Real Rare: 1976 Chevrolet Vega Nomad Edition – Sold?

June 30, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

May 10, 2021 Update – Frankly, we’re floored this now somewhat famous ’76 Vega Nomad still hasn’t sold and we’re not sure whether it’s due to the seller not budging on their asking price.

April 6, 2021 Update – Just when we thought the expired ad meant this now somewhat famous ’76 Vega Nomad had sold, we just discovered a fresh posting by the seller who continues to ask $5,800 for the rare Vega Nomad wagon.

March 23, 2021 Update – Perhaps ours and Jalopnik’s free press was a motivating factor, but the seller just increased their asking price by $300 to $5,800 firm.

March 15, 2021 Update – Rob Emslie, Contributing Editor at Jalopnik.com, just featured this very same car in his lastest “Nice Price or No Dice” daily column.  If you’d like to cast your vote, you can read Rob’s take here.

March 5, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the private seller of this extremely rare 1976 Chevrolet Vega Nomad edition just posting a new Craigslist ad.  The pictures, description, and firm price all remain the same.

Hardly a week goes by where we don’t get schooled on a rare car we didn’t know existed. Our latest example is this 1976 Chevrolet Vega Kammback wagon equipped with the ZR5 Nomad trim package originally still listed here on Craigslist in Valley Center, California (Escondido) for the asking price of $5,500 firm. Comparing that price against the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool confirms the private seller has their Nomad priced optimistically between this guide’s #3 “Good” estimate of $4,600 and its #2 “Very Good” appraisal of $6,900.

In an effort to boost Vega sales in 1976, Chevrolet offered a Tri-Five inspired Nomad trim package on its two-door Kammback wagon models.  Each dealer could order only one Nomad edition.  Dealers would factory order a standard Vega Wagon and by selecting option ZL5, Motortown Corporation of Dearborn, Michigan would receive the new Kammback add the Nomad package, which would transform the Vega into a resemblance of the 1955-57 Chevy Nomad wagon. Motortown then shipped completed Kammbacks to the ordering dealer.  The ZL5 package cost dealers $168 but we don’t know how much dealers then charged buyers. 

Here’s a quick video of a similar Nomad edition confirming our understanding of the history of this model:

Make no mistake: having endured driving a family-owned used 1976 Vega Kammback wagon, I can personally attest to these cars being Malaise-Era at its finest(?). While I always wanted to do a V8 swap into that car, Western New York rust combined with being in college made that a pipe dream at best.  Despite this car’s originality, it’s in need of a total restoration.  I would love to do an LS-swap combined with some Monza-sourced handling upgrades and fresh paint to make this a much more interesting Vega.  We get the impression from the seller’s description they may be the original owner and we love the car comes with its original California blue plates and its Build Sheet documenting its originality.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Selling my 1976 Chevy Vega Nomad wagon all original including paint and rust-free. original 4 cyl motor and the original 4 speed with the build sheet to prove it’s a real nomad.factory disc brakes.

been resting since 1993 but still runs and drives fine. just put new battery-new tires-new alternator. just had a new fuel pump installed and rebuilt the carb , runs great now. bought new at Connell Chevrolet in costa mesa. has the original blue plates on her

asking $5500 firm”