57' Nomad-What's it worth question?

I met a guy who has had this in this barn for the last 25 years....

So this is one of those whats it worth questions... My buddies favorite car is a nomad, and this one is close, but the guy is asking 17k for it... is it worth that much? He's got cold feet now that he found one and the economy isn't so great.









It's a 265 with solid lifters, nothing on it is perfect, but it's really not too bad either. I would make a fun driver...

I defer to the Hamb of wisdom... Is he going to pay to much if the guy doesn't budge?

 

probably worth it.
here is my reasoning, a basket case, or incomplete "parts" nomad would probably go for 4-5 grand.
this car looks complete except for the aircleaner.
could you get a 5k junker to the condition of this car for less than 12k?
check this one out for bad patches, and or current rust.
just the fact that you don't have to locate any parts is worth alot, and nomads are not cheap anymore.....

 

Well, you have come to the right place. Right now, Nomads are one of the fastest appreciating vehicles out there, far outstripping just about everything, including musclecars and anything else you could imagine.

I am going to show you the values of '57 Nomads according to the Old Cars Price Guide, which I have been buying since the mid-eighties. Nomad prices have been stable for years until the last couple of years and they recently took a huge jump.

According to the December 2007 Old Cars Price Guide, by condition:

1. $49,500
2. $34,650
3. $22,280
4. $9,900
5. $5,940
6. $1,980

Now, according to the December 2008 issue of OCPG, which I just got in the mail, prices have taken a huge jump

1. $98,500
2. $68,950
3. $44,330
4. $19,700
5. $11,820
6. $3,940

A #1 car is a 100-point restoration that is never driven but trailered to shows and a #6 car is an unrestorable parts car.

The Collector Car Market Review magazine has Nomad prices in the same range, and they are usually lower than OCPG.

If he wants a '57 Nomad, the price is fair from what I can see in the pics. You can never pay too much for a Nomad; you can only buy it a little early.

There's also a Nomad/Safari social group here on the HAMB.

 

Yeah I was looking at the Nomad http://www.chevynomadclub.com/CNAHISTORY.html site and it said only 6534 were made... Makes me think it's a pretty rare car. I have always liked them but they are so hard to come by I never have given them much thought...

 

Yep. I've seen tri-five nomads with no engine or trans go for that much on ebay. They're in my top five but will probably always be out of reach for me. Cool car...

 

YES ... 17K is fair ... I Would LOVE to buy it.
Times are changing , but a 57 Nomad is timeless

klaz

 

BUY BUY BUY. Can't go wrong with it. Better than money in the bank. Then get those ugly bumper guards off. All they're good for is to break the grille bar.

 

thats a good price

 

You know, the production figures I saw on the Nomad site, which I've seen several places the last few years, are higher than sources from years ago.

For example, The Encyclopedia of American Cars, 1940-1970 (published 1980) and Chevrolet 1955-1957 (published 1993) show production of Nomads as 8,386 in 1955, 7,886 in 1956 and 6,103 in 1957. That's what all the books said back in the 70s, when I first started searching for a Nomad to buy. The higher numbers have just shown up in publications in the last few years...I wonder which numbers are correct and which source of information is most accurate.

 

I saw a shell for sale a couple months ago for $6500. Unless it's far worse than the pics show $17,000 is likely in the ballpark.

 

That looks like a manual trans (3 pedals ) !
That would be fairly rare IMO.
I have been working on a 57 nomad frame off resto for almost 6 years.
I say buy it , if you can afford it.
Dave
BTW Arkie, do you have any pics of unmolested interiors ?
My friends at the body shop did me a "favor" while i was in the hospital having back surgery. They dissasembled the interior (3.5 yrs ago ) and the main guy no longer works in the area. It's been a challenge....
The cars runs and drives great. The interior and trim is kicking my butt.
Dave

 

Given the downturn the last few months I would trust the older OCPG numbers over the new ones. Their #3 is typical, average, car show field car, not 100%, but nice. Even the older numbers make $17K seem reasonable, if that car is all it appears to be. A 265 and manual trans seems like an oddball power combo for a Nomad, too.

 

If you tell me where it is i'll tell you if it's worth it!

 

I would buy it.

 

You pass on it shoot me a PM with info and i'll give ya a finders fee.

 

I'll let my buddy know

 

It has me thinking now about the 265 and the 3 speed... anybody enough of a Nomad Nerd to know if that would have been an option? I'm trying to figure out why it doesn't have a 283? It does have 4'11's which I think is a neat rear end...

The guy drove it where it sits now...

Now I guess I am wondering if the drive train could be original?

 

If it has 4.11's ORIGINALLY the trans should be a 3 speed o/d. If it's an original 265 it'll be a 2 barrel carb. What color is the engine??

 

Yep, I get that it would have a 2 barrel I was more wondering if it would have come with a 265 as oppossed to a 283... I guess I am also asking when did 265's phase out and when did 283's replace them?

 

its worth that if it is a running complete driver. be sure and check the roof rails & lower tailgate for rust hard to fix those areas

 

YES! you'll come out on top with this one.B

 

It's worth it.

Even though Duncan wouldn't sell me his.....................

 

Yes!

 

Yep, I think it was worth it...






last one... the battery died

 

The 265 was available still in '57 as an option (the six was the standard engine) and could be had in '57 only with the standard trans. It would have been painted yellow from the factory, rather than Chevy orange.

For '57, the 185 horse 283 was available only with automatic. the 245/250 horse 283 was available with either manual or auto, and the 270/283 horse was available only with manual trans.

 

Keep us posted on the 265's originality if it's chartreuse (lime green/yellow).
So far the manual trans and 4:11's say it could be. What might the possibility be that the original owner optioned this engine with a powerpack and the optioned heads and intake were painted orange? You might have one of the rarest 1957 chevrolet's ever sold! Let's see some engine numbers and date codes. Are the valve cover bolts at least staggered?

 

Aside from the numbers on the block is there a quick way to find the difference between a 283 and a 265?

These are about the best engine shots I have

 

its worth it.
check the 'roof' for rust.
just BUY IT! with or without roof rot.

(i hate rusty roofs!) a nomad top is 1000 on up & worth it.

 

The first guy ended up getting cold feet, but last night Knucklehead went over and bought it... so it is in the HAMB family

 

Better investment than a 401k without a doubt.