1954 Motorama Chevrolet Nomad (Corvette): The Original Corvette “Station Wagon”!
Dateline: 8.29.15 – Unlike the Pontiac, Buick, and Olds ’54 Motorama cars (Corvette wanna-be’s), Chevrolet designers did something totally unique and in retrospect, way ahead of its time. Using a 115-inch wheelbase Chevy station wagon chassis, Earl’s designers and stylists took the complete ’53 Corvette design and stretched it. From the front cowl and windshield forward, it was a production Corvette. Then the doors and back end were stretched to fit the nine-inch longer chassis. The rear fenders were straight off the ’53 Corvette. (scroll down for the video of the 1954 GM Motorama)
The ’54 Motorama Nomad was one of those designs that just looks right at first glance. Obviously not a sports car, the Nomad was a balanced blend of trim sports car styling with the full utility of a station wagon.
“Practicality” was a big sales feature in the ‘50s. The interior was well thought out and looked “production.” The tailgate had a dash-mounted release and an electric rear window that went down when the gate was unlocked. The interior had a fold-down rear seat, a ribbed headliner, and the upholstery was finished in white and blue leather.
The Nomad was a beauty and I can imagine that Chevy reps at the Motorama show must have had a lot of visitors offering to buy one. However, in the real world outside the Motorama, there was no market for a smallish, six-passenger station wagon. In fact, the Corvette-based Nomad was a total teaser car, as by the end of the year, the full-size Bel Air-based ’55 Nomad was in Chevy dealer showrooms for just $2,571.
Possibly five Nomads were built and only three are known to still exist. Car magazines weren’t permitted to drive any of the Nomads, so there are no reports on how road worthy they were. The Corvette Hardtop is in a private collection and was being restored as of a few years ago. Only one Corvair was made and is alleged to have been seen in a Michigan salvage yard in the late ‘70s. However, a GM worker claims the car went to the crusher.
The 1954 Nomad (Corvette) show car will go on the block at the Auctions America Auburn event on September 5, 2015. For more info, CLICK HERE. – Scott
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