Шевроле Номад: Тарихы мен эволюциясы

Chevrolet Nomad is a nameplate used by Chevrolet in North America from the 1950s to the 1970s, applied largely to station wagons. Three different Nomads were produced as a distinct model line, with Chevrolet subsequently using the name as a trim package. Marketed as a halo model of the Chevrolet station wagon line for the Tri Five series, the Nomad was repackaged as a station wagon counterpart of the Chevrolet Bel Air and Chevrolet Impala from 1958 to 1961. From 1968 to 1972, the Nomad returned as the base trim Chevrolet Chevelle station wagon. Making its debut on a 1954 concept car, the nameplate has again seen used by Chevrolet on multiple concept vehicles; none have reached production.

The Chevrolet Nomad was introduced in 1954 as part of the General Motors Motorama line of "dream cars" developed by GM head stylist Harley Earl. As a follow up to the Chevrolet Corvette roadster and Chevrolet (Corvette) Corvair fastback of the year before, the Nomad was a "dream car" alongside the Pontiac Bonneville Special and Oldsmobile F 88; the latter two were experimental prototypes built on Corvette chassis. Adopting the front fascia of the Corvette to a two door wagon body, the Nomad shifted away from the utilitarian design of traditional station wagons, introducing a forward slanting B pillar and nearly wraparound rear windows. Following a positive response to the Motorama design, GM approved the Nomad for 1955 production. As a prerequisite for approval, the design was to be adopted to the standard A body Chevrolet chassis, both larger and more widely produced than the Corvette. The use of the A body also allowed GM to produce the vehicle as a Pontiac. While it is believed that GM ultimately destroyed the concept vehicle (as was common practice of the time), several reproductions of the Nomad concept exist today, mating Corvette front fascias to production Nomad bodies.

Sharing its roofline design nearly intact from the 1954 Motorama "dream car", the first version of the Chevrolet Nomad was produced as a two door "sport wagon". While considered a distinct model line, the Nomad was trimmed in line with the Bel Air sedan, along with its badging. The production Nomad was the Chevrolet counterpart of the Pontiac Safari; while the two vehicles shared an identical chassis and roofline, the Safari shared its front fascia with the Pontiac Chieftain and interior trim with the Pontiac Star Chief (its sedan counterpart).

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, 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. the model line received a standard two tone exterior and interior. 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, 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.

As Chevrolet shifted from the A body to the B body for 1958, the division made station wagons a separate model range from sedans. While no longer a two door sport wagon, the Nomad nameplate made its return, again denoting the flagship Chevrolet station wagon series.

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).

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. For 1960, an exterior revision introduced more subdued styling. 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.

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, Again serving as the top trim Chevrolet wagon, the Nomad was offered only with 9 passenger seating (as the Kingswood was discontinued). Marketed strictly as a 6 passenger vehicle, the Nomad was not offered with a third row seat, interval windshield wipers, or underfloor storage; it is also the only version sold with a six cylinder engine. For 1969, Chevrolet split station wagons into a distinct model line, with the Nomad dropping "Chevelle" from its nameplate. The reintroduced Greenbrier replaced the Nomad Custom, slotted below the Concours/Concours Estate series. Through its production, the Chevelle based Nomad saw few major functional changes. For 1970, the front fascia was redesigned (closer in line with larger Chevrolets). For 1971, the rear tailgate was replaced by a two way design, with the front fascia adopting a two headlight design. The 1972 model year was largely carryover (with the exception of a minor grille revision), serving as the final production of the Nomad station wagon. For 1973, Chevrolet ended its practice of distinct nameplates for both full size and intermediate station wagons. Alongside the introduction of the "Colonnade" series of GM intermediates, the lowest trim Chevrolet station wagon was renamed the Chevelle Deluxe.

Following its retirement from the Chevelle model line, Chevrolet continued the use of the Nomad name through the late 1970s, denoting variants of other model lines.

For 1976, Chevrolet created the Vega Nomad as an option for the Vega Kammback station wagon. 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. 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. Equipped similar to the higher trim Chevrolet Beauville van, the Nomad received plaid upholstery and two tone exterior paint. Completely unrelated to any vehicle line from the United States, the Chevrolet Nomad produced in South Africa was an open body utility vehicle. Locally considered a bakkie,

Designed to keep production costs as low as possible, the Nomad was designed with simple construction; its entire body was assembled from flat panels. 82% of the vehicle was sourced within South Africa.). The remaining parts came from Germany (VDO instruments, BorgWarner transmission), Australia (rear axle from Holden), and the United States (Rochester carburetor). the body was fitted with a sump guard and a built in box section grille guard (the latter to protect the radiator and headlamps). To make up for the lack of four wheel drive, a limited slip differential was fitted as standard equipment. Coinciding with the development of the Chevrolet Camaro, several Nomad badged clay models were produced in 1965, exploring a potential two door station wagon version. 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.

The Chevrolet Nomad reappeared on a concept vehicle for the 1999 Detroit Auto Show. 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. 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. While again a 2+2 wagon, the 2004 Nomad was far smaller than its 1999 namesake, at only 155.5 inches long. 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.