Vehicle Description
1957 Chevrolet Nomad
"Family Engineered" was the buzzword for the 1957 Chevrolet Belair
2-Door Wagon. Holding all the cargo you will need, even a sleeping
fold down option so you can save on the Motor Inn fee. Able to
navigate the smoothest roads or a backwoods trail, your family
could literally go anywhere. All in style with the top of the line
Bel Air in the pinnacle year of the Tri-Five craze, the 1957
Chevrolet 2-Door Nomad Wagon.
For consignment, an earlier restoration job, performed by an
amateur mechanic body man and painter. She will need some work to
bring her back to perfect, but all panels are there, and rust free,
as are all the trimmings. Nice rounded panoramic glass for all the
passengers to see the sites, and the beautifully swept back "B"
pillar just behind the front doors, signifying it is a Bel AIr. A
top of the line cruiser, vacation go to car, for consignment here
at Classic Auto Mall.
Exterior
Body panels show nicely, however upon close inspection, you will
see some waves, body filler and paint with inclusions and drips.
Some orange peel, and slight light rust bubbling can also be picked
out randomly throughout. Trim is bright and shiny and is all there.
Glass is clean, clear, and lighting is same condition throughout.
The swoop spear rear panel is clear and stainless with the Bel Air
badging in grandmother's handwriting in gold along with a Chevrolet
badge. The rear of the car gets it just right for the '57 with the
chrome trimmings topping off the rear quarters, and melting into
the rear taillight, gas filler, backup light, and in bumper
exhaust. For this Nomad, nice vertical chrome trimmings are on the
gate, and the rear glass can open on top for easy access for all
that luggage. Dog dish wheel covers nicely chromed cover body
matching (red/orange) wheels wrapped in wide whites all around.
Interior
A swing of the 2 doors and we are greeted with red and gray vinyl
covering for the panel with nicely preserved handles and cranks,
and more swoop spear trimmings delineating the two colors. Vinyl is
slightly wavy on these panels. Placing ourselves inside, we note
that a vinyl bench upfront has been recolored from gray to red,
showing some scratch off of the red. A matching rear bench showing
some slight wear is similar in pattern to the front bench. A
painted metal dash has large round metal bezels for the gauges,
some tubular warning lights lining the top and a strip of stainless
with black square pattern on it running the length of the dash
housing the knobs for lights, wipers, ignition and the radio. Below
is another red painted panel which houses the heater and airflow
sliders, ashtray, and glovebox. An original steering wheel shows
some chipping of the red paint but retains its shine on the horn
and trimmed center. Nice black carpet floods the floors, and above
a tight headliner is adorned with some thin trim arches between the
seams, presenting in gray.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a clean engine bay with a nicely restored orange
painted block 283ci V8 not original to this car. A single 4-barrel
Carter carburetor is atop and a 2-speed Powerglide automatic is on
back. 3.36 gears are reserved for this rear axle.
Undercarriage
All clean and black underneath, with what could be new floorpans, a
nicely painted frame showing some underlying surface rust, and
black and shiny suspension parts. The engine is drip free, and the
front independent with coil springs suspension and rear leaf spring
suspension is solid. Drum brakes are all around.
Drive-Ability
It started right up and idled a bit rough with seemingly only 7 of
8 cylinders operational. Off to the test track where it struggled
to provide power even with the gas pedal to the floor. Several
gauges and switches were inop, such as radio, wipers, heater
blower, speedo and odometer, temp gauges, and turn signals only
working with headlights that work in high beam mode only.
With some newer upgraded mechanicals and finicky electrics, this
will comes to us in Nomad Bel Air trim, which not many were
produced in 1957, so it is somewhat rare. It will need work to get
it back to snuff, but the basics are all there with some extra trim
in the back that will come along for the ride upon your purchase.
Here is an entry into the least found last Tri-Five model in Bel
Air high end trim, two door, carbureted engine, nice design wagon
awaiting the next camping trip, or just turning heads on main
street.
VIN DECODE
VC57N241735
V-V8
C-2400 Series BelAir Nomad 2 Door Wagon
57-1957
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
241735-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 1064-1957 Nomad BelAir
BODY NO CL61
TRIM NO 692-Black & Green
PAINT NO 813D-India Ivory & Surf Green
ACC EZI-Tinted Glass
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
