley Earl's Motorama dream car with practical family transportation. The 1955–1957 Nomad, with its distinctive B-pillarless two-door hardtop wagon body, is one of the most visually striking designs of the 1950s, and one of the most desirable tri-five Chevys in existence.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Inspect rear roof seams and inner roof structure for trapped moisture and rust ,

✓

Test two-piece tailgate mechanism fully (drop-down and lift-up glass) ,

✓

Probe floor pans under carpet and full rocker panels ,

✓

Verify stainless B-pillar trim condition — budget $800–$2,000 for replacement ,

✓

Confirm engine pad stampings and trim tag match documentation ,

✓

Inspect tailgate skin and hinge pockets for hidden rust ,

✓

Check all glass and rubber seals (especially rear quarter windows) ,

✓

Verify any FI equipment is complete and original (not reproduction) ,

Common Issues

The unique rear roof structure with its ribbed panels traps water and rusts from the inside, this is the Nomad's signature problem and the most expensive to fix correctly. The two-piece tailgate mechanism is complex and prone to misalignment. Stainless B-pillar trim is scarce and expensive in perfect condition. Numbers-matching fraud is a real concern at these price levels.

What to Look For

The ideal Nomad purchase is a southern car with continuous ownership history, verifiable VIN/trim/engine stampings, and original or correct-era stainless trim. A 1957 with the FI 283 is the ultimate find, extremely rare in Nomad guise. For the budget collector, a solid-bodied 1956 with a freshly rebuilt 265 and good glass is the safest entry. Avoid any car where the seller can't produce stamping documentation at these price levels.

Price Guide

1955–1957 Nomad: driver quality $55,000–$85,000; professional restoration $90,000–$130,000; concours $150,000+. FI cars add 25–40% premium. 1958–1961 Nomad: $15,000–$28,000 in good driver condition, $35,000–$50,000 restored.

Did You Know?

The Nomad was originally designed for the Corvette chassis: Harley Earl's dream was a sports-wagon Corvette. When GM decided the volume couldn't justify the Corvette tooling cost, it was adapted to the standard chassis, but the original name 'Corvette Nomad' was used at Motorama before it became simply 'Nomad.' Only 22,950 two-door Nomads were built across all three years, roughly the same as a single month of Chevrolet Bel Air production.

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