So, it was the early 90's in Beckley, West Virginia... my dad had a turqoise and white 56 Nomad. I was 15 years old. The car had been pulled out of a backyard in the late 80's where it had rested (on it's top) for YEARS. He nursed the car back to life and turned rust back into a car. My mom was not pleased when it rolled into our garage. For several years he tinkered on it. Aside from assisting on all the other aspects of the build, I also spent a long weekend at his shop masking and helping to paint the car. It was the first one I had ever helped bring to life (aside from handing him a wrench or a screwdriver) Now, it was no concourse restoration... times were tough and it was a low budget driver build. Our life was controlled by the coal mining industry and the 80's were not a good time to be in mining. Granted... many people today would call it a hack job, but it was outfitted with a Pontiac V8 and Pontiac interior from a late 70's Grand Prix, but it was still drivable. In fact, it seems like he bought the Pontiac at a police auction. He tried to get my mom to drive the Pontiac but after she found a few ratty relics of the cars past life (use your imagination) she refused to drive it and the car became a donor for the Nomad. I am hoping the Pontiac running gear and late model mirrors make the car recognizable to someone. I bet he didn't put 20 miles on the car and a layoff forced a move. AND... about the same time, I was starting to drive and my older sister was starting to college. (see where this is going?) So, the Nomad went in the paper. (I was offered the car to drive, but I was a stupid kid and I wanted a Chevy S10... ) As I recall, a man from California was visiting West Virginia for a funeral and came to buy the car. My dad told the guy it had never been road tested but the guy was convinced he was going to drive it cross country. He gave him a taillight warranty. (as long as I can see your taillights, you can bring it back) and the guy drove off in the Nomad. Gone... never to be seen or heard from again. I'd love to have that car back. Does anybody wanna fess up to the fate of the hacked up Nomad? The VIN is B56N107731 Now, for any Tri-Five fanatics, that does not appear to be a Nomad VIN (I know...). Shows to be a 210 '56 6 cylinder VIN. It is not a typo. I have it documented, that is the vin on THAT car and according to the WV DMV it is still an active VIN. Who knows what happened to the car in its first 40 years and really I dont care. I'd just like to see it again.
I hope you find it. I always wondered what happened to my Nomad. I still kick myself for selling it (back in the early 80s)
So, I found out more about the origins of the vin on the Nomad. The car was basically a parts car when we got it. There was no title, so the guy who sold it to my dad came up with the 4 door "B" title which explains the confusion when I researched the title from the DMV. However . . . still no Nomad sightings! Anybody seen or heard of this car?!?!?
I'd rather see a Pontiac go into a Chevy than a Chevy go into a Pontiac.....sorry, yeah, that didn't help you any. Good luck with the search.
[QUOTE="jeffg1010, post: 10605117, member: 168 He gave him a taillight warranty. (as long as I can see your taillights, you can bring it back) [/QUOTE]............................I like that.
Cool story! I'm familiar with the economy in WV and the need to sell things when it turns bad. I hope you find your Nomad. Jim
Still no word on our old Nomad. Just thought I'd bump it back to the top thinking maybe can shed some light on it's whereabouts. The VIN is B56N107731
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