Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

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Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby kgroombr » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:54 pm

Hi all,

I have a 76 Vega Nomad that I would like to restore. I have found some pics (in the forums here and via a google search), but unfortunately I can't find any trustworthy information. Was the Nomad a factory job, or a dealer/customer add-on? I would like any speculation or facts, but please state what you really know. I would also like any pictures showing items specific to the Nomad. For instance, I found one that looked like it had a Nomad emblem or sticker on the B pillar, but others I have seen don't show it. There is a modified one in the forums that looks like it has a chevy emblem on the B pillar Not sure if that was added or original.

Just curious if anybody knows:
How many produced?
Did they make GT versions, etc?
Chrome/emblems/decals, and the location on the vehicle (pics would be great to show this).

I will be doing a journal of its restoration and will share all info as I progress.

Thanks,
Ken
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Kammback GT


Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby monza75tc » Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:08 pm

Ken,

You might want to contact VegaDad - in Missouri, or Hotfootgt - in Hotlanta, GA.

Both belong to this forum.

Dick
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cammerjeff » Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:16 am

I spoke to Jim Wangers about Vega Nomads several years ago, He owned Motertown, that was the name of the conversion company that did the conversions. Unfortunatly he is more of an Idea/$$$ guy, and dosn't remember much about the smaller progects they did at the time. He is now 80+ years old, and his memory isn't what it was. Motortown also did the Mustang Cobra II conversions, the Pontiac Ca-Am, Dodge Aspen R/T, Volare Plymouth Road Runner.

Page 270 of his Memior book Glory Days ISBN 0-8376-0207-6 has a black and white pic, and a caption that reads.

"In an atempt to hype one of the first small station wagons, Chevrolet's Vega mini-Nomad program was quite successful. Note special window fillers simulating big Nomad styling, and the skid strips on the rear tail gate. In 1977, Chevy dealers, particularly in the southwest, sold several thousand of these."

Unfortunatly the text is mostly related to his Promotions for Pontiac, so there is no more text on the Vega Nomad. Motor town was a Large conversion company, and a car was sent to them before it was delivered to the Dealers. I hope that helps some.
Jeff R

1971 Catalina Freeway Enforcer
77 Astre Formula, some day soon powered by a 215 Buick V-8
1973 4-speed Lemans Safari STOCK!!!!! 1978 Catalina Safari
2006 Mallet Solstice, 6.0 LS2, 6-speed manual
2009 Solstice Coupe, 2.4, 5-speed Manual
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby 283vega » Wed Dec 24, 2008 5:34 am

What exactly is the nomad wagon option? THE FAQ section of the library says very little and that every one that they know of had a white vinyl top white interior and red paint.Also I assume they had the panel wagon option.
283 vega
70 corvette


Brian
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cammerjeff » Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:34 am

As far as I can tell (I am no expert, or have I ever owned one.) It is mostly a trim package. The major part was panels apllied to both the side glass & door glass to make the body lines look more like the 55-57 Nomad wagons. The previously mentioned Vinal roof. some exterior badging, and the strakes on the rear hatch like the Astre & Sunbird Safari's had. I added a pic of my 78 Sunbird Safari to show the hatch strakes. But unfortunatly I don't have any pic's of a actual Nomad. I do know that there are a couple of people with Nomads that used to post here.
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Jeff R

1971 Catalina Freeway Enforcer
77 Astre Formula, some day soon powered by a 215 Buick V-8
1973 4-speed Lemans Safari STOCK!!!!! 1978 Catalina Safari
2006 Mallet Solstice, 6.0 LS2, 6-speed manual
2009 Solstice Coupe, 2.4, 5-speed Manual
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cos2482 » Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:13 pm

Pics,
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Last edited by cos2482 on Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jim
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007 ... ves-vegas/

1973 Vega GT Hatchback (Millionth Vega)
1975 Vega GT Kammback (Nomad modification)
1976 Vega GT Hatchback (stock)
1976 Vega Cosworth (white/white, stock)
1977 Vega Estate (stock)
1977 Vega Hatchback (stock, bought new)
2011 Ford Ranger XLT (2,3 twincam 5spd std)
2000 Ford ranger XLT (2,5L 5spd std)
2003 Chevrolet Tracker (LT)
2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ AWD
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cos2482 » Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:33 pm

A few more,
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Jim
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007 ... ves-vegas/

1973 Vega GT Hatchback (Millionth Vega)
1975 Vega GT Kammback (Nomad modification)
1976 Vega GT Hatchback (stock)
1976 Vega Cosworth (white/white, stock)
1977 Vega Estate (stock)
1977 Vega Hatchback (stock, bought new)
2011 Ford Ranger XLT (2,3 twincam 5spd std)
2000 Ford ranger XLT (2,5L 5spd std)
2003 Chevrolet Tracker (LT)
2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ AWD
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cos2482 » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:29 pm

My Nomad clone,
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Jim
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007 ... ves-vegas/

1973 Vega GT Hatchback (Millionth Vega)
1975 Vega GT Kammback (Nomad modification)
1976 Vega GT Hatchback (stock)
1976 Vega Cosworth (white/white, stock)
1977 Vega Estate (stock)
1977 Vega Hatchback (stock, bought new)
2011 Ford Ranger XLT (2,3 twincam 5spd std)
2000 Ford ranger XLT (2,5L 5spd std)
2003 Chevrolet Tracker (LT)
2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ AWD
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cos2482 » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:20 pm

I have personally seen or have photo documentation of the ZR5 Nomad packaged Vega’s in the following code and colors:

11 Antique White
19 Black
28 Light Blue Metallic
35 Dark Blue Metallic
36 Firethorn Metallic
49 Dark Green Metallic
50 Cream
51 Bright Yellow
65 Buckskin
67 Saddle Brown Metallic
78 Red-Orange

I have not yet seen a Nomad Vega in the following colors, but they may have also existed:

13 Silver
37 Mahogany Metallic
45 Lime Metallic

Apparently the ZR5 Nomad package (as listed on the GM build sheets) was applied to bone stock optioned Kammbacks all the way to heavily optioned GT wagons excluding the Estate. An ultra rare ’76 Bicentennial interior option has even been spotted in a white Nomad by a member on this board.

Perhaps the FAQ section of the library should be updated.

Jeff R, I tried e-mailing Jim Wangers on several occasions without a response. The flailing memory makes sense at his age. Would you know of any names of management below Jim Wangers at the time Motortown Corp was in business? Anyone else’s name listed in the “Glory Days” book?
Jim
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007 ... ves-vegas/

1973 Vega GT Hatchback (Millionth Vega)
1975 Vega GT Kammback (Nomad modification)
1976 Vega GT Hatchback (stock)
1976 Vega Cosworth (white/white, stock)
1977 Vega Estate (stock)
1977 Vega Hatchback (stock, bought new)
2011 Ford Ranger XLT (2,3 twincam 5spd std)
2000 Ford ranger XLT (2,5L 5spd std)
2003 Chevrolet Tracker (LT)
2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ AWD
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Location: East Greenbush, NY

Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby kgroombr » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:48 pm

Thanks for all the info.

Mine is in pretty rough shape. It is missing quite a few parts and the tranny is shot. I am not sure the condition of the engine either. I am doing as much work on it now that doesn't cost a lot of money to see just how much money I will need to spend to get it at least half way decent. If the price is too high, I will sell it and focus on my 72 GT wagon which is much better shape. Fortunately, the body is pretty solid. The major rust is the 'C' pillars, and the bottoms of the doors, but the floor pans, 'A' pillar, fenders, and rear quarters are solid. Needs a hood and probably a tailgate as they are a little rusty and probably cheaper to replace than repair. Also it looks like the vinyl top was removed years ago so it only has some minor surface rust on the top.

Just curious if anybody knows why the 'C' pillars are practically gone from rust, but the metal around it is solid? I am still not ready to post pics as I want to clean it up some more (too embarrassed to show it in its dirty condition).

There is so much conflicting information on the Internet and the H-Body FAQ is lacking a bit as well. I read somewhere that Vega's produced in the later years were steel sleeved, but other info says no. What should I believe?

Thanks,
Ken
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Kammback GT

Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cosvega76 » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:14 am

Ken,

There were no GM, factory-supplied, sleeved Vega blocks. Any sleeved blocks were from a reman source.

Chuck
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1973 Chevrolet Vega GT

Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby kgroombr » Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:59 pm

Thanks,

Here is a pic of mine. I first tried to add an attachment, but I didn't see anything, so I just posted the pic on my web page and put a link in to it.

I sent someone that knows their stuff some additional pics of the engine and such. They said the engine may not be original because the head was blue. They had me look for some ports mounted in the head that were plugged. Sure enough they were there just as he said. I a hoping that the engine may have been repaired, rebuilt and a head for a 77 was used on it. I went to try to find the serial number on the engine and transmission, but I couldn't easily find it. Both the engine and tranny are pretty gunky and I scraped off where I thought I would find a number but nothing.

Does anybody know where to find the serial number on the engine and on a TH-250 tranny? Pics would be nice as that would really help me find the numbers.

Thanks,
Ken

Image
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Kammback GT

Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cos2482 » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:16 pm

Front header/grille Nomad decals:
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Jim
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007 ... ves-vegas/

1973 Vega GT Hatchback (Millionth Vega)
1975 Vega GT Kammback (Nomad modification)
1976 Vega GT Hatchback (stock)
1976 Vega Cosworth (white/white, stock)
1977 Vega Estate (stock)
1977 Vega Hatchback (stock, bought new)
2011 Ford Ranger XLT (2,3 twincam 5spd std)
2000 Ford ranger XLT (2,5L 5spd std)
2003 Chevrolet Tracker (LT)
2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ AWD
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby spyderman1977 » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:43 am

I know where the white bi-cent. nomad is as well as a silver with red interior nomad. Both cars are located in Wichita Falls, Tx. The silver nomad has no motor or trans but is otherwise complete. Even the front air dam was intact. Its starting to show some signs of surface rust and the last time I talked to the owner he was wanting a 1000 bucks for it. The other car last time I heard supposedly was home to a bob cat but I am not sure.

I think I still have pics of the white nomad somewhere.

Paul
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Re: Vega Nomad Info/Pic request

Postby cos2482 » Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:56 am

Paul,
I believe these were your pics of that rare white Nomad with the optional 76 "Heritage Edition" interior RPO-07H.
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Last edited by cos2482 on Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jim
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007 ... ves-vegas/

1973 Vega GT Hatchback (Millionth Vega)
1975 Vega GT Kammback (Nomad modification)
1976 Vega GT Hatchback (stock)
1976 Vega Cosworth (white/white, stock)
1977 Vega Estate (stock)
1977 Vega Hatchback (stock, bought new)
2011 Ford Ranger XLT (2,3 twincam 5spd std)
2000 Ford ranger XLT (2,5L 5spd std)
2003 Chevrolet Tracker (LT)
2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ AWD
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cos2482
 
Posts: 302
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:16 pm
Location: East Greenbush, NY

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