1960 Chevrolet Nomad

Description

With wagons, you can get an awful lot of very stylish sheetmetal for not a lot of cash, and if this 1960 Chevy Nomad is one of the best-looking haulers of the period. Don't let the flashy wheels fool you, this is a very nicely restored Nomad with gorgeous paint, a correct interior, and a recently rebuilt 348 to pull it around with genuine authority.

It certainly looks awesome wearing a fresh coat of Tasco Turquoise with an Ermine White roof and quarter panel insert, and according to the cowl tag, that's exactly how this Nomad came from the factory. Wearing Bel Air trim, as all Nomads did, it looks like a million bucks and is one of the best-looking wagons ever made if you're a guy into wagons like I am. The bodywork is quite impressive, with four doors that fit well, a brilliant shine to that lovely turquoise paint, and the attention to detail shows at every level. Note how well the trim fits (and there's an awful lot of it!), the soft EZ-Eye tint of the windows, and the efforts they used to get the familial resemblance to the Impala just right on the tail panel, even if it does have only two taillights per side. Experts will note that this car carries both a stylized V and crossed-flag emblems, which signifies the 348 cubic inch mill under the hood, and the chrome has all been polished up to look brilliant. This is one heck of a good-looking car!

Correct materials and patterns went inside, too, as the tri-tone upholstery with vinyl houndstooth insert gives it a period-perfect look that's also durable and comfortable. The front seat may show a few very minor signs of use, but thanks to expert workmanship and quality materials, it doesn't detract from the presentation. Sporty gauges in their own pods give the color-matched dashboard a racy look and the two-tone steering wheel with horn ring is a piece of art all by itself. Hard to believe this is just a Chevy station wagon, isn't it? A factory AM radio remains in the dash and like the exterior, someone spent a bunch of time and money on the shiny stuff because it sparkles everywhere you look. The rear window is power actuated, which is pretty handy, and the cargo bay is neatly finished with matching turquoise carpets. Pretty easy to imagine a family road trip in this one, isn't it?

Road trips are especially entertaining thanks to the rebuilt 348 cubic inch V8 under the hood. With a 4-barrel carburetor, it definitely moves the wagon like a performance car and provides effortless cruising regardless of the load. Vivid Chevy Orange paint and a factory air cleaner give it an authentic look, and you can tell they cared about originality because it still carries a factory generator and single reservoir power brake master cylinder. It starts easily and runs very well, and thanks to a new Magnaflow stainless exhaust system, has an ideal exhaust note. A few Hotchkiss suspension components make the Nomad a tidy handler and the PowerGlide 2-speed automatic makes it easy to drive anywhere. The Torque Thrust wheels, as I mentioned, are the only visible non-stock component, but they look awesome and carry recent blackwall radials that fit exactly right.

This is an easy car to fall in love with and nothing makes for a more dramatic entrance than a fully dressed wagon. Heavily documented, this Nomad is an awesome way to have some fun with the family. Call today!