Chevrolet Nomad

Priced at $2571, the Nomad was among the most expensive 1955 Chevrolets (excluding the Corvette); the model line received a 265 cubic-inch V8 as standard equipment. While the Nomad received Bel Air fender badging,[4] to emphasize its roofline, the Nomad only shared the front fender trim and door trim with the Bel Air. In contrast with other Chevrolets, the Nomad was designed with fully radiused rear wheel openings (a design feature of the Corvette). Coinciding with the design of its roofline, the Nomad shared its front doors with the Bel Air hardtop and convertible (using frameless door glass).

As with the four-door Beauville station wagon, the Nomad received interior trim similar to the Bel Air sedan; the model line was the only two-door Chevrolet wagon fitted with interior carpeting and cloth seats.[5] Though distinguished by its forward-sloping rear window, tailgate, and B-pillar, the Nomad included a two-piece split tailgate and flat-folding rear seat.[4]

Sharing the same front fascia update as other 1956 Chevrolets, the exterior of the Nomad adopted the revised side-panel trim of the Bel Air. Again called both a Nomad and a Bel Air Nomad interchangeably,[6] the model line received a standard two-tone exterior and interior.[6][7] The fully-radiused rear wheel openings were dropped for the Nomad; all non-Corvette Chevrolets received a larger rear-wheel cutout.

For 1956, Ford introduced the Ford Parklane as a direct competitor of the Nomad. While the Parklane would outsell the Nomad by nearly two-to-one for 1956, Ford discontinued the model line after a single model year.

The 1957 Nomad adopted the same overall update as other 1957 Chevrolets, including a redesign of the front fascia and dashboard; large tailfins added several inches to the length of the vehicle. While two-tone options remained for the interior,[8] exterior two-tone combinations became more subdued, shifting back to a contrasting roofline color.

Following continued low sales of the Nomad through the Tri-Five generation, Chevrolet discontinued the distinct model line after the 1957 model year. Pontiac also withdrew the two-door Safari wagon, with the division adopting the nameplate for nearly its entire range of station wagons.

1958 Chevrolet Nomad

For the 1958 model year, Chevrolet adopted the Nomad nameplate for all Bel Air-trim station wagons, slotted above the Brookwood (Biscayne) and the Yeoman (Delray).

While all four-door Chevrolet wagons shared a common body, the B-body Nomad carried over several styling features from its Tri-Five predecessor, including chrome tailgate trim, multi-tone exterior and interiors, and a forward-sloping C-pillar (in place of the previous B-pillar).[9]

The Nomad was offered in a 6-passenger configuration, with the Brookwood as the sole 9-passenger Chevrolet station wagon.[10]

Rear view, 1959 Chevrolet Nomad

Rear view, 1960 Chevrolet Nomad

For 1959, Chevrolet again redesigned its full-size sedans and station wagons, with the Nomad becoming the counterpart of the newly introduced Chevrolet Impala range; Chevrolet introduced two new Bel Air wagons: the 9-passenger Kingswood and the 6-passenger Parkwood. The Yeoman was retired (following the discontinuation of the Delray), leaving the Biscayne-trim Brookwood as the lowest-trim Chevrolet wagon. The latter was offered in four-door and two-door bodies (the latter of which formed the basis of the inaugural El Camino).

In a design change, the split tailgate was replaced by a one-piece design with a retractable rear window. Closer in line to Chevrolet sedans, the Nomad adopted forward-curved C-pillars and large horizontal tailfins (replacing the vertical chrome tailgate strips). As with the Kingswood, an optional rear-facing third-row seat made the Nomad a 9-passenger vehicle.[11]

For 1960, an exterior revision introduced more subdued styling.[12] While the roofline was carried over, the front and rear fascias were redesigned, introducing a larger grille (to visually lower the hoodline), more conservative tailfins (updated primarily through trim changes) and taillamps; a chrome "jet" was added to the rear quarter panels.

1961 Chevrolet Nomad (aftermarket wheels)

For 1961, Chevrolet redesigned its full-size B-body range, including its station wagon series. Again based on a 119-inch wheelbase, the Nomad was slightly resized, losing two inches of body width and an inch of height.

Far more conservative in appearance than its 1959-1960 predecessor,[13][14] the redesigned Nomad saw increased cargo space and functionality as the tailgate opening was enlarged.[14] Again serving as the top-trim Chevrolet wagon, the Nomad was offered only with 9-passenger seating (as the Kingswood was discontinued).[14]

For 1962, Chevrolet retired the Nomad nameplate, as the model was repackaged as the Impala station wagon.

For 1976, Chevrolet created the Vega Nomad as an option for the Vega Kammback station wagon.[22][23] Intended as an appearance package, the Vega Nomad received filler panels (to restyle the B-pillars), a vinyl roof, tailgate rub strips, and vinyl Nomad badging.[22][23]

Chevrolet Nomad van

From 1977 to 1981, Chevrolet returned the Nomad name to use for a variant of the full-size Chevrolet Van.[24] Effectively a hybrid of the cargo van and passenger van configurations, the Nomad was a five-passenger vehicle with a single rear row of seats and a cargo area consisting of paneled plywood walls and a rubber floor mat.[25] Equipped similar to the higher-trim Chevrolet Beauville van, the Nomad received plaid upholstery and two-tone exterior paint.[25]

The Nomad van was marketed by GMC as the GMC Gaucho; both vehicles were withdrawn as part of the 1982 model update of the Chevrolet Van.

In 1979, the Chevrolet Nomad II was developed as a running prototype as GM explored customer demand for minivans.[31] Derived from the front-wheel drive X-body chassis, the Nomad II shared design elements from the Chevrolet Citation. While the vehicle was well-approved by potential customers, GM ultimately decided to shelve further development of the Nomad II.[31][32] For 1990, the Lumina APV was released as the first front-wheel drive Chevrolet minivan.

At the 1991 Chicago Auto Show, Chevrolet showcased a Nomad concept based on the Chevrolet Suburban.[33]

The Chevrolet Nomad reappeared on a concept vehicle for the 1999 Detroit Auto Show.[34] Sharing its F-body chassis with the fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro, the V8-powered Nomad served as an updated design of the Tri-Five two-door station wagon.[34][35] To increase its functionality, a second curbside door was added, along with a retractable roof (features later entered into production by Saturn and GMC, respectively).

Introduced alongside the Pontiac Aztek concept car, potential production of the Nomad was effectively negated by the discontinuation of the GM F-body.[34]

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Motorama concept, a Chevrolet Nomad concept was released for the 2004 Detroit Auto Show.[36][37][38] While again a 2+2 wagon, the 2004 Nomad was far smaller than its 1999 namesake, at only 155.5 inches long.[39] The vehicle derived multiple design themes from the original Corvette Nomad, including its grille, headlight shape (trading screened openings for composite lenses), and forward-sloping B-pillar. Sharing the GM Kappa platform with the Pontiac Solstice, the four-seat Nomad included a sliding load floor and removable roof panel to aid loading of cargo.[36]