It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. In the automotive world, many of us lament the disappearance of station wagons even though it may not have been too long ago that we wouldn’t want to be caught dead driving one. But SUVs are okay? Allow me to introduce to you our Pick of the Day, a 1959 Chevrolet Brookwood wagon that will make you reevaluate your utility needs. It is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Orange, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
The story of the 1959 Chevrolet and all the other General Motors brands is known, so let’s avoid repeating stories that you can read elsewhere – instead, let’s discuss Chevrolet’s wagon game because it can get confusing for folks who think every Chevy wagon is a Nomad
Looking back at the Tri-Fives, there were station wagons in the 150, 210, and Bel Air series. Both the 150 and 210 had two-door, six-passenger Handyman wagons. The 210 also had Townsman and Beauville wagons, both four-doors, though the latter was capable of carrying nine passengers. The Bel Air also offered a Townsman wagon, plus the special Nomad two-door hardtop wagon sitting at the top of the heap though, to be honest, it rose above the workhorses mentioned above. As you can see, the 210 was the bread-and-butter series of the bunch, offering three different station wagons for 1957.
For 1958, Chevrolet renamed its model series: Del Ray, Biscayne, and Bel Air, with the all-new Impala being a Bel Air sub-model. Wagons included the Del Ray-based, six-passenger Yeoman with two- or four-doors, Biscayne-based Brookwood four-doors in six- and nine-passenger configurations, and the Bel Air-based four-door, six-passenger Nomad, now a conventional wagon.
And then Chevrolet shuffled it all around again for 1959 when the lineup became Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala, with the latter now a mainstream series of its own. Corresponding wagons were the Biscayne-based Brookwood in both two- and four-door six-passenger configurations, the Bel Air-based four-door six-passenger Parkwood and four-door nine-passenger Kingswood, and the Impala-based four-door six-passenger Nomad. Chevrolet would maintain a similar wagon lineup through 1961, with several names revived for 1969.
This 1959 Chevrolet Brookwood two-door wagon was the cheapest wagon in the lineup that year, but you wouldn’t know it thanks to some clever 1956 Nomad-esque paint and trim. Built by Zoomers Automotive in Denver and JRW Rods and Customs in St. George, Utah, it should be no surprise that this Bow Tie is a multiple show winner. Note the slanted B-pillars and removed window pillars for a look that’s influenced by the classic Tri-Five Nomad. The Sikkens Galapagos Pearl comes from Volkswagen, and the Pewter Pearl comes from Harley-Davidson.
Powering this wagon is a 480-horsepower LS3 crate motor backed by a (surprise!) TREMEC six-speed manual. “The engine bay is dressed to the nines, all smoothed with custom detail on the firewall, Ron Davis radiator, custom engine and radiator cover, and custom hinges to finish the look,” says the seller.
Inside, the cabin is full of leather and Alcantara, plus the latest in comforts and conveniences like Vintage Air, Alpine stereo., modified Volvo seats, and Mercedes-Benz carpeting.
Custom builds can run the risk of being like each other, but this 1959 Chevy build stands out for its intriguing modifications and stand-out style. Documented to have cost $300,000, you can score this Brookwood for the ear-perking price of $109,500 (OBO).
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com