Car: Chevrolet Nomad Fuel Injection
Year: 1957
What makes it special: The Chevrolet Nomad was not only a style icon, but influenced the “Hatchback” styling of car models in later years. The station wagon was made periodically from model years 1955 to 1972 in various forms, and also in Van form in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. During the tri-five years of 1955 to 1957 it was considered a “Halo model” because of the effect it produced on selling other cars within General Motors.
What made it famous: The Chevrolet Nomad was unique because it was a station wagon whose styling was more like a hardtop sedan. It influenced sister GM company Pontiac to produce their “Safari” model in 1956. The 1957 Chevrolet is already an icon, world-recognized for it’s rear tailfins. For ’57, the V8 grew to 283 cu in from the previous 265 V8, and the Super Turbo Fire V8 produced 283 hp with the factory-option addition of continuous fuel injection (Like the car shown in the photo.) Known as “Fuelies,” these are pretty rare to find, since most buyers opted for the regular carburation V8’s. The Nomad was considered a milestone design, but was discontinued due to a whole new body design and chassis for the 1958 model year.
Why I would want one: Three reasons: It’s a milestone design year, it’s a fuelie, and it’s rare. Enuff said.
Fun fact: The top brass at GM felt it would be better suited if the Nomad name was more associated with their top-of-the-line Bel Air model, so it’s not weird to hear someone refer to one as a “Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad.”
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