Projects Stumped on what to build... Opinions please

Maybe you need to get your brother and summershow together. A deal may be in the future here.

 

Sell all three and get a 2dr.

 

I won't tell you to find something closer to being finished cause I got a good idea you know exactly what you're in for.

I vote for the '58.

 

The problem isnt that I dont like them... Its that I like all of them... They will all eventually get fixed... Just thinking which to do right now....
I have a buying from the crusher problem... My friend saved a 55 nomad thursday when I was out of town... I just found out about it today and im trying to talk him out of it... lol...

Personally im leaning towards the 56... Or the 57... Just not sure if I like the 4 door not being a wagon...

 

I also may have forgot to say, I have the expertise to do any of the 3... They are not over my head... just trying to figure out which first... The 55 nomad would be awesome but with 3 kids I think a 4 door would be a better idea...

 

The '58 is my choice- you just don't see many of them. And you said there's a parts car. Lots of good advice otherwise too. Follow your Mechanical Jedi instincts. Good luck with whatever you do ( especially if you can weasel that Nomad away from your buddy!)

 

Roger Jetter, please read my post again. I said R.Jetter X2. That meant I was agreeing with you. The squirrel was the one who posted about all the 58 wagon reproduction parts being available. You and I both posted thats not the case. Thats why I posted Tri 5 parts are everywhere.

You have my apology. Sorry I confused the issue. You and I are usually on the same page.

Gary

 

If it were my decision for a family vehicle, I would go with the 58 wagon. It is a little larger than the 56 and its a lot better for a family than a sedan. I grew up with my father buying wagons more often than not and they had lots of useful space for kids. We loved to ride in the back with the upper tailgate open, probably not a good idea now though.

 

i would say 58 wagon. unless it's rotten but i seem to remember you may have said on your finding them thread that it was actually fairly decent. i don't know if you got the other '58s that were with it but if so i'd make a list of which had the best parts that fit the wagon and start there.

 

Personally, I like the '56 wagon the best. Ease of finding parts and how much more solid it appears than the other two rank high on why I picked it, but also '56 Chevys are just good looking cars. I personally would hang 2 door sedan doors on it and move the door pillar back to make it into a Handyman wagon, but that's kinda "my thing". There's no less room in a 2 door wagon (or 2 door sedan) than there is in the equivalent 4 door.

 

True but owning a 2 door wagon I can ***ure you with a 4 door you don't get pushed through the windshield every time one of the kids climb in or out of the back seat! HRP

 

I vote for the 58. It would be the biggest challenge, but has the highest coolness factor.

 

go with the 58.

 

It looks to me like both wagons are missing the rear quarter gl*** on at least one side. I suspect those pieces of gl*** are going to be very hard to find. The side windows are just flat gl*** and can be cut by any competent gl*** company. The windshields are probably available. Based on the missing gl***, it looks like the 57 would be the car to build as a family ride. It will probably be the least expensive car of the three to build as well. Less expensive usually means a faster build, and a better chance of getting it done so the family can ride as a family. Probably be easier to sell down the road as well, lots of guys would convert it to a 2 door in an instant. Gene

 

'58 Chevys are cool -- go for it!

 

My .02 -
either wagon would be cool... if time, money, or skills isn't a question then i'd personally go with the 58 (56 being a close 2nd). sell the more door 57 and use that cash to help build whichever one you decide on.

 

Those curved back gl***es are a ****** to put in those wagons. it is hard to get them in without cracking them. 50 dodge 4x4 makes a lot of sense. And I'm just going to say this and be done with it. All 1958 GM cars are ugly, especially when compared to their 55-57 counterparts. There, I got that off my chest, and it feels good. If you have to use one of the three, go with the 56 or 57.

 

No recommendations from me. I'd just like to mention one Sal Perez' chopped '56 Wagon that was in the magazines in the eighties. I have searched many times for pictures of this car, for it was a true stand-out custom.

Part of what made it so memorable was the suicided rear doors, complete with door handles. This put both the front and the rear (switched side for side) door handles at the center of the car (ala '60 Lincoln Continental). The overall effect was very natural in appearance, quite subtle and.very well balanced.

 

"MO.... That sounds awesome... I believe im going to build the 56... Since I sold the 58 today... I really need to find somewhere else to put some cars where they cant be seen as easily...

 

This is not my car but my wife saw it on fartbook... a '57 Wagon for sale in Pelzer,S.C.

V8 ,straight drive ,runs but needs work on carb.

The guy wants 4 grand. HRP

 

I would pick a wagon over a four door build and not the 58 personally of the three choices. You can get a family in a two door though for the amount of work these need with a quicker sale should you want to turn it over in the future. My opinion you didn't ask for but all builds take a level of commitment to complete and it you don't love it. It may never see the road.

 

Thats pretty nice HRP... Only thing is I prefer to start rougher than that... I dont wanna work ontop of what others have fixed...
Sounds like a decent deal though