1957 Nomad - what to do

Yep, Wix, paint the roof black and that is the car. Not shiny (yet) but it just needs some love. That picture really has me thinking. Oh man.....

I'm getting calls from a few folks who I've spoken or emailed about the car and my possible purchase of it, and every one of them is suggesting that given my health issues I should think really hard about buying it myself. The general consensus is that I should enjoy the Safari and Chevelle, tinker with them, polish the Airstream in wee bits, and in that way keep the stress level down and the energy levels up.

Geez, how easily I can complicate things as simple as do I buy it or not.

And Fannie, this is my wife's Chevelle. She's the one who suggested I buy the Nomad but also noted that if I did, just to keep things at a level I can deal with, we sell the Chevelle. I married the right lady, that's for sure.

 

Saf, first, sorry for your loss. Tough to lose close friends, especially when they were such a big part of your life.

I'm a muscle car guy, but it sounds to me like the Nomad is clear way to go. For me, the car hobby is as much about the people as it is about the cars themselves. When my brother died seven years ago, I had to sell his 5.0 Mustang and his '69 AMX. The Mustang was fairly easy to let go (nothing personal Ford guys), but the AMX was a lot tougher, since I had found that car for him, and that AMX was always his favorite. I only sold it for my sister in law because I was in no financial condition to buy it. Since then, I have picked up a project Javelin because it reminds me of my brother. And by the way, my ultimate find would be a '63 Plymouth Fury because I'll never forget that trip in 1963 when my father and I went to look at a new one.

If your wife is on board, yikes, buy it. She must know it would mean the world to your buddies widow. Besides, that would give you the distinction of owning possibly the two best looking wagons ever built, and I'm a Mopar guy! By the way, did I mention how much I love your Safari?

Just my opinion, any way you go is cool, but I would be buying that Nomad in a heartbeat (pun attempted).

Arvid Svendsen

 

Saf, I too am sorry to hear of the loss of your good friend.

I know this is a hard decision to make, and only you and your wife can make it.

It sounds like your wife is on board with selling "her" car. It also sounds like you enjoyed regaining the lost car of your younger married days. That said, I can relate to the car being almost "to nice". I for one could never handle having a car I worried about when I took it out in public. For guys like us, it can defeat the purpose. A car is meant to be enjoyed, and driving is part of it. I also agree with the earlier point about the return on investment. You won't lose anything monitarily speaking if you sell the SS.

I am a 567 nut. When I was 6 years old I learned of my dad's 57 Chevy 210 wagon. I have never even seen a photo of it, but from that point on I became a 57 Chevy wagon Nut! So much so that I use the tag 1957nomad on almost eveything I do. (don't go hacking into my email now! )

Faced with the decision, I think what I would do is buy the Nomad. Your wife is on board. The 57 has much more personal value than the SS. I would get it running well, install the trim and enjoy it. I would keep it just as it is. It's not a show car, it's not too perfect to take out for an evening, and it will look great pulling that Airstream. You will have the satisafation of knowing your dear friends car is being taken care of by someone who knew him, loved the things he loved, and won't sell it at next years BJ auction.

If something happened to me, I'd want someone I knew to take the Fury. I wouldn't want some "random" person buying it. I guess you can consider what he would have liked to see happen to it. I am sure he would want a friend such as yourself to have it.

I know it's a tough one. But I think you would have second thoughts about letting it go for a long time.

 

Again, sorry for the loss of a close friend and kudos to you for what you are doing. (Whether or not you think it just a small part....)

As for the dilemma, I'd vote Nomad. The SS is nice, but to me it doesn't sound like it's got that 'thing'. New cars are reliable too, but you don't want one of those. I understand that you'd only be able to do limited work, and honestly I wouldn't worry about restoring it. I'd say get it, fix it up and drive it and enjoy it. I'd bet if your friend had it to do over again, he'd spend more time enjoying it and less time working on it. You've said it's your dream car, so go live that dream. Not many people will be able to say that when it's all said and done. (If it's a major project to simply get this on the road again, it might be a different story, but it doesn't sound like it to me.)

I love my '58 and she needs LOTS of work. And hopefully I'll live long enough to get around to them, but in the mean time I'm going to drive her to work. Deal with the crap I have to and enjoy the heck out of it. It might happen, but I doubt many people die thinking, "Boy, I wish I'd polished that chrome some more."

Buy it and enjoy it. If in a couple years it's not working out, sell it. There will ALWAYS be a market for a Nomad. ALWAYS! Will there always be an opportunity to own one, let alone one with some sentimental value? Hmmm... I think not...

 

Saf my friend

This is my 2 bits...and it should carry some weight coming from a hoarder..who has come to the realization that were here for a good time ..not a long time.
so?..may I be blunt?...
you yourself are not as active as you were(by your own confessions)

so do you forsee getting this car into running/driving condition easily?

do you really need someone else's Albatross?

you have 2 splendid cars now ..and im sure you'll find some other momento of Ron to hold on to

...i'd say let one of his other freinds take on the project !
Ron would understand

all this is coming from a guy who will never finish the crap he has
consider this from the horses ars

my sympathy to his family and friends

and if i can help with the sale ..just let me know.

 

Thank you to everyone for their kind comments. Always tough losing someone you feel about, and a lot of emotion when there are so many connection points, like mutual love of vintage trailers, vintage wagons - with the Nomad style being the preference, and of course our vintage wives . I'm dead meat if either of them sees that piece.

I've really struggled with this, and have read everyone's comments because each of you has a perspective on this that covers things I hadn't even considered. Wow, what a tool box of ideas from you. And a gift. Thank you.

What it has come down to is that like Rev says, I need to look at what has been happening in my life health wise and determine if I can handle another project. Even a minor project. I hate to even think it, but I'm wondering how far I'll get on my Safari without getting some assistance from my buddies. Man, that really bothers me, because they too have their own things to work on, but willingly come forward and offer help when ever they see I'm at a physical stalemate. So adding another project to my shop would just mean that I then have another need for assistance and I cant' do that to them.

So I spoke with our friend and told her I'd take a swack of pictures of the car and assorted parts, together with her we'd put together a history of the car as best we can (we now know it came out of Texas 20plus years ago), and list it for sale. She needs to sell it because when she walks in to the shop it hits her that it is going to rot and she will never have the ability to get it to where hubby had dreamed. So she wants it to go to someone who will do "something" with it, it doesn't matter if she sees it again, she just doesn't want it sitting in someone else's shop rotting instead. She wants to see it out and about and used the way it was hoped they would. I like her, she's down to earth, no real hang ups, just feels the wagon needs an owner who will use it.

So, thank you for your help getting to this decision. It is surprising how much it helped to look at this from so many different views. Many hit home and now the decision is made in a way that I won't ever feel like I've lost something or missed something by not bringing it home.

Rev, I'll let you know when I gather all the pictures and info. The car is in Bellingham, WA so close to home. If you can help us to find a good home for it that would be very helpful.

Take care
Barry

 

anything for you...my brother from another cul de sac

 

Saf, your decision shows a lot of honesty, wisdom, and selflessness. You're doing the right thing, clearly, which earns you a big attaboy over here in Chicagoland! Thanks for your letting us in on this process, hope the car sells in a timely fashion, and goes to the right party.

Arvid Svendsen

 

Saf, thanks for letting us weigh in on this tough dilemma. You are doing the right thing.

As I said in my overly enthusiastic endorsement for buying the Nomad, "life is too short for regrets".
Like a child dazzled by something shiny (shiny with power windows! ), I didn't even consider that the real regret could actually be in "going for it".

You have looked at all sides of this, and now can move forward, helping a dear lady in her time of need, honoring your friends memory, and being true to yourself.
It is clear you live your life this way...a life of no regrets. Good man.

David

 

how you doing SEF, sorry to here about your friend, well here is my two pennies on this subject i say you keep all the cars! if your the car guy i think you are you will get the nomad done, if it takes a little longer it will warm your heart to see it in the garage being worked on, my 53 chevy is in the paint shop rite now and even though my cash flow should be all flowing there, i cant help but spend a little on my wagon that is patiently waiting in the garage for me, plus i got that very rare thing that you have, a wife who also enjoys classics and lets me spend some of the grocerie money on my projects, my friends are so envious of me cuz there wives always nag them about spending money on there cars, you wanna know what my wife told me on our aniversary, she said lets just go get fast food and then go buy the grill for the 53, oh my God i worship this lady, its a NOMAD brother in my area those dont come along to often, live life to the fullest make your house look like a car lot, humb lets see do i drive the safary, the chevelle, or the nomad, wow what a great delema,haha good luck brother.

 

Sympathies. 57 Nomad is always safe if the price is right.

 

I'm with David on that. Go for it! With fuel going nuts, and those 283's are so simple to make efficient, you'd probably have the sweetest bookend wagons on the continent!

I'm 63 this summer, and the same thing has bothered me, during these massive renos. How many pending projects will I leave? And some are real brainwaves, maybe even patentable! I'm in good shape and health, but lots of guys turn for the worst, with no warning. I keep thinking I should make a list for each one and note what's left to do, or how she could dispose of them. But then I start thinking 'positive' (denial ) and rationalize that she wouldn't tell me her secret for great chocolate chip cookies or Mexican Salsas...

Hard to lose a good friend, but maybe his wife wouldn't mind a chevelle memory lane trip in the Nomad?