Chevrolet Bel Air · 1955–1957

Nomad

The two-door Bel Air wagon with a hardtop's roofline, built from February 1955 to 1957: the most expensive and the rarest Bel Air in each of its three years.

The story

The Nomad began as a Corvette-based dream car at GM's 1954 Motorama. The production wagon arrived in February 1955 with that roofline nearly unchanged.12

Behind the cowl it shared little sheet metal with other Chevrolets, which made it the most expensive Bel Air: $2,571 with the V8 in 1955, $265 more than a V8 Bel Air convertible by Consumer Guide's count.13one source

Its faults were the price, only two doors on a wagon, a glassy cabin that got hot in the sun, and a tailgate that leaked rain and drew in exhaust fumes. For 1956 Chevrolet saved money with standard Bel Air seat inserts and trim, but the price still rose and output fell each year. The two-door Nomad was dropped after 1957; from 1958 the name went on Chevrolet's top four-door wagons.123

How to spot a Nomad

A hardtop roofline on a wagon

Frameless door glass from the Bel Air hardtop, a slanted center pillar, wraparound rear side glass and a fluted roof.12

Round rear wheel openings in 1955

The 1955 has fully round rear wheel openings; from 1956 the Nomad has the same openings as other Chevrolets.12

A reversed slash molding in 1956

The short slanted molding on the rear quarter leans forward to follow the center pillar; on other 1956 Bel Airs it leans back. On a V8, a small chrome V sits below each tail lamp.23

Production by year

How many Nomads were built each model year.

1955
8,386open ruling
1956
7,886
1957
6,103
As a table, with notes
YearBuiltNote
19558,386 (open ruling)145Consumer Guide. Over-Drive gives 6,103, the same as its 1957 figure; Classic Industries 8,530. Ruling
19567,886145Consumer Guide and Over-Drive alike; Classic Industries 8,103.
19576,103145Consumer Guide and Over-Drive alike; Classic Industries 6,264.

Engines

The serial number has no engine code beyond the V that marks a V8; the code shown is Chevrolet's regular production option (RPO) number where a source gives one.

YearsCodeEngineRated
1955–1957—235.5 cu in Blue Flame six123 or 136 hp (1955), 140 hp (1956–57)34
1955–1956—265 cu in V8162–180 hp (1955; 195 later in the year, by Over-Drive), 162–225 hp (1956, by Over-Drive; Consumer Guide: 162–170)1367
1957—265 or 283 cu in V8, carburetors or fuel injection162–283 hp38

Where the sources disagree

Every conflict behind the figures on this page. All rulings.

Open

How many Nomads were built

Our ruling: Unresolved for 1955. We show Consumer Guide's figures. Over-Drive agrees for 1956 and 1957, but its 1955 figure is the same 6,103 as its 1957 one, which looks like a copying slip. Classic Industries is higher in all three years and calls its figures estimates.

What each source says (3)
  • 8,386 in 1955, 7,886 in 1956 and 6,103 in 19571one source
  • 6,103 in 1955, 7,886 in 1956 and 6,103 in 195746one source
  • 8,530 in 1955, 8,103 in 1956 and 6,264 in 19575one source

Settled

Was the V8 standard on the 1955 Nomad?

Our ruling: Settled: the six was available. Over-Drive's table prices a six-cylinder Nomad, and Consumer Guide lists the six among the Nomad's engines and gives its $2,571 as the V8 price. Wikipedia's statement carries no citation.

What each source says (3)
  • Yes: the Nomad got the 265 V8 as standard2one source
  • No: a six-cylinder Nomad is listed at $2,472 and 3,300 lb4one source
  • The six is among the Nomad's 1955 engines, and $2,571 is the price «with V-8»3one source

Sources

  1. Chevrolet Bel Air (the 1955–57 pages) HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
  2. Chevrolet Nomad Wikipedia · read 2026-10-11
  3. 1955, 1956, 1957 Chevrolet Nomad HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
  4. Chevrolet Full Size Vehicle Production, 1955, 1956 and 1957 (three tables) Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
  5. 1955-57 Chevy Bel Air, 210, and 150 Production Numbers Classic Industries · read 2026-10-11
  6. 1955 Chevrolet Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
  7. 1956 Chevrolet Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
  8. 1957 Chevrolet – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11

Year by year

The Nomad in each model year.

1955Chevrolet Bel AirThe first Tri-Five Bel Air: an all-new body, Chevrolet's first modern V8, six body styles with the Nomad from February, and more Bel Airs built than in either of the next two years.773,238 built (disputed)1956Chevrolet Bel AirThe facelift: a full-width grille, new side trim with a two-tone panel, the new Sport Sedan four-door hardtop, seven Bel Airs and up to 225 hp.669,053 built (disputed)1957Chevrolet Bel AirThe last Tri-Five and one of the best-known Chevrolets: fins, a big bumper-grille, 14-inch wheels, the 283 V8 in six versions up to 283 hp with fuel injection, and 702,220 Bel Airs.702,220 built (disputed)