Hot Rods Tri five Chevy values

57 front end and gaudy side trim just looks odd.
55 is kinda boring but cool.
56 is dang near perfect.
But we all see things differently

when I was looking for a tri 5 for the wife, 57 was her least favorite. She does not like the dash
I’d rather have a 58 over a 57

 

You do know that the 58 was supposed to the new model for 57.

 

Nope. But an extra year of those beauties would have been cool

 

They’re out there
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/nice-57-chevy-survivor.1280925/

 

Quad-five would sound so wrong!

 

Hello,

Yes, the 1957 Nomad is a classy design that is a well sought after model. It is too bad the next year they did not continue the showcase of models with the “Nomad” design parameters. As part of my realm of changes to stock models and custom art designs, these were fun to draw and imagine the effect they would have caused in So Cal and elsewhere.

Yes, GM made a 1958 sedan delivery and station wagon, but not in the realm of the “Nomad” style.

A normal sedan delivery, a two door station wagon, custom colors, and a wide hardtop version could have all contributed to the cool 58 chevy lineup of models.

Jnaki

We certainly would have purchased one during the 1960 drag racing season for our future extended road trips across the USA to the Nationals. Tow car/wagon to automatic built in sleeping quarters for roadside campgrounds.

But, afterwards, those long surf trips South of the Baja, Mexico border would have fallen right into the program. A secure camping facility, anywhere we parked off of the main highway, even down a dusty, winding road to several surf spots hidden from viewers. Plus, after the road/surf trips, it was still good enough to cruise the local So Cal drive-in restaurant parking lots with the powerful 348 motor(s). YRMV

 

@Moriarity just sell me Ms. Elegance.

my kids don’t need to go to university!!!!

just perfect for a 55 custom !!

 

Yeah the tri five market has pretty much leveled out in terms of the body style being a moot point in terms of price. I’ve seen 56/57 4 door hard tops bring the same money as a 2 door hard top. It’s also gotten hard to find nice 4 doors. I was actually looking for one to drive to work, but it was easier finding 2 doors.

about the only body styles that are steps above are drop tops and nomads.

I’m like @Moriarity I love a tri five custom, my connection with Taboo kinda set the groundwork for that obsession, lol. their market value is pretty much dependent on history and just finding that one person willing to pay.

 

Welcome to the new economy. I can't believe the prices the Tri Fives are bringing. I suppose its because the dollar isn't worth nearly as much. I sold my 56 a couple of years back for 22 and now I think if I had kept it longer I could have sold it for 10 more. But 4 doors, except the hardtops, will always be parts cars to me, no matter how nice. They just look boring.

 

I guess that I should have hung onto the rock solid '55 150 four door that I bought in 1991 for $600.00.

 

The TriFives that seem to be in the highest demand and price range are the unmolested original cars. By unmolested I'm referring to the body and interior. I bought my first '55 Delray in '63 and own my forth one now. To me the Delray will always be my favorite. Assembling my current '55 was like having muscle and brain memory recall from my youth. Everything just falls into place, no problems. An old friend sold his '55 Delray last year for $60K. A very original and unmolested sheetmetal car. 327, Muncie, 9" and original paint. He didn't want to sell it but the buyer kept raising the offer until he relented. I bought this Delray in '14 from the original owner and know I couldn't replace it for anything near what I have invested in it.

 

Speechless!

 

And even building an engine is daunting… My project stalled years ago and I have since moved twice. Now starting up again I thought I had lost my oil pump pickup. No one makes that, and no one sees the value in listing one for sale on auction sites it seems… And oil pumps don’t come with it. So my best option was to wait for a donor engine, which seems ridiculous for such a simple part.

Luckily I found everything, but I have great respect for orphan make powered hot rods. I don’t dare judge anyone for installing a SBC in theirs… they are driving their car while I’m playing detective to gather mundane parts.

 

@oldsmobum yup , one of the reasons I sold my Buick was the mail head dropped a valve and the dynaflow had a leak ,two expensive and labour intensive jobs to undertake .

when I had my 50 fleetline I built a 261 , solid lifter cam, three carb offey intake split exhaust all the offey shiny stuff corvette distributor with tach drive , all the 50’s hot rod stuff with a t5 trsns .

I could have stuffed a SBC in it for a third the price an been driving a year earlier !!

the inliner was cool as cool could get . But cost to build and source parts was fun but a pain at the same time .

 

@Fogger sweet ride !

 

It sounds like you've got it together now, but if you run into any other obscure part that you need, I've got a few of these engines lying around.

 

This is what 15G will get you in SoCal. How can you not laugh at this shit...?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...eed_ranking_signature":"8156627752990779263"}

 

Here they're all over the map.

 

Those 4 door prices are insane !! We paid 1,500$ for our wagon. Was a California car with solid original floor pans & 100% complete minus the drive train.

The upside to Tri Fives is parts are plentiful & fairly cheap. They're easy to work on & with a V8 easily up to the task of hanging with modern traffic.
Much more so than the previous king pinned babbit beater 216/235 predecessors.

Not that anyone gives a damn but for me, It's got to be a 55 or 57. GM shit their britches with the 56 grill design imo.. No disrespect to the 56 guys.

 

I have less than 10-k in our 56. It's been a family driver for 25 plus years. It's cheaper, and also a lot more fun to drive than any of the boring new cars.

 

killer tough looking grill and front end treatment



This is just fancy


I dunno they both look good , prefer a 55 but wouldn’t kick a 56 outta bed for eating crackers !

 

There is what looks to be a clean '55 four door out here for $18,000 OBO https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/443358081874582/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp:614ea4e1-d24f-4816-9ca3-6dc84b7d5ebd

There are a few decent looking '58 four doors out west as well for under $12,000

 

@K13 not a bad deal at all .

even tho it’s the “quintessential “ 50’s paint scheme . I’m not a fan of the teal. I don’t not like it , but ….anyways .

yeah 18k

maybe talk him down a bit , a wheel swap , lower it . I got a buddy with a 389 he’s almost giving away .

possibly for 25k I got something fun .

options

 

I bet shipping from Alberta to Ontario if the seller could load it in a 53’ box trailer would be around 1000 bucks , so not horrible .

 

Yeah the teal is a bit much. LOL

Here's a '56 better exterior colour, already has a 350 in it, but the interior...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/640981054678791/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp:207c40c4-3fe1-4c2e-b581-efc59efadc0f

And a pretty cool '56 4 door wagon
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:207c40c4-3fe1-4c2e-b581-efc59efadc0f

 

Decent looking 55 4 door in Jersey for $7800:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:b2ed9184-e7a7-4468-8a4e-5ca1bbb80b13

 

I stashed a bunch of B pillar cutoffs and 2 door sedan doors away for future conversions on 4 door sedans. But seeing what 4 door sedans are bringing, I might never be able to do another one again.

 

Just stay away from sellers that watch those auctions on tv. You know the ones.

 

@K13 the burgundy interior reminds me of an 80’s caddilac brougham
High back buckets in anything 69 and older just seems so off to me .

that wagon , even though it’s not what I’m looking for is simply amazing and I would say a good price .


@Mr. Sinister $7900 is $11000 in my maple syrup money , couple grand to get it here it all adds up quick .

found a 56 4 door hardtop guys asking 12 doesn’t look horrible but it’s 5 hours away from me .