Newbie trying deciding to buy 1959 nomad. Help

Hello all, I'm new to the forum. I recently had to sell my last car. It was a 1962 falcon that I converted to a v8. I have basically only owned fords in the past so I don't know a whole lot about Chevys. Locally there is a 1959 nomad for sale it's been taken apart and is in primer. The car will come with a 348 and a trans for $1,300. It all needs to be put back together and is missing only a couple parts (windshield and gas tank). The car also has a few rust issues. Rear quarters and floor need replaced. As far as I know that is the only significant rust in the car. So my question is...... Is this not a great deal? The car needs a lot of work to be put back on the road, but I have looked and can not find any other 59's for sale at any kind of reasonable price. Also is going to be hard to find parts for this car? If I do buy this car, which I'm really leaning towards doing. I would like to get it running quickly and back on the road. I would love to make it my daily driver, and am wondering about converting it to a small block for reliability and gas mileage. Is this a horrible decision to make? I'm sure the car would be worth a lot more with the original engine. I have tried looking everywhere and can not find a lot of information of people working on this particular year nomad. Anyways. Any info anyone could give me would be much appreciated. Would it be best to wait and find a running driving nomad whenever one comes along, that I can drive and restore at the same time? Am I gonna pay way more to do this? Most of the other cars I could find were hundreds of miles away and were like 9k$!! I feel like I'm starting to ramble now, but like I said any info would be greatly appreciated. I am very excited at the thought of owning a 1959 nomad !!! I've decided this will be my next car, but want to make sure I get the best deal possible and want to know I will be able to find parts, so that I can get it on the road once again. Thanks again!!

 

welcome .lets see some pics.

 

Guydudebro...with out seeing any pictures or in person it's hard to say. HOWEVER when you mentioned the 348 that may be icing on the cake. Depending on condition of that block and if it has the proper heads, intake and carbs etc that alone re***embled properly would be work close to the full price of the lot.

With any project, you'll take pride in doing the work yourself...go for it. Impala Bob's is one place you can get lots of parts for the '59.

You may also check out the guys at www.chevytalk.org and work your way over to the 58-60 fourm, there are lots of guys there with the '59's and 348's.

You may consider posting your original list w/o a lot of the car details in the Introduction section of the fourm so we can get to know the new guy.

 

If you want to do the work and put in the time, it will be worth it.
We wanna see pitchurs.

 

My '60 is similar to the '59 you're attempting to buy...if you want to see what it's going to take, check out this thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=785551&highlight=the+2nd+best+60+chevy...

An original engine isn't going to make that much difference in value...the 348" would be good IF it's in rebuildable shape...but a 350'" is as good or better.

Something you may not know about Chevys, 'most' everything interchanges, unlike Ford, Chevy didn't reinvent the wheel every new manufacturing year...

$1300 is a great price for a wagon, even if it is a project...learn as you go...

R-

 

It'll be a project but you can't beat $1k

 

Generally,fresh fish go here and post a introduction. HRP

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=18

 

Thanks for posting some pics for me. I guess I question would be is a 1959 nomad in this condition worth 1k or typically do they go for more or less in this condition? Thanks for all the responses. I guess I didn't go to introduction section, cus I figured most people wouldn't care to much to know about some random guy (being me). I do apreciate everyone's response though. They are very helpful.

 

Ha if your try to flip it no but if in your heart to keep it then hall yeah......

 

As HRP stated earlier... ALL newbies are REQUIRED by the forum rules to do an Intro first thing after joining this site. So go do an intro newbie... CTJ

 

Just an observation from a Plymouth person......the name "Nomad" on
a 59 model with four doors.......does not have the same sort of dollar
value when completed as it does on the tri-5 versions.

Not knocking the vehicle......looks like a good project. Just likely
won't make a person wealthy at re-sale time.

 

Man, you got to do an intro or the intro police will chase you down. Not doing an intro is one of the worst things you can't do.

 

Guess im finding that out. Just posted one. I bet everyone's racing to read it. It's exciting.

 

Do your intro, and then get it.
The gas tank will be a little hard to find, the windshield just need a check or some cash.
depending on the condition of the 348 it could be almost worth the price.
is all the trim there?

 

Well I'm not looking to flip it by any means. I guess I'm not super concerned with the resale either. I just really like the 59 nomad. So one reason I like this particular car is the fact that it seems to me that it's not easy to find a 1959 nomad, especially in the condition I want. I definatly want something that I can work on an build how I like. I could do that with this car because of its condition I will have to do it. It would also be very speaking to me to be able to restore something while being drive able at the same time. I guess I'm just not sure that within a year or less ill be able to find a 1959 nomad that's running and driving for 5k or less? And if I do, is it gonna be so rough that I just want to tear it down to get it to the condition I want anyways. It seems if this car is a good deal it may just be best to buy a car for cheap, build it how I want it. As apposed to buy something for more to end up tearing it down to the condition this one is at. I guess i don't know what kind of condition nomad could I get for 5k? This car is supposed to have everything to complete the car except gas tank and windshield. I believe Trim is all there

 

lol...

 

if it is as complete as you say the parts are worth more than the asking price.

 

Saw it for sale. Seems like a good deal.

Call.
If it is what he says....go look.
Bring Cash.
Offer less.
Have fun.

 

Pretty sure they didn't make a '59 Nomad. 55 through 57. In 57 it would just be a wagon,two or four doors. Am I wrong here?

 

I think I'd be looking at the small piece and hard to find stuff. It can be a real project killer , to find some things easily. Be sure you have access to all the trim pieces,inside and out,and any hard to get curved gl***,IE ,rear side windows.
Good luck with this project.
..............................Jack

 

Nomad made '55-'61 fullsize, '68-'72 mid-size (Chevelle) and '76 Vega.

The "real" Nomads only made '55-'57, but name carried on for top of the line 4 dr wagons '58-'61. For '68-'72, Nomad name used in bottom of the line Chevelle-based wagons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Nomad

 

here

 

I'd rather pay 1200 for one I can see what it needs then 5000 for one that runs but probably still needs everything rebuilt, IMHO you'll be 4000 ahead to go toward rebuild parts. I'd go with the 348 without questain, just as reliable as a 350 but way more in the cool factor. My 59 Elky had a 348, loved it, drove it all over the country.
$1200 sounds like a fair price, the rust would turn me off but then I'm spoiled living in the SW.

 

58 and 59 nomads

 

I really appreciate all of your input. I spoke with the guy and am tentatively planning on getting the car this weekend. He said there are a few part that are missing though. He said all the gl*** is there except the windshield. He also said the outside trim is missing on both side from the door forward. He said there is also a pice of trim that goes along the bottom of the dash?? and apparently that is gone as well. Turns out it does have a gas tank. The 348 is from a 1960 and is all there except the carb. And he has a ****** that he knows nothing about and may be nothing more than a core. He mentioned that he originally thought the core support was fine, but was looking at it and said it'll need a little rust repair as well. So if those parts are missing but the rest is there, do most agree that this is a good deal? I agree with metalman it'll be best to start from this point and know exactly what I'm getting. Another thought would be. If its not going to make a diffrence in the value of the car to keep the 348 in it. Should I recoup some money by selling 348 and buy a small block, which would be cheaper to build and better on gas? Remember I'm aiming for reliability and gas mph. I would guess a small block would accomplish that easier, or am I wrong? Can you build a 348 for gas mph? Seems kinda like a strange idea, but again, pretty unfamiliar with Chevys. Keep the advice coming. I appreciate it all

 

yep, they did until at least 1961 and then at one point a "non HAM friendly" Chevelle wagon version

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8804677#post8804677

 

59 info

 

the front trim is the same as a 4 door Impala. As far as the 348 i do not think gas mileage as a concern back in 1959, but if you have a spot i would keep it for now if the car originally had one. the SBC is the fast and cheep way to get it on the road.

 

Love the '59's! Have fun with it.. keep us posted!

 

What transmission is behind the 348? The early Turboglide ( I think that's what it was called) tended to be problematic. That's the trans with GR on the shift quadrant for grade retard.