At the 1954 General Motors Motorama in New York City, GM introduced their Chevrolet Nomad show car. It was a sporty wagon with two doors, pleasant smooth flowing curves, a trademark Corvette grille, and a forward sloping B-pillar. Five examples were produced for the auto show circuit, and it is believed that three are still in existence. The response to the Nomad was positive and convinced Harley Early and his Design Studio to apply the looks and the name to the following year's station wagon. Production of the Nomad would remain from 1955 through 1961.
The two-door station wagon was a popular item among the 'surf culture' of the late 1950s and later with hot rodders. The Nomad name would return in 1965 and 1965 as a two-door Chevelle station wagon. Throughout the rest of the 1960s, the name was applied to the low-level Chevelle station wagon. In the 1970s and early-1980's, it was even offered as a G-Series full-size van model.